Chung: No changes to Patriots offseason approach following Super Bowl

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FOXBORO -- Business as usual. That's how Patrick Chung would describe the vibe inside the walls of Gillette Stadium this offseason. 

"The same. It's all the same," he said Thursday. "Come in here, work hard, do what you gotta do and try to do it again."

Despite claiming its fifth Lombardi Trophy, despite mounting the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, despite adding several talented players to its roster via free agency and trades, the organization's approach to its offseason work hasn't changed. 

That's why Chung was at work this week and why he's been coming in to work out since last season ended. He wants to make sure he's ready to go when the offseason conditioning program begins in earnest next week.

Players will starting filing into the team's facility in greater numbers starting Monday, but Chung -- who will be 30 when the 2017 season begins -- will have a bit of a head start.

"It's all on you," he said. "It all depends on how you take care of your body. If you're out there doing nonsense and not taking care of your body, not working out and stuff like that, not stretching and sweating . . . it's going to be hard. The older you get, it gets harder. But if you take care of your body, and do it consistently, I think you'll be fine."

Here are a few more quotes of note from Chung's media availability period . . . 

On Malcolm Butler's situation: "I haven't talked to him. That's not really my business. That's between him and the organization. Whatever he has to do to be happy, whatever we have to do to be happy, whatever Bill [Belichick]'s decision is his decision is. We're gonna support it."

On if he'll attend the White House ceremony celebrating the Patriots next week: "I mean whoever wants to go, wants to go. Everybody has their own decision and it is what it is."

On if he'll go to the White House: "I don't know yet. I'm gonna think about it."

On if he's noticed the trend of hybrid safety-linebacker types, kind of like himself, are getting more and more attention with each passing draft: "Any position, the more versatile you are, the more things you can do, the more valuable you are to a team. It's not just safeties. It's receivers who can play outside, inside. Tight ends who can play tight end and go flex out as receivers. The game is changing, obviously. Guys are getting more athletic. Just the more versatile you are, man, I'm trying to tell you, it helps. It helps a lot." 

On a college matchup with Rob Gronkowski that got the attention of the Patriots and may have helped make him a second-round pick: "First pick-six on Gronk. I hope he heard that. And then after that he had like 18 catches. [Editor's note: Gronkowski had 12 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown.] It was a win for both of us. It was a good experience, man. That's a great player. When he got drafted, I told a couple of my coaches, 'Hey, man. That's a good pick.' Glad I was right. He's a great player, man. It was a good experience. It was good to go against him then, and good to go against him now."

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