Bryan Stork - Traded, Failed Skins Physical, Released by Patriots

TheoShmeo

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Tweet from Rappaport: A stunner: Former starting center Bryan Stork is being released by the #Patriots today, I'm told. Crazy.

Did not see that one coming.
 

pappymojo

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Posted in the other thread, but I'm surprised they couldn't trade him for something of value. The Bears lost their starting center and just practiced against the Patriots.
 

heavyde050

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Posted in the other thread, but I'm surprised they couldn't trade him for something of value. The Bears lost their starting center and just practiced against the Patriots.
I just texted something similar to a friend. Really surprised they couldn't at least get a mid to late round conditional pick for him.
I know he has battled injuries but there are only so many starting centers to go around.
 

jmm57

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Didn't he have like 4 concussions and try to fight everyone on the Bears last week?

I'm surprised by the cut, and a 6th for him would be better than getting nothing, but I'm not surprised teams weren't knocking down the door.
 

Tyrone Biggums

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Has to be related to the concussions. Wouldn't be shocked if another team rolls the dice. Good player when healthy. I'd be more concerned if Dante wasn't back.
 

Yossarian

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I think this is where a lack of versatility doomed Stork. To be beaten out for a starting job is one thing, and even to have health and temperament issues might not kill you in the eyes of Belichick, but for all those things to exist AND to only be able to play one position probably made him a guy not worth keeping around in Bill's eyes.
 

TheoShmeo

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Petragila tweet: Stork was injury prone and had issues relating not just with the media but teammates. And that was a big problem.

Snark is fun and typical, but being a bit surprised by this development is hardly a hot take.
 

Byrdbrain

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I think this is where a lack of versatility doomed Stork. To be beaten out for a starting job is one thing, and even to have health and temperament issues might not kill you in the eyes of Belichick, but for all those things to exist AND to only be able to play one position probably made him a guy not worth keeping around in Bill's eyes.
Stork has played G and T for the Pats so lack of versatility isn't why he is gone. The 4 concussions(that we know of) and general erratic behavior I assume are the issue.
In fact here is an article from 2015 with BB praising his "unusual versatility".
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/the_blitz/2015/11/bill_belichick_praises_unusual_versatility_of_bryan_stork
 

Toe Nash

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Petragila tweet: Stork was injury prone and had issues relating not just with the media but teammates. And that was a big problem.

Snark is fun and typical, but being a bit surprised by this development is hardly a hot take.
Except BB always makes a surprise cut like this because he doesn't care what anyone thinks. Stork had a concussion in camp and Andrews has been taking starting reps since then; Reiss saying he had the upper hand in the battle. It's really not much of a surprise.
 

PaulinMyrBch

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MYRTLE BEACH!!!!
Andrews shows up in much improved shape. Thuney looks like a real deal. Nothing BB does surprises me. I wasn't aware of the erratic behavior, so not shocked.
 

joe dokes

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Andrews shows up in much improved shape. Thuney looks like a real deal. Nothing BB does surprises me. I wasn't aware of the erratic behavior, so not shocked.
To me its Andrews. He looked surprisingly good last year coming out of nowhere, but faded and clearly needed to get stronger. If he did, *and* if Stork had issues, then Andrews made it easy. And it's pretty hard for me to be critical when BB releases on O-lineman. There's a shitload going on there.
 

Yossarian

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Interesting -- I stand corrected on the versatility point. I guess maybe a bigger factor than I had realized was Belichick's relative satisfaction with some of the young interior linemen -- not just Andrews and Thuney, but possibly guys like Karras, who I believe Bill praised earlier in camp.
 

PaulinMyrBch

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To me its Andrews. He looked surprisingly good last year coming out of nowhere, but faded and clearly needed to get stronger. If he did, *and* if Stork had issues, then Andrews made it easy. And it's pretty hard for me to be critical when BB releases on O-lineman. There's a shitload going on there.
Plus I would think Dante's coaching style doesn't leave much room for the BS end of someone's attitude or erratic behavior. He's about discipline.
 

amarshal2

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Is classify this as a mild surprise. A 3/10 on the Belichick scale. I was mostly guessing they'd keep him around as super-sub but I guess not.
 

Stitch01

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This doesn't seem like a total stunner, the roster projection thread has speculated about a Stork cut for a little while now.
 

Kull

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Petragila tweet: Stork was injury prone and had issues relating not just with the media but teammates. And that was a big problem.
I suspect his team mates probably weren't too happy about the "head bob" bullshit that effectively cost them the AFC title game. And it sounds like Stork wasn't the kind of guy who would respond well to ribbing, be it good natured or otherwise. This guy was a Jonah, and it will be a happier ship with him off it.
 

Gorton Fisherman

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FWIW Paul Perillo from PFW also named Stork as a possible "surprise" cut when asked recently. It's pretty clear that this move does not come as a huge surprise among the reporters who actually cover the Patriots beat closely (Perillo, Howe, Reiss, etc). Rappaport thinks this is a "stunner" because 1) he doesn't follow the Patriots beat closely 2) he is kind of a dope.
 

joe dokes

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dcdrew10

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From Jeff Howe on why Brady preferred Andrews over Stork....

Jeff Howe ‏@jeffphowe 54s55 seconds ago
Brady had gotten into it with Stork for not knowing the line checks. Andrews is more cerebral, knows plays in & out.
It just seems like a bad idea to get into it with Brady, who aside from being a GOAT still playing at a high level, has a temper himself.

