The New England Patriots' offensive line had its worst game of the season last Sunday and played a huge role in the team's 20-18 loss in the AFC Championship Game. Now, the players and the coaching staff need to start re-focusing and looking forward in order to find a way to improve the unit over the course of the next eight months.
One player already "on to 2016" is starting center Bryan Stork.
The 25-year old Stork is known as a man of few words. Yesterday, during the Patriots' seasons last portion of media availability, he once again showed why. He was asked about his feelings and plans, about looking forward and looking back.
His answers were pure gold.
So, without further ado, here is "Patriots center Bryan Stork answers questions" (quotes via the Boston Globe's Tim Healey):
Q. How do you sum up how the offensive line played [against the Broncos]?
A. I’m on to next year.
Q. A day later, has it sunk in?
A. I’m just on to next year.
Q. I know you’re on to next year, but how do you assess how this team played? You have to be proud of your teammates.
A. Right.
Q. How quickly did you move on to next year?
A. Just on to next year.
Q. Plane ride, locker room right after?
A. Whenever the game is over, you move on to next year.
Q. Is it hard because it doesn’t do you any good to look back?
A. You learn, but it’s good to move on. Go on to next year.
Q. What did you learn?
A. I learned things.
Q. Take pride in coming this far and making it to the AFC title game?
A. It’s never good enough. But we’re on to next year.
Q. Is there a sense of ‘What do I do now?’ now that the season is over?
A. I got things to do.
Q. How much time do you take off of football after the season is over?
A. Usually a couple weeks.
Q. Anything good going on the next couple months?
A. Yeah.
Q. Like what?
A. Things to do.
Somewhere, Bill Belichick is smiling.