After a successful start to free agency this year, the Patriots made the shocking announcement they were releasing longtime starting center and two-time Super Bowl Champion David Andrews. He had been with the team for ten years and was the longest-tenured remaining Patriots, spending half his career working directly with Tom Brady.
But now he wouldn't be helping to develop the next franchise quarterback in New England, which was a shocking move for several reasons to most Patriots fans.
Because the offensive line is one of the weakest parts of the roster this offseason and was expected to be a priority in free agency, releasing the most experienced lineman didn't seem like a great idea. Despite missing most of the 2024 season due to injury, Andrews had been the most consistent player of the group, even if his production slightly declined in recent years.
With no explanation cited for his release other than the mention of a failed physical, many fans and reporters believed his shoulder injury from last year played a role in the new regime's move to release him. It was similar to how the Patriots handled Julian Edelman's retirement, prompting rumors that Andrews was next in hanging up his cleats.
However, Andrews' has now commented on his release and implies that is not the case, making the Patriots' decision a bit more indigestible for the fans.
David Andrews speaks for the first time since the Patriots shockingly released him
During the latest episode of his "The Quick Snap" podcast with former quarterback Brian Hoyer, Andrews finally comments on the Patriots' decision to release him last week. He had remained quiet on the subject since then, prompting many to speculate about the real reason his longtime team chose it was better to move on.
Andrews quickly ended any rumor that had begun over the past week, letting it be known that he was not happy about his release but respected the decision because he understood the game of football and all that the business entails. But he implies he can still play, and he wants to play, even mentioning considering playing elsewhere in the league, essentially ending any talk of a forthcoming retirement.
Making the situation a bit more difficult for Patriots fans to hear, Andrews shares that he could have provided value to returning and was looking forward to working with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels again, all of which were things many were looking forward to seeing in 2025.
His comments provide more questions than answers about Mike Vrabel and Co.'s decision, and maybe it is more that they're concerned with how his shoulder injury will ultimately impact his performance. Perhaps it's worse than Andrews is willing to admit or accept, or they feel that his play hasn't been up to par in recent years, and it would be better to find his successor this year.
No matter what, it's never fun to see another dynasty-era player move on, especially after seeing cornerback Jonathan Jones and defensive tackle Deatrich Wise Jr. leave for the Commanders last week as well, hitting like a ton of bricks that the glory days are far more ever than we are willing to completely accept.
Hopefully, the team will find a center that can hold a candle to how invaluable Andrews was to the offense over the past ten years and put Drake Maye in an excellent situation for many years to come. And maybe we can see Andrews in some sort of coaching role in the future, or, at the very least, around the team to provide his insight and experience onto the new roster.