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Bryan Stork injury update: Patriots center upgraded to probable for Super Bowl

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 2, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots center Bryan Stork (66) at the line of scrimmage during the fourth quarter of New England
Nov 2, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots center Bryan Stork (66) at the line of scrimmage during the fourth quarter of New England /
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The Patriots got encouraging news on the health front of starting center Bryan Stork who was upgraded to probable for Super Bowl 49.

LeGarrette Blount and the Patriots ground game may be the key to victory in Super Bowl 49 against the No. 1 defense of the Seattle Seahawks and their running game got great news on Saturday on the health front.

Starting center Bryan Stork has been upgraded to probable for the Super Bowl after testing his ailing knee on Saturday, according to NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport.

Stork is a rookie out of Florida State, but then again when you get to February, you’re not really a rookie any longer, but the first-year pivot should be good to go on Sunday for the biggest game of his life.

His presence in the center of the offensive line is key for the Patriots who want to get Blount rolling against the No. 3 rush defense of the Seahawks and batter them up the middle like they did in the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Blount ran for three touchdowns and 147 yards on 30 carries to life the Pats to their sixth Super Bowl in the Bill Belichick and Tom Brady era and despite the presence of Brady, Rob Gronkowski and a vastly underrated defense, Blount is the x-factor in the game that could decide who hoists the Lombardi Trophy after 60 minutes on Sunday.

He is the only player in postseason history with multiple three-touchdown performances and the leading rusher in Patriots history, so the presence of Stork should ensure the Patriots have all their key personnel ready to attack the vaunted Seattle defense.

The Seahawks had the No. 1 defense in terms of yards and points allowed and led the NFL in pass defense. With Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor patrolling in the secondary, it stands to reason that Belichick will try to beat the Seahawks by attacking their front seven.

Now that’s no small feat either with All-Pro middle linebacker Bobby Wagner, but it is a pick your poison type of deal when you face Seattle.

A rookie center and a running back picked up off the scrap heap wouldn’t figure to be so vital in the Super Bowl, but that’s the situation the Patriots find themselves in.

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