Stork always seemed like a DeGuglielmo guy and it's probably not surprising that he's gone after Gugs was allowed to take his talents to San Diego. The Chargers o-line seems to be in constant injury flux; not that Stork would fix that, but he'd be a warm body for the time being. Hopefully he gets out before he's permanently brain damaged.
 

Pxer

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I'm a little disappointed, but hopefully Andrews plays great at C for a number of years, and the line can largely avoid more injuries.

His durability had to be the biggest factor. Stork played some quality minutes for this team at a young age.
 

Super Nomario

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Didn't he have like 4 concussions and try to fight everyone on the Bears last week?

I'm surprised by the cut, and a 6th for him would be better than getting nothing, but I'm not surprised teams weren't knocking down the door.
The timing suggests to me either a) they're doing him a solid by cutting him this early and giving him a chance to pick his spot or b) we're going to find out in a couple days that he was actually waived / injured.

I mean, Andrews could get hurt Friday night.
 

tims4wins

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File this under the "I probably read this before and just forgot" category, but apparently Dan Reeves is David Andrews' uncle
 

amarshal2

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The timing suggests to me either a) they're doing him a solid by cutting him this early and giving him a chance to pick his spot or b) we're going to find out in a couple days that he was actually waived / injured.

I mean, Andrews could get hurt Friday night.
I'm sure they considered that Andrews could get hurt before the deadline. Neglecting to do so would be gross incompetence. They must have in-house options they like more at C.
 

E5 Yaz

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The Broncos defensive line got a head's up before it happened
 
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Maximus

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They clearly really like Andrews. I liked Stork's edge but he clearly went over the line with the coaching staff and team mates. In Dante we trust.
 

Was (Not Wasdin)

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His absence in the Titan's game last year was a bit odd-He showed up to the stadium and then left before the game, saying he had a close family member die, and then BB called it a "coaching decision." Maybe he showed up because he wanted to tell the coaches in person that he couldn't play, but it all seemed very last minute.

Edit-to be clear, I'm not saying he necessarily should have played-I'm saying that the whole absence was very disorganized, and very untypical of the Pats.
 

jablo1312

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The day Jeff Howe is even remotely critical a Patriots personnel move will be the first. Not that I think it's a bad move- Andrews seems more than capable, and multiple concussions make Stork an unreliable candidate for playing the whole season. But I could do without the citywide media hit on seemingly the character of seemingly every other player who is cut by the Pats.
 

Eck'sSneakyCheese

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Even when healthy Stork wasn't that good. Not surprised at all. Kline has looked passable as a backup to Andrews, who I had pegged for the starting job anyway. Stork didn't fit the mold of a "Scar-guy" or a "Belichick-guy." Maybe this leaves room for Mason to get some sub work in at C? When healthy of course?
 

joe dokes

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The day Jeff Howe is even remotely critical a Patriots personnel move will be the first.
OTOH--Given the unprecedented success of the team, I would think than *any* reporter should think long and hard before being critical of any personnel move the team makes. Because they chances are really high that the team is right and the reporter is wrong.
 

Stevie1der

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OTOH--Given the unprecedented success of the team, I would think than *any* reporter should think long and hard before being critical of any personnel move the team makes. Because they chances are really high that the team is right and the reporter is wrong.
At this point second guessing a Belichick decision is a bit like Matt Damon vs Stellan Skarsgaard in Good Will Hunting:

(Looks at paper) "This looks good...wait, you're cutting Bryan Stork?"
BB "Yeah, it makes the team better."
"...Are you sure, it looks like Stork can play three positions on the oline..."
BB "Trust me, it's right. We'll be fine."
"...But did you consider that maybe-"
(BB lights Stork jersey on fire) "Do you know how easy this is for me? Do you have any fucking idea how easy this is? This is a fucking joke! And I'm sorry you can't do this, I really am because I wouldn't have to fucking sit here and watch you fumble around and fuck it up!"
 

kartvelo

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I'd forgotten that piece of info, and now my blood is boiling. Bon voyage, Stork.
Do you mean because you suspect there might have been a connection between Stork and Brady not getting along, and the Stork head bobs that allowed the Broncos DL a head start at slamming Brady to the turf?
Or do you just mean because the Pats might have won without the Stork head bobs that allowed the Broncos DL a head start at slamming Brady to the turf?
 

Shelterdog

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I'd forgotten that piece of info, and now my blood is boiling. Bon voyage, Stork.
I'm looking for the tweet but apparently the issue according to somebody (Maybe Bedard) was that he had to look for Brady to stomp his foot (thus the head bob-he was physcially looking back) but the Pats didn't alter the timing from foot stomp to snap. I know a lot of fans picked up on it as fans but the problem apparently wasn't so much the (essentially unavoidable) head bob, it was the wholly avoidable predictable timing from head bob to snap. Apparently Wendell had had the same issue in an earlier season. Not sure if this defense is right thouh.
 

Bergs

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I'm looking for the tweet but apparently the issue was that he had to look for Brady to stomp his foot (thus the head bob-he was physcially looking back) but the Pats didn't alter the timing from foot stomp to snap. I know a lot of fans picked up on it as fans but the problem apparently wasn't so much the (essentially unavoidable) head bob, it was the wholly avoidable predictable timing from head bob to snap.
This still pisses me off to no end. That, combined with foregoing the field goals, likely cost us another ring. It's a razor's edge.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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This still pisses me off to no end. That, combined with foregoing the field goals, likely cost us another ring. It's a razor's edge.
All true, but I push the blame farther back to the winnable games that were either pissed away in the regular season or whole-heartedly punted, any one of which would have put that game in Foxboro and rendered any silent count concerns moot.

edit: The blame for which, in turn, can be pushed yet farther back to the mountain of injuries.