Tom Brady Finds Rookie David Andrews 'Very, Very Impressive'
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- It's been quite some time -- 15 years, to be exact -- since Tom Brady was a rookie in the NFL. Yet the future Hall of Famer still recalls some fond memories of the 2000 season, when the then-23-year-old got into just one game and threw just three passes.
"When I was a rookie, I was the fourth quarterback on the roster," Brady said Wednesday at Gillette Stadium. "I got to like, eat nachos before the game. I wasn't dressing or active. I just had to bring my playbook to the meeting. That was about as much as I had to do right that year."
Brady took the brief stroll down memory lane because he was asked about the work of center David Andrews, the undrafted rookie who has played every single offensive snap through the first seven games of the season.
"For him to come in there and play every snap as an undrafted free agent ... he came in and [Ryan Wendell] was there, [Bryan] Stork was there, he's fighting to make the team and then gets the opportunity and takes advantage the way he did, it was very, very impressive," Brady said. "He's a great kid. A lot of fun to be out there with. I can't say enough good things about him."
Andrews has certainly exceeded all expectations, albeit in a position that doesn't often draw too much attention. Yet there was significant concern over the status of the offensive line early in the year, when the second-year center Stork was placed on IR and the veteran interior lineman Wendell was suffering from an illness. Now, with the Patriots boasting the No. 1 scoring offense in the league, those early-season worries have long since faded.
Among the many remarkable aspects to Andrews' game has been his ability to keep the QB sneak with Brady as a near-100 percent play. Though the Colts did come up with a rare stop of Brady a few weeks back, the QB sneak has remained one of the Patriots' best plays in short-yardage situations.
Though Brady certainly possesses an almost innate sense and feel for getting the yard when he needs it, he gave credit to the guys doing the blocking for him.
"I think that's just a lot of great blocking. It's a lot of trust in the guys that are up front trying to bore a hole in there with me," Brady said. "We've done a good job of that over the years. It's a good weapon for us. Hopefully we can keep making it work. ... Whenever coach calls my number, I've got to go out there and try to execute it."
Brady did say there are "little nuances" to the play, but his coy smile indicated he didn't feel much like broadcasting those secrets to the world.
It will be interesting to see what the Patriots do after this week, when Stork is eligible to return from IR. As a rookie, Stork performed excellently at the center position last year, getting his first start in Week 4 in Kansas City and helping to solidify an offensive line that was shaky in the first month of the season. Stork suffered a knee injury in the divisional round, missed the championship game, but returned to play in the Super Bowl.
None of that is likely to make head coach Bill Belichick feel wistful when Stork is ready to play. Belichick will, as always, "do what is best for the team." Whether that means putting Stork at center and giving Andrews some rest, or whether it means having one of the two play at guard, or whether it means sticking with Andrews and keeping Stork as a backup remains to be seen.
But without weighing in on his preference for what will happen, Brady punctuated on Thursday that regardless of the decision, his hands will be in a good place.
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