‘Rest in love’: Ex-Red Sox player mourning death of best friend, former Patriots QB Ryan Mallett

BOSTON — An ex-Boston Red Sox player is mourning the death of his best friend and former New England Patriots quarterback, Ryan Mallett, who passed away Tuesday in an apparent tragic accident.

“I lost my best friend today. Someone who has stuck by my side since we were just kids,” Will Middlebrooks said of Mallett who reportedly drowned at a beach in Florida. “The most competitive, hard-headed, fun-loving person I ever met. Nothing prepares you for this. I was lucky to have him for as long as I did. Rest in Love One-Five. We love you.”

Mallett, 35, was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft out of the University of Arkansas. He spent one season in New England before moving on to the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens.

In a heartfelt note, Julie Procell Middlebrooks, Will’s mother, said Mallett was like a “son” to her.

“I love you, man. My other son. The one who sat on my lap as a joke into adulthood and never, ever forgot my birthday,” Julie said. “The other half of Middlebooks’ competitive soul. I want you back. I want you to enjoy the life you made. I want to help your mom and I can’t.”

In a longer statement shared on Facebook, Julie wrote the following of Mallett:

Ryan, oh Ryan. I have cried so many tears, yet I know my pain is nothing like your family’s. I’m still crying ugly tears right now. You called me mom, and I called you son. I stayed late after Hooks football games so you and Will, as 7th graders, could play on the field. You two lived and loved to compete like no one else around and fell together because of it. You worked so hard to make him a WR so he’d be your WR.

You sat on my lap every time you were at our house and what started as a joke continued as our tradition long past your childhood. I’m grateful the chair never broke considering both our sizes. You came to us for solace after that first playoff game, and stayed. I still remember coming into Will’s room to get you both up and seeing your feet hanging off the end of the bed and Will asleep on the floor lol. Your shoes are still under his bed. I have always kept them because they were part of you after you left us for college and then the pros. I asked once if you wanted them back and you laughed and told me to keep them in case you came back over and needed them. They’re about 20 years old now.

You met us outside Fenway for Will’s debut, took our suitcases to your vehicle, and made sure we had someone from home beside us because we had no idea what we were doing. Your “disguise” failed miserably and soon fans were buying you drinks and asking for photos and you put up with it all. You stood up there and tried to make me laugh during W and J’s entire wedding service, you wicked boy. Every single birthday I heard from you. Every single one. “I love you, mom.”

It’s going to hurt so bad not to hear that from here out. We cried together when you lost your dad so suddenly, and I know his loss left a hole in your heart. But I know you loved us all. I love you, Ryan, and I have for a very long time. Through the good times and the bad, we always considered you partly ours, just like your family has always considered Will part of theirs (Will much preferred your mama’s breakfast over mine). We are devastated and right now I can only fall back on memories and the reassurance of the Lord.

I pray for your family, especially your mama. She and I just sat on the phone and cried together yesterday. Right now I don’t care if you’re in a “better” place, I want you back and happy with that sweet young woman, coaching those kids, comforting your mama, and loving on Lauren and her family.

Mallett’s death was confirmed by Skip Carr, the assistant principal at White Hall High School in Arkansas, where Mallett served as head football coach.

First responders were called to a beach in Destin about an apparent drowning of a tourist, who was later identified as Mallett.

Lifesaving measures were immediately administered but Mallett was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

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