Instead of a new quarterback, the New England Patriots chose a new kicker in the draft.

The kicker comes into focus because of one of his numerous tattoos and has to clarify something right away.

He went into the draft as an absolute nobody. Even US media got caught on the wrong foot when the New England Patriots selected Justin Rohrwasser at 159th position. “ESPN” didn’t even have a highlight clip for the kicker to follow in the giant footsteps of Stephen Gostkowski.

However, before Rohrwasser could face this Herculean task, he first had to take a stand on his political convictions. For many observers immediately noticed one of the numerous small tattoos that adorn the body of the talent from Marshall University.

Symbol of “Three Percenters” on left forearm
On the left forearm, three vertical lines are emblazoned, framed by a circle of stars. It is the symbol of the “Three Percenters”, a militia founded in 2008 and belonging to the right-wing spectrum, which actively fights for the right to possess weapons and refuses to allow the US government to interfere in local affairs.

The group itself denies racist tendencies and does not consider itself a vigilante group. However, members were present at the right-wing extremist demonstration in Charlottesville on August 12, 2017 under the motto “Unite the Right”. At that time, a young counter-demonstrator died when a right-wing extremist drove his vehicle into a crowd of people.

Rohrwasser takes a stand on Tattoo during telephone conference
But Rohrwasser does not want to be associated with all this, and certainly does not want to be pushed into the right corner. During a telephone conference, which was actually scheduled for his presentation, he took a stand before journalists.

“I got the tattoo when I was a teenager and I have family connections in the military. At the time, I thought it was a symbol of support for the military,” ESPN quoted his statements from the call.

Questionable tattoo to be covered
Rohrwasser further explained: “It has obviously developed in a direction that I do not want to represent. In retrospect, I should have been much better informed before I let a sign or symbol be placed on my body. And it is nothing that I would ever represent.”

So he promised, “I’m going to cover it.” To make it so forgotten.

Pipe water has had “Three Percenters” tattoo
A photo circulated by “USA Today” reporter Andrew Joseph suggests that Rohrwasser has been wearing the “Three Percenters” tattoo at least since 2015.

Justin Rohrwasser had the Three Percenters tattoo as early as 2015, which was still seven years after the Three Percenters’ formation. The symbol didn’t just “change” in recent years. pic.twitter.com/oFh0iqFWHn

— Andrew Joseph (@AndyJ0seph) April 25, 2020

Last year, the kicker is said to have declared in an interview that all body ornaments, including sayings like “Liberty or death” or “Don’t tread on me” and the US flag, are “arbitrary”.

Patriots apparently have no reservations
Someone is not really paying attention to his body, one might think. And that as a professional athlete?

The Patriots, at least, don’t seem to have any qualms about it. Neither with regard to their ideology, nor possible distractions through discussions that flare up again and again.

Otherwise, they probably wouldn’t have chosen Rohrwasser as the first kicker of the draft. According to “ESPN” he also reported about a psychological test by the franchise in the run-up to the talent show.

Rohrwasser can understand psychological test
“I noticed this because for me, kicking is also a lot about the mental aspect of the game,” revealed Rohrwasser: “The fact that they were concerned with my mental state … I think they paid a lot of attention to what kind of person it is and what kind of guy they are getting.

Hopefully one whose word you can trust. Especially on such sensitive issues, where sport should not be allowed to drift away. Or at least not in that way.