Last season did not go as planned for Stephen Gostkowski.

The 36-year-old struggled over the first four games, missing four extra points, and then found himself on injured reserve after needing hip surgery. Then last month, the team released him following 14 seasons in New England.

Bill Belichick released a statement on Gostkowski, something he rarely does, which shows the true appreciation the coach has for all that Gostkowski has done.

Coming off hip surgery and being in his mid-30s, some wondered if Gostkowski would want to play again, but speaking to NBC Sports Boston's Tom E. Curran this week, the kicker said he does.

"I'm not ready to just hang it up. I'm gonna try to play," he said. "It's going to be tough to show teams what I can do right now or work out or do a physical, but I'm not too worried about it. I'm not concerned. I kind of take things day by day.

"I feel good. I'm starting to feel better. I'm trying to keep getting in better and better shape and I've probably done more so far this year as I would heading into a normal season so I feel like I'm ahead of where I usually am and I have nothing but time."

Gostkowski won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and was named to the Pro Bowl four times.

"We've been so successful as a team, there's nothing for me to complain about," he said. "... We have had it really good and finally being done with the Patriots it's fun to actually look back at it and be able to talk about it in a positive way. Because when you're in it and in the mode, you can never like, sit back and pat yourself on the back or talk about how good it was because you'd win, get drunk at the parade and after that you're like, 'OK, can't talk about it anymore.'

"It's fun to look back and everything I look back at is all positive memories."

Not many teams need kickers, but if healthy Gostkowski would be a major upgrade for many teams around the league.