The Patriots signed Reche Caldwell as an unrestricted free agent on March 17, 2006, after he spent four seasons with the San Diego Chargers. The six-foot, 210-pound wide receiver entered the 2006 campaign having caught 76 passes for 950 yards and seven touchdowns in four NFL seasons. As a senior at the University of Florida, the Tampa native became just the ninth player in Gators history to gain more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season and was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver.
Caldwell sat down with us to answer some questions about his life both on and off the football field.
FAVORITES
What was your favorite video game growing up? My favorite game growing up was Tecmo Bowl.
Who is your favorite team to use in Madden 2007? That is not really good to say because it is the Broncos. I use them because their defense is so fast. I would say my favorite team to use is the Patriots, but when I play with the Patriots, I only throw the ball to me.
What is your favorite Halloween costume? I really never wore costumes growing up.
Who is your favorite athlete to watch? It used to be Michael Jordan when I was growing up. There are a bunch of great athletes. I'm going to have to say right now LeBron James is my favorite.
Who is your favorite teammate to harass? Bam Childress, because he is easy to get at.
Where is your favorite place to relax? At home in my game room watching TV.
What is your favorite television show? Good Times.
OFF THE FIELD
Who is the best-dressed teammate in this locker room? Without a doubt, me. I don't really watch what other people are wearing.
Who has had the biggest influence on your life? Definitely my kids. I love watching them grow and look up to me. I try to be a good role model for them.
Who is the one player on this football team that can always make you laugh? I would give Bam Childress that designation too. Just the way he acts, he's silly.
What was the worst job you ever had? Playing football is the only job I have ever had. That is bad, isn't it?
What is the toughest thing about you that your wife has to put up with? When I come home from practice at the stadium, I'm usually too tired to do anything.
When you were growing up, who was the player you pretended to be while playing in backyard football games? I was always Jerry Rice.
What do you like to do in your free time? I like to play video games. I also like to fix up old-school cars. I have a 1972 Chevy Impala and two 1973 Chevy Impalas.
What would your perfect vacation be? A trip somewhere tropical and on the beach.
What is the funniest prank you have ever seen in the locker room? When Tom Brady removed the tires on Matt Cassel's truck and put them in Cassel's locker.
ON THE FIELD
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome in your career? Early in my career it was fighting injuries. I was hurt and didn't play a lot.
Is there one aspect of your game that you have really worked on at receiver? I would say my route running. I didn't start playing receiver until I got to college. I was a quarterback in high school.
Which road stadium in the NFL is the most difficult to play in? Most of them are pretty difficult. Kansas City has some really good fans who are loud.
Which player or coach have you learned the most from in your career? I would say Bill Belichick and Marty Schottenheimer. I have learned a lot from both of them.
What advice do you give rookies coming into the NFL? Go out on the field and work hard and always try your best. You have to go out there every day and get better.
THIS OR THAT
Which game would you rather attend: Game 7 of the World Series or Game 7 of the NBA Finals? I'm more of a basketball fan. I would want to go to the NBA Finals.
Dine in or eat out? Eat out.
LeBron James or Dwyane Wade? Both. Those guys are my favorite two players. If I started a franchise I would go with Dwyane Wade because he won a championship.
Bigger University of Florida rival: Florida State or Georgia? Florida State. When I was at Florida, Georgia was never a tough game for us. We always beat them.
Early riser or Night Owl? I get up early.
JUST FOR FUN
Which one of your teammates would last the longest on the reality show Survivor? I would say Rodney Harrison. I would quit early.
The team has a dominoes table set up in the locker room. Which player talks the most junk and can't back it up in dominoes? I'm the best at dominoes. Asante Samuel talks so much and still loses.
If you could only invite three celebrities to a party, who would they be? I would invite Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé and Vida Guerra.
If you were playing in a basketball tournament and the game was on the line, which teammate would you least like to take the last shot? That's funny. Santonio Thomas cannot shoot the ball.
