FOXBORO, Mass. — Stephen Gostkowski entered final week because the second-oldest participant on the New England Patriots’ roster behind quarterback Tom Brady.
He’s now the third-oldest following the return of a well-known face to Foxboro: 38-year-old tight finish Ben Watson.
Gostkowski, 35, is one among simply six Patriots gamers who have been round for Watson’s first stint in New England, which lasted from 2004 via the 2009 season. After stints with the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens, Watson reunited with the staff that drafted him final Friday, signing a one-year deal to assist the Patriots offset the lack of Rob Gronkowski.
“I just remember walking in when I was a rookie, and I was like, ‘Man, that dude looks like the Under Armour mannequin when you go to the sports store,’ ” Gostkowski mentioned Tuesday at Gillette Stadium. “But Ben’s a great dude, a really good guy, and it’s cool to have one of the oldies back.”
Watson actually qualifies as an oldie. He, Brady and kicker Adam Vinatieri (now with the Indianapolis Colts) are the one gamers from the Patriots’ 2004 Super Bowl championship staff nonetheless energetic within the NFL.
Gostkowski joined the fray two years later in 2006 and now could be getting into his 14th NFL season. He’s kicked in six Super Bowls, successful three.
“A lot (has changed),” Gostkowski mentioned, reflecting on the early years of his profession. “You have much less and fewer in widespread with the fellows. I imply, I get together with everyone, however I can’t go working out, hanging out, chasing chicks with a number of the younger guys. But being one of many older guys, it’s cool. You don’t actually go inform folks find out how to do issues, however folks do come to the older guys and ask questions — not essentially about soccer, simply how they’re like within the locker room, the place folks reside, simply stuff like that.
“There’s a respect within the NFL of men who play for a very long time, particularly with the identical staff, and that carries over from any place to the place it’s type of like a fraternity, so to talk. You see a man like, ‘Oh, that man performed 10 years within the NFL. He will need to have finished one thing proper. So to get little feedback like that’s fairly cool.
“But I’m just having fun. This keeps me feeling young. I get to bring my kids into the locker room during training camp. My daughter’s been to three Super Bowls and she’s not even 3 yet. My oldest son has been to 5. It’s a dream come true. I wouldn’t change anything for the journey I’ve been able to have, and I look forward to continue trying to make a couple more memories.”
Thumbnail picture through Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports Images