USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots had no comment on the death of former tight end Aaron Hernandez.

"We are aware of the reports, but I don’t anticipate that we will be commenting today," Patriots spokesman Stacey James said Wednesday.

That could change later Wednesday when members of the Patriots organization are scheduled to visit President Trump at the White House to be honored for their Super Bowl LI victory over Atlanta in February.

While some players have said they will skip the White House visit, owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick are expected to attend. Quarterback Tom Brady was also expected to be there, but said "personal family matters" will keep him for attending.

Kraft was called to testify during the Hernandez trial for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd. Hernandez was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Belichick, according to reports, had been subpoenaed by the defense to testify in the latest trial, when Hernandez stood accused of killing two men on a Boston street. Belichick was not called to testify. Hernandez was eventually found not guilty.

Ex-Patriots player Aaron Hernandez, 27, dead after being found hanged in jail cell