FOXBOROUGH – Tears were flowing inside the GP Atrium high above Gillette Stadium on Monday afternoon.
David Andrews – one of the true ultimate Patriots during the second half of the dynasty – officially announced his retirement in an extremely emotional speech that lasted just over 25 minutes including a brief Q&A. With his family looking on as well as past teammates, Dante Scarnecchia, Mile Vrabel and about a dozen current players looking on, Andrews thanked his youth coaches, high school coaches, Georgia coaches, the Krafts, Bill Belichick and every former teammate he could before finishing with his family.
Those same former teammates including Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon and Jarrett Stidham also took part in a tribute video to Andrews.
Andrews was sobbing at times while getting through the day, a true sign of just how much the game has meant to him not just during his time in the NFL, but throughout his life. He thanked not just people, but the actual game towards the end of the heartfelt speech.
“This game has given me so much over the last 26 years,” he said. “I’ve met some amazing people, been places I never imagined and done things I never dreamed of. It’s taught me so much about life and let me get to play a child’s game and call it a job. You’ve been so good to me and I think I’ve been pretty good to you.
“If there’s any parents on the fence about letting your kids play this game, I promise you, you won’t regret it. There’s no better teacher about life than the game of football. I wouldn’t change one thing about my 26 years playing this game, but it’s time to say goodbye.”
Andrews was also asked what the greatest gift he received was while spending his entire career in Foxborough.
“Getting to work for what I believe is the best organization in pro sports has truly been a dream come true,” said Andrews. “The memories that we’ve made on the field – but, more importantly off the field – will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s very special, because you guys (the Krafts) are not only committed to excellence on the field, but also in this community we get to call home.
“When a group of guys come together and think less about themselves and more about a bigger goal or the team, that’s something very special…the Super Bowls, they’ll remain the same forever, but the relationships will mean more to you at the end of the day than the rings and trophies and all that. That’s got to be the biggest gift. I’ve got life-long friends. Guys I know I can call on when I need something. That’s the most important thing.”
Among all the thank yous he had to get out – including an incredible few words for his wife Mackenzie and boys Ford and Worth – perhaps the most important message when it comes to the future of the organization was the one Andrews had for guys like Drake Maye, Rhamondre Stevenson and others who were in attendance.
In a time where there’s not really a clear direction for what the next ‘Patriot Way’ might look like, players wearing the uniform now need to look no further than Andrews when it comes to the standard.
“It’s tough. It’s hard. You guys (the media) make it hard. You guys are lovely,” he joked. “No, but it’s a huge honor. I’ve always thought the media, the fan base, the community…they want you to win. Playing in a place like that where it’s expected and demanded, as a player, I always enjoyed that challenge. If you’re not playing to win the game…we’re not playing little league anymore, what’s the point of playing?
“If you’re going to do it, why not try to be the best at it? I look at a lot of those teams…yeah, we had, Tom and Julian and Gronk and you know, the list goes on and on. But, what made those Super Bowl teams special were the culture of those teams. Whether it was going on the road in Kansas City in (2018) when everyone counted us out…that wasn’t necessarily all talent. There was a lot more that went into it than talent. I truly think talent only takes you so far. Your culture is really what wins you a championship.
“At the end of the day, talent’s only going to take you so far. If guys on the team will buy-in to what the coaches are trying to get them to do, understand that coaches don’t just have it out for you. They want the best out of you. Buy into that. Buy into each other, Care for each other, you’re willing to sacrifice for each other. You can accomplish great things.”