FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Veteran defensive end Adrian Clayborn has one of the NFL's more inspiring stories, as he has carved out a successful eight-year professional career despite being diagnosed with Erb's palsy at birth. Erb's palsy occurs when the nerves in a baby's upper arm are damaged.

"At first I was a little hesitant [to talk about it], but it came out in the draft process. Now I embrace it," said Clayborn, who had lost some movement and had some weakness in his right arm. "I think I might be the only one in the NFL who ever played with Erb's palsy. I try to embrace it and reach out when people reach out to me, and give encouraging words to get through this tough process. Because it's not easy."

The soft-spoken Clayborn, who grew up in St. Louis, signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Patriots on March 17. He's quickly grown to appreciate his new team, while making a favorable impression on coach Bill Belichick.

"I think he's been all pretty much as advertised -- really professional and hard-working kid, smart, a really good teammate, does a good job," Belichick said. "I'm glad we have him. He's a really good addition to the team."

When it was mentioned to Belichick that Clayborn has inspired many by playing despite Erb's palsy, and the coach was asked if he's noticed anything in terms of how it impacts Clayborn on the field, Belichick said, "He doesn't talk about it. He just goes out there and works through it."

Clayborn, 30, has done so mostly by playing right defensive end to help compensate, and his resilience, work ethic, nonstop motor, fine-tuned technique and tough-minded approach have helped him succeed. He detailed his football journey in a one-on-one interview with ESPN.com:

When he first started playing football: "Eighth grade. My older brother played and I used to watch him, and I always wanted to play but was too big. When I got to middle school, there was no more weight limit, and I was able to start playing. Offensive tackle -- I was one of the biggest kids, so that's where they stuck me. It didn't last long."

Favorite teams and players growing up: "I was a Rams fan, growing up with the 'Greatest Show on Turf.' Kurt Warner. Torry Holt. Isaac Bruce ... all those guys. I remember watching [Super Bowl XXXVI], I knew the game, but I wasn't that big into football yet. It's cool to look back now that I'm playing on this team."

Role models in his life: "Definitely my mom. She was a single parent, pretty much all my life growing up, so she really helped guide me through life. There were older players at Iowa, just helping me stay the course. I came in as a big-time recruit, so maybe a little big-headed, but a guy like Kenny Iwebema, he played briefly in the league and helped me. And then once I got to the NFL, [Buccaneers defensive tackle] Gerald McCoy -- he was a second-year player but was way advanced and he helped me out a lot."

Top memories at Webster Groves High School, where he won a state title as a freshman: "Probably playing offense -- tight end. That was back when I could catch the ball. That was fun -- being bigger than everybody and catching balls over them. I probably can't catch it now."

Enrolling at Iowa: "I narrowed it down to offers from Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and I think the last one was Tennessee. It just felt right when I took my visit to Iowa. Just meeting with the coaches and everything was clicking. Playing in Kinnick [Stadium] was special. It's a tight stadium and you have the crowd right on top of you."

Selected in the first round (No. 20) by the Buccaneers in 2011: "That was during the lockout, so everything was weird. At the combine, their GM at the time, Mark Dominick, came to me and said, 'If you're there at 20, we're going to pick you.' All GMs say that, but it was true and I was happy."

Top football memories in Tampa: "Not many. My rookie year was my best year there and I had Keith Millard as my coach; he had played with the Vikings and was a great coach. It was really learning how to rush in the NFL with him."

Signing as a free agent with the Falcons in 2015: "My first head coach, Raheem Morris, was an assistant coach there. So I got hooked up with that and then [head coach] Dan Quinn had coached Michael Bennett [in Seattle], and he's one of my best friends in the league. He was in Tampa when I was there, so we had that connection and they all just vouched for me."

Signing with the Patriots this past offseason: "It was my first visit taken. I came and was just planning to hear them out, because I didn't know if they really wanted me. I got here and they said they needed some help on third down, which sounded good to me. It's been good, just adjusting, and I think I have the system down now. It's a well-oiled machine and I like that. You know what to do, they give you the path to do, and you go do it."

What he loves about football: "Physicality. It's given me so much more than I could ever dream, growing up as a kid. The game has been good to me."

Summing up his football journey: "Just perseverance. It hasn't been easy with the Erb's palsy, and to have to play this game with an arm and a half pretty much. So it's been challenging but fun. It's given me things I never thought I'd have, and taken me places I'd never thought I'd be. And I met awesome people along the way."