BOSTON (CBS) – Running back Shane Vereen dialed in to 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Gresh & Zolak Tuesday afternoon to talk all things Patriots, starting with the bounce back win against the Bengals on Sunday Night Football.



New England head coach Bill Belichick always preaches to his players to “ignore the noise,” but that was damn near impossible last week after his team was blown out by the Chiefs in prime time on Monday Night Football.

Certain Patriots players, and even the head coach to a degree, acknowledged that sentiment following the Cincinnati win.

Shane Vereen also admitted the tone and tenor of the locker room was different last week.

“When you play as poorly as we did a week ago on Monday Night Football on national television, it’s hard to go a week without hearing some kind of backlash or negativity — and rightfully so. We didn’t play well at all,” said Vereen. “But that’s what this game is all about. We came back this week and we played a lot better.”

For fans, the Patriots team that played in the Bengals game in Week 5 looked like an entirely different squad than the one that suited up in Weeks 1-4. But that’s not the case. The scheming and play calling on offense remained mostly the same, only this time they were able to execute.

“It was a lot of the same plays, the same cast of characters. We just did it better. We came in there with a better mindset and we just improved from last week,” said Vereen.

After talking about the emergence of Rob Gronkowski and the way in which they established the run game against the Bengals, Andy Gresh and Scott Zolak couldn’t help but ask Vereen about two of their favorite Patriots players, starting with fullback James Develin.

“Do you guys have one of those Nautilus neck machines in running back meetings and Develin just does those neck rolls all day long?” asked Zolak.

“[Laughter]. No but he does take pride in the neck roll, I will say that. He’s a whole all-around athlete. Complete athlete with all the fixings. That’s how he likes to look at it,” said Vereen. “He’s very smart and the type of guy that likes to hit; loves the contact. That’s why he’s a fullback. He loves being able to do different things.”

Vereen then shed some light on Buffalo, what it’s like playing up there and the opportunity to play former teammate Brandon Spikes, but wasn’t let off the phone until touching on rookie center Bryan Stork.

“I love the Stork. I love the man. He’s a hard worker. He’s a grimy kind of guy, likes to get down in the trenches. And the good thing is he loves his job. He loves being the center and loves to get in there,” said Vereen. “I was talking to him and I said, ‘I’m looking forward to play with you. I’m glad you’re gonna be in there’ and he says, ‘Shane. You see this ass? Just follow it.’ You’ve got to love it.”

The Legend of the Stork grows by the day.

Listen below for the full interview!



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