A few minutes with ...

FOXBOROUGH – Tight end David Thomas spent a few minutes earlier this week at Gillette Stadium talking about his roots, his history in the game, and his interests outside of football:

Where did you grow up?
“I grew up in West Texas, outside of Lubbock, Texas. A small town. I loved growing up out in the country and being from a rural area. I’m definitely more of a country guy than a city guy.”

You’re in your third year now in New England. How has the adjustment been?
“This is definitely a good area for me, my wife [Kassidy] and my son [Jaxson David]. We really enjoy it. It’s been good. It did take us a while to get used to these cold winters, but it’s been good getting to know the people around here.”

How tough is it to balance the professional demands of the job and being a good dad and husband at home?
“It’s tough sometimes, but you just learn to appreciate the time you have at home. My son is great. He’s a little over a year old. I have a lot of fun playing with him. And my wife does a great job taking care of him, and taking care of me, and we really appreciate the time we have together. In season, that time isn’t as much as we’d like sometimes, but that’s part of this job. So during the season, you have to treasure those little moments you get at home.”

What are some of your interests outside of football?
“I really enjoy spending time with my family. I like to play golf a bit in the offseason. The most important thing I like to do is relax and enjoy a day off.”

When did you first learn to play football?
“The first team I played on was in seventh grade. Before that, I’d always play in the front yard with my dad, my neighbor, or my cousins, somebody. I was always playing sports. My dad really taught me how to play when I was a little kid.”

What was your dad’s background in football?
“He played in high school, and then played at a small school in Texas in college. He was a football coach. He’s always worked for the schools. He’s a superintendent of schools down in Texas now. He was a coach and he was always around sports a lot.”

When did you realize a career in the NFL was a possibility for you?
“When I was in high school, I really just wanted to play college football, and play at Texas. That was a dream come true. I guess during my junior year at Texas I had a pretty good season and realized I might have a chance to play. This has been a lot of fun, making it to this level and competing with the best at what they do.”

What are some of the positives of being a pro football player and what are some of the drawbacks?
“Being a pro football player, you get to play a game, the game that you love. It’s not like coming to work every day. There is some fun to it. In the offseason, you get a lot of time off and that’s a positive. During the season, you’re busy, but Sundays are what you live for around here.”

Have you thought about what you’d like to do after your playing career is over?
“I’d like to go back to Texas when I’m done playing, whenever that is, and see what happens down there, back in Austin, where I went to school. I’d find a job down there and take my family down there. That’s where all my friends live now.”

What is it about Austin that you like?
“It’s just great. There are so many things to do. It’s a very diverse area. The city of Austin is great, the University of Texas is great. There are a lot of lakes, a lot of outdoor stuff to do, and a lot of things to do in the city.”