Patriots’ Caserio: 'Boston is a Strong, Hard-Nosed, Tough City' and 'We’re Going to Fight’

New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio met media Monday at Gillette Stadium wearing a Patriots Marathon Team jacket worn by runners who participated in last week’s Boston Marathon.

Before talking football and the NFL Draft with media, Caserio took a moment to reflect on the tragedy in Boston seven days ago.

“Before we get started on the football front, just a prayer and a thought to the families of the victims and those directly affected by the events of last week,” Caserio said regarding the deadly attacks on the Boston Marathon last week. “I think all of us were impacted indirectly, but some more directly than others. Thoughts and prayers I think are still with everybody, as we’re recovering.”

Caserio offered thanks to all the law enforcement for their efforts last week.

“I think a debt of gratitude is certainly in order for the law enforcement officials of Boston, specifically of Watertown, for their swift efforts last week, their painstaking efforts to reach a resolution,” Caserio said. “They have allowed us to kind of get back to some degree of normalcy. …

“It’s a slow process, I think we’re all working through it. Without their efforts, we probably wouldn’t even be standing here today having this press conference. Definitely a debt of gratitude and appreciation is in order for them.”

And while the pain of what occurred last week lingers seven days later, Caserio said Boston’s unity and strength has been “pretty neat to see.”

“This is a strong city, it’s a hardnosed city, it’s a tough city,” Caserio said. “The one thing about the people of Boston is we’re going to fight, we’re going to battle and some of the efforts of people last week, the first to respond were pretty heroic on that front. Sitting down here at Gillette Stadium, you probably can’t really understand the true impact that it had on people that were there.

“I think that it speaks to the city of Boston and what we’re about.”