Bill Belichick called Hernandez case ‘tragic’ a week before suicide

Nearly a week before former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez was found dead in his prison cell, Patriots' coach Bill Belichick called his former player's situation a tragedy.

Belichick was interviewed on last Thursday’s CNBC’s “Power Lunch” with Suzy Welch.

In the interview, Welch asked Belichick to play a word association game. When Welch brought up Hernandez's name, Belichick responded with, "Tragic."

“Heartbreaking,” Welch responded.

"Yes,” Belichick said. “That would be another word.”

Massachusetts Department of Corrections officials found Hernandez hanged in his cell early on Wednesday morning after an apparent suicide.