American Sports Story Episode 4 True Story: What the Show Changes

American Sports Story Episode 4 “Birthday Money” changes several key aspects of Aaron Hernandez’s true story. Josh Rivera leads the American Sports Story Cast as Aaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight end who was convicted of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in 2015. The first two episodes of American Sports Story Gain a basic understanding of Aaron Hernandez’s complicated upbringing, tumultuous family life and accelerated path to becoming a Florida Gator before joining the NFL’s New England Patriots in 2010. American Sports Story Depicts several NFL players and coaches including Hernandez.

American Sports Story Episode 3 chronicles Hernandez’s celebrity status at the University of Florida before he finally declares for the 2010 NFL Draft. Episode 4 chronicles more of the details of Hernandez’s transition from the 2010 John Mackey Award winner to having his draft stock plummet ahead of the NFL Draft due to off-the-field concerns. Even though Hernandez was talented enough to become a first-round draft pick, he was ultimately selected in the fourth round by the New England Patriots, who have one of the most tried and tested disciplinary structures in the entire NFL. Episode 4 also introduces Hernandez’s longtime agent, Brian Murphy.

Aaron Hernandez’s uncle Robert Valentine has never been linked to his sexual abuse

Aaron’s uncle Bobby has a clean criminal record

American Sports Story Episode 4 begins with a startling scene that suggests Hernandez was molested or sexually abused as a young child. Although the claim is upheld by Aaron’s brother DJ Hernandez and one of his lawyers, it is No record that Aaron Hernandez’s uncle Robert Valentine was ever linked to his sexual abuse. According to ESPN“Jonathan Hernandez tells [The Boston] Globe that Aaron Hernandez revealed later in his adult life that he was molested as a young boy. One of Aaron’s lawyers in his criminal case also said that Aaron talked to him about sexual abuse as a child. No one was ready to identify the perpetrator to the Globe.”

In addition, Aaron’s uncle Robert Valentine, who was the biological brother of Aaron’s mother Terry Hernandez, has a clean criminal record. This indicates that He was not arrested or served time in prison for exposing himself to a school bus like American Sports Story Claims. Valentine was one of two of Hernandez’s relatives who died in two separate motor vehicle crashes during the summer of 2013 ( via ESPN). Valentine was killed on August 4, 2013, in a moped crash. While DJ Hernandez confirmed that his brother was sexually molested as a child, that sparked a heated confrontation in American Sports Story Episode 4, Aaron’s abuse was never disclosed to the public.

Aaron Hernandez sent letter to Patriots before 2010 NFL draft offering extra drug tests

Hernandez said the Patriots have “nothing to worry about” regarding his drug use

One of the biggest true story omissions in American Sports Story Episode 4 is the fact that Aaron Hernandez wrote a letter to the New England Patriots confirming that He would allow himself to be subject to additional drug tests if the team is drafted. Although this point was stressed by the fictional version of Hernandez in the FX series during various NFL team interviews, it was not conveyed in its true written form between Hernandez and the Patriots. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, portrayed by Norbert Leo Butz, and owner Robert Kraft, portrayed by Jerry Levine, also make no mention of Aaron’s letter when they choose to draft him for the series.

Hernandez addressed the letter to Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio In April 2010. The last paragraph of Hernandez’s letter reads, “I ask you to trust me when I say you have nothing to worry about when it comes to me and the use of recreational drugs. I have set very high goals for myself in the NFL, and am 100% focused on achieving those goals. So try me all you want during my rookie year…all the results will be negative while I have an overwhelmingly positive impact on the field“(by NFL.com).

There is no record of Aaron Hernandez having an affair with an athlete’s first staff member

Hernandez’s back injury prevented him from participating in the NFL Combine

American Sports Story Appears to invent the character Chris, a trainer and physical therapist working at Brian Murphy’s Athletes First training facility in Laguna Hill, California. While Murphy and Atlet’s first are very real, with the famous company Representing dozens of elite athletes such as Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott, The fictional character Chris was created entirely for the show to promote the narrative of Aaron’s closeted gayness. Some other relevant details in American Sports Story Episode 4 are factual, such as Hernandez’s muscle strain that kept him from participating in the 2010 NFL Combine, but the affair with his athlete first staff member is not.

Source: ESPN, NFL.com