Why Patriots' David Andrews is returning for 10th NFL season

FOXBORO – David Andrews never really hinted at the possibility of retiring after New England’s season finale in January. But the nature of the job suggests retirement isn’t that far away. And he hasn’t exactly committed to playing in 2024, either.

He had just completed his ninth season – a season in which his team won just four games – and was asked, after a 17-3 loss to the Jets, if there was any uncertainty about his future on the ground.

“I don’t know,” he said at the time. “I think I still have something in the tank, you know? But we’ll see. I’m tired. I’m sore. It’s been a long year. I’m going to go home. I’m going to go back to Georgia. I I’m going to sit on my tractor with my son take him deer hunting Then I’m going to go back to work and see where it goes from there.

A few months later, Andrews once again committed to helping the Patriots move forward.

“It’s not really about loving the game,” Andrews said Thursday. “I’ll be 65 and I still love the game. But I’m just making sure I can do everything I need to do to prepare and be ready to go on Sunday.

“I took some time off, got away and spent some much needed time with my family. That desire was always there to want to get up, go work out and do whatever I need to do to take care of myself. »

Andrews explained that preparing for a season isn’t what it used to be for him. He remembers that years ago, Matthew Slater struggled to spend three hours a day training – the first hour being just to ensure his body could function properly for the rest of the work ahead – but now he’s in the same boat. While practicing at a Georgia high school earlier this offseason, players there gave Andrews the same kind of grief he used to give Slater.

Preparing for a different type of season ahead also seemed to energize Andrews. With head coach Jerod Mayo and a new offensive team in place, he described feeling a sense of anticipation about being part of the franchise’s new beginning.

“Obviously with the changes and everything, being able to talk to Mayo, sitting down with him, talking to him, I was very excited to be a part of something new, a change,” Andrews said. “But hopefully I’m trying to figure it out and start something new and start something good. Being part of that process, that was something I was passionate about.

Former Patriots OT Sebastian Vollmer shares his thoughts on Jerod Mayo as a leader and why he thinks the Patriots head coach will succeed in his new role.

Mayo and the rest of the organization should be grateful that Andrews felt that way. He is one of their true leaders on that side of the ball, and he will be a trusted voice in helping rookie quarterback Drake Maye find his place as a pro.

He could be a starting passer in the early stages of his development.

It could be some young offensive linemen in the Patriots locker room.

It could be a first-time head coach looking for respected veterans who can spread his message.

Having a 10-year center and a longtime captain who has seen just about everything there is to see in football for another adventure? This should make everyone’s life at One Patriot Place a little easier.