Two weeks ago, Caedan Wallace settled into his locker and dropped his helmet.

The Patriots’ final practice of the week had just ended. A trip to Miami awaited the next day, and with it, a chance to redeem their season-opening loss to Las Vegas.

For Wallace, a 25-year-old offensive lineman, it was time to undress, shower, head home, pack and get ready to fly.

But for now, that could all wait.

A video message from his father had popped up on his phone. Wallace hit play.

In the video, a slight woman dressed in all black stood inside a tidy living room surrounded by strangers. She sobbed. Fighting through her tears, she thanked the strangers. Then, a burly man wearing a blue Patriots hat and white t-shirt approached her, extending a set of keys. She took them and sobbed some more.

Wallac

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