If anyone could be coasting during this abysmal 3-10 season for the Patriots, it’s David Andrews.

As a 31 year old veteran whose been beaten up during his now nine-year career, it would be understandable if Andrews wasn’t as engaged or committed to the every day grind – especially in December – when the team is just struggling to keep its head above water.

However, it’s been the complete opposite.

Whether dealing with the quarterback carousel, teaching young teammates or dealing with the media, Andrews has been the definition of a professional. Andrews has shown what it truly means to grind as a pro and shown everyone – teammates and media alike – what doing something you may not want to do whole heartedly every day looks like.

For instance, Bailey Zappe has found himself in quite a tough spot this season, going from being cut to the team’s starting quarterback in a matter of months. Andrews has done his best to help the second-year QB whenever he can.

“He’s helped a lot. Of course, he’s been in the league for, I think, nine or ten years now. He’s seen everything that you could possibly see as far as fronts, as far as pressures,” Zappe said when asked about Andrews on Wednesday. “There’s always things that I go up and ask him, ‘Hey, what are you looking for? If it’s over front, under front, diamond front, what things are you kind of looking at’? So, just always picking his brain. Always learning the whole aspect of what the defense is trying to do against us. It’s awesome to pick his brain. I know he’s learned from other guys as far as Dante Scarnecchia and Tom [Brady] and all those guys. There’s things that he’s learned that I’ve never been taught. So, just always picking his brain and just kind of seeing how he sees things and just trying to see the whole aspect of what the defense is trying to do against our offense.”

Andrews met with the media on Thursday morning and had the proper perspective when asked “how difficult” the season has been for him.

“I don’t think difficult is the right word,” he said. “I still get to play football for a living. In life, you can prepare and do all the right things, but it doesn’t mean you’re going to have success always. It’s a good life lesson. Just because you try hard doesn’t mean things are going to work out. You know?  You’ve got to execute when it matters most. Hopefully I can teach my son that one day.

But, it is what it is. It’s a great opportunity. I’ve enjoyed getting to know a lot of these guys. There’s been a lot of new faces this year. You’ve got to embrace everything, every opportunity that you get. Embrace struggles, when it’s easy, whatever it may be. I’ve had a lot of challenges. Whether it’s learning what to do in certain situations, uncharted water. Figure that out after the season, what I could have done better, what I thought I did good, what I thought I did good playing wise, what I can do better, all things like that, try to figure it out after the season. I’ll look at it at a more totality…it’s hard to do when you’re just in it each week and it’s just rolling and it snowballs. You play a game, you’ve got to wash that game out and come in and it’s right back into the next game.

“So, I try to enjoy everything, embrace the grind, embrace the process because it beats doing a lot of other things.”

With the franchise facing some probable major changes, Andrews’ consistency, never-changing demeanor and steady approach to his craft has been impressive and hopefully, important for younger guys to see moving forward.