Andrews is nothing special. When people use words like scrappy, football IQ, fiesty, etc...... it's all euphemism for him being undersized and easily pushed around by elite pass rushers up the middle. Andrews got destroyed in the playoff game against Houston. They moved their edge rushers to the middle specifically to exploit the weakness in the OL that is Andrews. With that said, his contract reflects that. $3m per year is the lowest salary of any center, and I think even any interior OL, not on rookie contract. So he's being paid the lowest in the league to reflect that he's nothing special. Atleast there will be continuity.
I swear, I hear this and I question what game people actually watched. Andrews did not get destroyed against Houston. People claiming that he did are talking out their rear ends. There was a whopping 2 plays where Andrews "got beat". One of which was a blitz where they brought Mercilus through the "A" Gap when Andrews already was tied up with Wilfork 1-on-1. The other was a coverage sack where Mercilus came in through the "A" gap late and Cushing cleaned up. Both occurred in the 2nd quarter.
Andrews played very well, over all. Including picking up Cushing on several delayed rushes.. But people like yourself ignore that sort of thing.. You ignore that Andrews handled Wilfork or Covington 1-on-1 most of the game, leaving Thuney and Mason to help the tackles. There were some plays he got help, but a majority he didn't.
And while Andrews didn't have a good game in the SuperBowl, Solder had by far the worst game of anyone on the OL, and he's our stud 1st round pick with a top 10 in league LT salary. So in many ways Solder's play for the $$ he's paid was the bigger concern. Which is likely reflected in the LT we picked in the draft.
Just more proof that your evaluation abilities are greatly lacking.
The Patriots drafted 2 guys who can play tackle because Solder is in the last year of his contract and will be 30 before the start of next season. Many have speculated already that Solder may retire because of his own health issues as well as the health issues of his son. By retiring, he can be there full time to help his wife.
Also, there is the possibility that someone may attempt to offer Solder a contract that the Patriots aren't willing to pay. Not to mention that Fleming and Waddle are also on 1 year deals.
But, yes. We should believe that the only reason that they drafted 2 OTs is because Solder sucked in the SB..
And for all the criticism of why Stork replaced Andrews in 2015, Stork had won a Superbowl with us as a rookie, starting 11 games and the Superbowl, and by all accounts had played well. And when Stork was activated in the 2015 season for the first time in game in Nov 2015 against Redskins, he actually played Guard and then Right Tackle, and Fleming was switched to LT for the game, and Solder, Cannon, Vollmer were all injured. And Stork did a serviceable job. So Stork was already active and playing well when he was moved back to Centre. He didn't come off the bench.
http://www.patriots.com/team/players/roster/bryan-stork
You don't seem to understand what it means to "come off the bench."
Against the Redskins, Stork did not start. He went it at RT after Vollmer, who was playing LT went down in the 2nd quarter, and the patriots had to move Fleming from RT to LT. Stork also played the entire game against the Giants at RT..
Stork did not start against the Bills
The Denver game was the first "start" he got at center during the 2015 season.
So, this idea of yours that he didn't come off the bench is fallacy.