UPDATE (5:37 p.m. ET): The New England Patriots confirmed they have traded center Bryan Stork to the Washington Redskins for an undisclosed draft pick.
#Patriots trade OL Bryan Stork to Washington Redskins: https://t.co/IpyjNyAQYn
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 24, 2016
UPDATE (2:48 p.m. ET): It appears Bryan Stork has not been released after all. Instead, the New England Patriots center has been traded to the Washington Redskins, a source told NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
The Patriots will receive a conditional draft pick in return, per Rapoport’s source.
Wow. #Patriots didn’t cut C Bryan Stork after all… they traded him to the #Redskins, source said. That was unexpected.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2016
The #Patriots traded C Bryan Stork to the #Redskins in exchange for a conditional draft pick, source said. Deal being worked out now.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2016
Rapoport initially reported Wednesday morning that Stork had been cut — a report several members of the Boston media later confirmed.
ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss shared some additional details about how the deal went down.
As @RapSheet said, after informing C Bryan Stork of intention to release him, Patriots have traded him to Washington before official release
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 24, 2016
As did the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe.
So this is pretty hilarious. As you've likely seen by now, the Patriots actually traded Bryan Stork to the Redskins. Here's what happened…
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) August 24, 2016
The Patriots informed Stork of his impending release this morning. Word of that release quickly spread, obviously down to the Redskins…
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) August 24, 2016
Redskins GM Scot McCloughan checked the transaction wire, noticed nothing had been official, so he called Nick Caserio about a trade.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) August 24, 2016
So, Bryan Stork now is a Redskin.
UPDATE (3:15 p.m. ET): The draft pick the Patriots received was a conditional seventh-rounder, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
UPDATE (4:20 p.m. ET): Yet another update to this bizarre story: Stork now is considering retirement, according to multiple reports out of Washington, D.C.
ORIGINAL STORY: In their most surprising roster move of the preseason thus far, the New England Patriots on Wednesday released center Bryan Stork, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported.
A stunner: Former starting center Bryan Stork is being released by the #Patriots today, I'm told. Crazy.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2016
Stork, a fourth-round draft pick in 2014, started 17 games over his two seasons in New England, including Super Bowl XLIX. While he was effective when he was on the field, those two seasons were plagued by injuries, particularly concussions.
The 25-year-old also struggled at times to control his temper, as evidenced by his two ejections from Patriots practice for fighting this offseason.
Second-year pro David Andrews appeared to have the inside track on the starting center job, but many speculated Stork’s ability to play multiple positions along the offensive line would be enough to earn him a roster spot, especially in the wake of injuries to guard Shaq Mason and tackle Sebastian Vollmer.
Andrews now is a lock to start at center. Guard Josh Kline likely will serve as his backup.
The Patriots have eight open spots on their 90-man roster, which must be trimmed to 75 players by Aug. 30.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
