The New England Patriots are heading into their bye week as one of the worst teams in the NFL. Having won just three of their first thirteen games this season, they have already been eliminated from playoff contention and will end with a losing record for a third straight year.
For veteran long snapper Joe Cardona, that is quite the change since his early years with the team. A 2015 draft pick by the Patriots, Cardona won two Super Bowls with the organization before it entered its recent slump.
As a captain and New England’s longest-tenured player, Cardona is mindful of the current state of what is a rebuilding team — and of the fact that a continuation of the recent struggles is, ultimately, not acceptable.