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ESPN Staff Writer- John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Post. He started covering the team in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored four books. You can also listen to him on 'The John Keim Report', which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and follow him on Twitter @john_keim
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ESPN Staff Writer- Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.
Center Bryan Stork failed his physical with the Washington Redskins, nullifying a trade made with the New England Patriots last week, and then the Patriots waived him later Monday.
It is uncertain why Stork failed the physical, but he has suffered multiple concussions in his first two seasons.
"It's disappointing. I'm sure he's disappointed. We're disappointed, but it happens every year," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said after Monday's practice, according to the Washington Post. "When people get traded or picked up, they have to pass physicals, and every physical is different. Until all that gets taken care of -- they report, they pass a physical -- as a coach, there's really not a lot you can do until they actually get into the pads and into practice. It's unfortunate. He's a great kid and obviously a very good player. ... Every physical is different on every team, so it might be different somewhere else, but it didn't work out here."
The Redskins had agreed to send a conditional seventh-round pick to the Patriots in exchange for Stork on Wednesday. But, a source said, the shock of his pending release by the Patriots and subsequent trade left Stork contemplating retirement. Stork, though, had apparently changed his mind on that stance and tweeted Saturday about looking forward to playing in Washington. That tweet has since been deleted, and he will now have to continue his career elsewhere.
ESPN 980 in Washington first reported Stork's failed physical.
A fourth-round pick in 2014, Stork started in New England's Super Bowl run two seasons ago. But a concussion and a muscle-related issue sidelined him at the start of the 2015 season, though he returned to start the final seven games.
Stork has reportedly suffered four concussions in the past four years. He suffered another concussion earlier this month.
In Washington, Stork would have had a chance to compete with center Kory Lichtensteiger for the starting job at some point, a source said. The Redskins have said repeatedly this summer that they are pleased with Lichtensteiger, and they have used guard Spencer Long as the backup center. Stork would have provided more depth and options.