There are also times when those leaders need to put their best foot forward despite any distractions and mayhem that surrounds their team.

New England Patriots captains Tom Brady, Jerod Mayo, Devin McCourty and Vince Wilfork did their best to address former player Aaron Hernandez’s debacle to the horde of media assembled at Gillette Stadium on Thursday.

“It’s a real life situation that everyone has to deal with,” Brady said. “I think everyone had a certain range of emotions, whatever they might have been. But those were really personal and I dealt with them. At some point you have to move forward and I think we as a team are doing that.”

For most of their interaction with the media, the quartet were bombarded with Hernandez questions.

And to their credit, they stood their ground.

“At this point I think it is easier not to get into details of all that,” McCourty said. “When we found out the news, we were shocked and a little saddened to see everything that has transpired with a guy that lost his life. Just as anyone who found out, I was shocked.”

Today starts the first day of training camp for the Patriots.

A new beginning for the team that nearly reached the Super Bowl last season.

Brady, McCourty, Mayo and Wilfork all understand that the team’s success for the 2013 season lies within the practice fields.

“We’re going to have to lean on one another,” Wilfork said. “We’re going to have to get through it as a team, get through it as an organization and try to continue to just do what we’ve been doing ... win ball games and put the team in the best situation to win ball games. It all starts on the practice field. So whatever added extra work we’re going to have to do, we’re going to have to do it.”

Mayo, now in his sixth year with New England, said the captains are prepared to do whatever it takes to keep the team afloat in the upcoming months.

“We always go out there with the attitude on winning the game no matter on what it takes,” Mayo said. “If the offense goes out there and scores just three points then we have to hold them to zero points. Whatever needs to be done, we will go out there and do it.”

Mayo credited former players for his growth as a leader in the organization.

“The guys that come into this locker room before have done an excellent job,” he said. “We still have great guys in this locker room today. I learned a lot from guys like Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and all those guys as far as their work ethics.”

Page 2 of 2 - Considering the uncertainty on offense entering the training camp, Wilfork stated that everyone has to fall back on one another for strength.

“Everybody is going to have to step up, not just offense,” Wilfork said. “Every individual is going to have to raise his level of play and that’s what this team is all about.”

McCourty agreed.

“I think every year we see a major role,” McCourty said. “I don’t think we come into any season saying that hopefully the offense is going to win every game for us and we just get by. We have the same attitude as we always have coming in — try to get better. Most importantly defensively, try to stop teams from scoring points.”

During their interviews with the media, all the players expressed their condolences for Odin Lloyd, who was killed on June 17. But throughout it all, players are thinking one thing — football.

McCourty said it’s important for the players here in camp do the right thing as well as do great things in the community.

“At this time of the year, you always look forward to coming back out here,” the fourth-year safety said. “All your goals for the season starts here. We have to put in the work now if we expect to win games this season and be there at the end of the season.”