New England Patriots

Morning sports update: Ex-Patriot Ryan O’Callaghan talked about Robert Kraft’s support after coming out as gay

"What you did took a lot of courage."

Ryan O'Callaghan at Patriots practice in 2006. Barry Chin / The Boston Globe

By Hayden Bird

3 minutes to read

The Red Sox beat the Rockies 7-4 on Wednesday night to complete a two-game series sweep. Boston is now five games back in the chase for the final American League wild card spot.

And tonight, the Patriots play the Giants at Gillette Stadium in both teams’ final preseason game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., with a number of players fighting for the final roster spots.

Ryan O’Callaghan on Robert Kraft’s support: When former Patriots offensive lineman Ryan O’Callaghan came out as gay in 2017, he received support from his old team. One person whose support made a particular impression was Robert Kraft.

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“What you did took a lot of courage,” Kraft told O’Callaghan. “I’m so proud of you.”

In a new book due out in September, O’Callaghan discusses his life story, including the treatment he received from former teammates after coming out. The book, “My Life on the Line: How the NFL Damn Near Killed Me, and Ended up Saving My Life,” includes a moment when O’Callaghan was invited to a Patriots ring ceremony in 2017.

At the event, he was invited into Kraft’s office.

“Spending a few minutes privately with Mr. Kraft in his office is surreal,” O’Callaghan wrote in his book. “It’s just him and me, with a couple hundred people outside his office door.”

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“I never got that treatment when I was on his payroll,” O’Callaghan continued. “For [Kraft], who opens up to me about a gay friend, I am the most important person in the world in those few moments. Given where I have been in the previous dozen years, he is equally the most important person in the world for me right then and there.”

O’Callaghan played for the Patriots from 2006-2008, retiring from the NFL in 2011. In his book, he chronicled how he struggled and contemplated suicide once he was done with football. He credited — among other people — former Patriots general manager Scott Pioli for helping to save him.

Trivia: Red Sox players have hit 30 or more home runs in a season 72 times in team history. Yet not all of those seasons have been accompanied by impressive batting averages. The lowest batting average by a Red Sox player who hit at least 30 home runs in a season was .218 in 1983. Which player was responsible for this season?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: His son was part of a trade that included Pedro Martinez in 1997.

More from Boston.com:

UMass picked as one of college football’s worst

: ESPN’s Ryan McGee assembled a preseason look at who is expected to be among the worst teams in college football this season. Unfortunately for “UMess” (as McGee dubbed them), the Minutemen are seventh on the list.

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“Unless they can figure out a way to lure all those rivals across the Old North Bridge,” wrote McGee, “this could be a long fall for the Minutemen.”

The only silver lining for local fans is the knowledge that UConn (“U-Can’t”) is ranked even higher on the list, as the third-worst team. [ESPN]

Xander Bogaerts accomplished something as a Red Sox shortstop not seen since Nomar Garciaparra:

New England Revolution forward Brian Wright’s brilliant assist: On loan from the Revs to USL team Birmingham Legion, Brian Wright set up a goal with a fantastic first touch, turn, and run before sliding the ball across goal for J.J. Williams.

On this day: It’s Jim Rice Day (unofficially). On two separate August 29 games — 1977 and 1983 — Rice smashed three home runs. The Red Sox lost the 1977 game 8-7, but won the second in 1983 (also by an 8-7 score).

Jim Rice 3 home runs

Daily highlight: Lincoln City forward Bruno Andrade scored an absolute rocket against Everton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, though his team ultimately lost 4-2.

Trivia answer: Tony Armas Jr.