Andrews pushes back on report slamming team
EVERETT, Mass. – One day after the NFLPA survey came out, hammering the Patriots for the working conditions provided in Foxboro, team captain David Andrews offered a bit of push back in wake of the critical report.
The inaugural survey, which involved 1,300 players, and graded all 32 teams on eight categories (treatment of families, food service/ nutrition, weight rooms, strength coaches, training rooms, training staffs, locker room and team travel) had the Patriots rated 24th overall.
Andrews wasn’t totally surprised by the poor grade, given the different backgrounds and experiences of players.
“Any survey can be skewed,” Andrews said, following his appearance at the Lafayette School as part of Read Across America Day. “There’s guys that may have only been in New England, guys that have maybe been with one other team, or ten other teams who took the survey. There’s guys that have families, guys that don’t have families, whatever it may be.
“For me, I think . . . I’ve loved my time here. And I think everything in that building is designed to help us succeed, and to help us win.
The weight room (D), team travel (D+), treatment of families (C-) and the training room (C-) received the worst grades. The training staff received the lone A.
Andrews, who has spent his entire career in New England, understood how there might be differing views from the players who were polled, but spoke solely from his experience.
“I’m grateful to be in that building. It’s got everything I need to be successful,” he said. “The training staff, the equipment staff, every staff has always been great to me, and helped me out. I think there’s everything I need to succeed in there.”
Per the report, only 64% of players believe club owner Robert Kraft is willing to spend the money necessary for upgrades. Kraft ranked 26th among the 32 owners in that particular category.
Meanwhile, Andrews made sure to get plenty of scouting reports on Bill O’brien before meeting him recently.
Between former Patriots, as well as friends who played for the Texans, the Patriots veteran center got all the intel he needed on the team’s new offensive coordinator.
“I’m excited to get the chance to work with him. I’m excited to get the chance to learn something,” said Andrews, who spent the morning reading to third and fourth graders at the Lafayette School as part of Read Across America Day. “That’s part of it. We have new coaches, that’s how it goes.”