Bryan Stork, starting center in 2014 Super Bowl, informed of his release by Patriots

Share

The first mildly-surprising release of training camp is in the books as the Patriots have informed third-year center Bryan Stork of his release, Tom E. Curran has confirmed. 

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media was the first to report the news. 

Stork was involved in one of the most hotly-contested battles of camp, vying for the starting center role along with 2015 undrafted free agent David Andrews. The pair split reps through the spring and into the summer, but Stork suffered what was reported as a concussion, missed a week of practice, and lost ground to Andrews that was never made up. Andrews started each of the team's first two preseason games, and he was consistently the first center on the practice field even after Stork's return. 

Andrews started and played every snap for the Patriots through the first nine games of last season, helping the team go 9-0 in that stretch. When Stork was activated off of the short-term injured reserve list, he re-gained the center job and Andrews a reserve role. 

Stork made an almost immediate impact with the Patriots after he was drafted out of Florida State in the fourth round in 2014. He made his first start in Week 4 and started 11 games in total. He also started in the Divisional Round against the Ravens that season and in Super Bowl XLIX. 

Stork's release was likely a result of a handful of factors, including Andrews' rise, his own injury history, and perhaps a certain level of on-the-field unpredictability he displayed at times. Stork was removed from two Patriots practices this preseason -- one during OTAs and one during training camp -- for fighting. He also drew an unnecessary roughness penalty during last season's AFC title game. 

The Patriots will move forward under unretired offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia with Andrews, Josh Kline and sixth-round rookie Ted Karras as the players who have taken center snaps in training camp practices. 

Contact Us