A new Spotlight series reveals how Aaron Hernandez's New England Patriots teammates, including Tom Brady, reacted to his chilling behaviour.

Hernandez, who played tight end for the Patriots,went from jovial to intense in an instant and his behavior and demeanor were wildly unpredictable on a given day, according to those who worked with him day in, day out.

In the third of a six-part series on Hernandez, who committed suicide in a prison cell after being convicted of murder, The Boston Globe described a troubled individual who reached out to teammates and coaches for help.

According to the Spotlight series, Hernandez approached coach Bill Belichick in 2013 in what was described as a "state of deepening paranoia."

Former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez is the subject of a new Spotlight series (
Image:
Getty Images North America)

The report states that Belichick "saw little reason to get more than minimally involved."

Hernandez died in jail in 2017. He was serving a life sentence without possibility of parole for killing Odin Lloyd in 2013.

Former teammate Dane Fletcher said he came to blows with Hernandez and described him as selfish. Fletcher also said he dropped Hernandez off at his "side place" where he kept drugs and ammunition.

Hernandez approached coach Bill Belichick in a "state of deepening paranoia" (
Image:
EPA-EFE/ REX/Shutterstock)

Brandon Lloyd, who played wide receiver for the Patriots, Rams, Broncos and 49ers, told The Globe he witnessed erratic behavior and more from Hernandez.

"There would be swings where he'd be the most hyper-masculine, aggressive individual in the room, where he'd be ready to fight somebody in fits of rage,'' said Lloyd.

"Or he'd be the most sensitive person in the room, talking about cuddling with his mother. Or he'd ask me, 'Do you think I'm good enough to play?'''

Lloyd recalled a conversation with another former wide receiver on the team, Wes Welker, that touched on unpredictable and volatile mood swings and sensitive details regarding what Welker perceived as past history.

"He is looking at me wide-eyed," Lloyd recalled of Welker, "and he says, 'I just want to warn you that (Hernandez) is going to talk about being bathed by his mother. He's going to have his genitalia out in front of you while you're sitting on your stool. He's going to talk about gay sex. Just do your best to ignore it. Even walk away.'"

Lloyd said quarterback Tom Brady snapped at Hernandez in one particular instance during a walk-through.

Tom Brady snapped at Hernandez during a walk-through (
Image:
USA TODAY Sports)

"(Hernandez) was out at the walk-through in flip-flops trying to run around,'' Lloyd said.

"He was laughing. He was loud. And Tom keeps it serious in thewalk-through. And Tom says, 'Shut the (expletive) up. Get the (expletive) out of here.'''

Hernandez was given a life sentence (
Image:
Boston Globe)

Lloyd said the change in Hernandez's mood was almost always sudden.

"It was like he went from this child-like, laughing, disruptive behavior," Lloyd said, "and he storms off in a fit of rage."