Only three years ago, the New England Patriots’ interior offensive line stood with a rookie center by the name of Bryan Stork and a pair of veteran guards bookending him in Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell.
It was a trio rooted with former undrafted practice-squadders by way of Fresno State and Southeast Missouri State, as well as a fourth-round Rimington Trophy winner out of Florida State. And it was one that combined to start a total of 36 games during the 2014 regular season under then-line coach Dave DeGuglielmo – not to mention Super Bowl XLIX.
Time has had its way since then.