Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 615: Featuring David Andrews

Release Date: January 27, 2026
Hosts: Ryan Whitney, Paul "Biz" Bissonnette, Rear Admiral (RA), Keith Yandle, Mike Grinnell
Special Guest: David Andrews, former New England Patriots Center

Episode Overview

This episode of Spittin’ Chiclets blends the usual irreverent hockey banter with a deep dive into football, thanks to special guest David Andrews — two-time Super Bowl–winning center for the New England Patriots. The crew revisits the Patriots’ Super Bowl run, analyzes league dynasties, discusses what it takes to survive under Bill Belichick, and veers into classic Chiclets territory with locker-room stories, cross-sport culture, and a heavy dose of friendly abuse. The latter half of the episode returns to hockey with robust talk on NHL playoff races, the Toronto Maple Leafs drama, and more, capped with the “RA’s World” segment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Patriots’ Super Bowl Run & Football Culture

• Whitney kicks things off celebrating the Patriots’ unlikely surge back to the Super Bowl, brags about weathering haters, and relishes in making rival fans miserable. (03:40)

  • Notable Quote:
    “Everyone can suck it…enjoy the Patriots back in the mix when all your loser teams can't get anything accomplished. Rebuild after rebuild. We drafted one qb, he didn't work and we got another one. Now we're back in the big game.” —Whitney (03:40)

• Yandle declares love for the dynasty effect and embraces being the villain:

  • “I love the Belichick-Brady era. So I am so happy for you guys. And right back on top of the AFC.” (08:00)

A. Patriots’ Culture Under Belichick

• David Andrews on surviving “The Patriot Way”:

  • “I took a lot of pride playing in New England because a lot of people didn’t want to play there...to me, like that’s the point, right? Like it’s supposed to be like that.” (09:04)

• Breakdown of the relentless culture: Low Lights film review sessions, internal accountability, learning regional history, and the ethos of not letting teammates down.

  “It wasn’t about not wanting to let Bill down. It was about not wanting to let my guys down.” —David Andrews (12:33)

• Yandle and Andrews reflect on how locker room leadership and player-driven standards made the difference, beyond just coaching (13:40–14:02).

B. Adjusting to Modern Players

• Shift in college football and pro sports culture; NIL, transfer portal, and how younger players’ motivations differ. Andrews credits Mike Vrabel's “more relatable style.”
  • "You can have all these different personalities, but you got to have one mentality." —Andrews (15:44)

C. Game Management and Super Bowl Mentality

• Deep dives into in-game decision making, the impact of weather, and the playoff run's defensive lift.
• Coaching decisions, fourth-down trend, and the sometimes-overuse of analytics:
  • “Sometimes I think we get these analytics and these percentages wrapped in people’s heads and they start playing to that versus feeling what the game is.” —Andrews (24:21)

2. Inside the Patriots & Super Bowl Stories

A. Game Planning, Offensive Adjustments

• Andrews explains the Patriots' adaptability: could win in shootouts, low-scoring slugfests, or with whichever unit was clicking (26:00–29:00).
  • “We were a chameleon...great teams find a way to win, and they don’t care who gets the credit.” (28:37)

B. Center-Quarterback Dynamics

• Center's mental workload — flashcards, whiteboards, self-study to keep up with Brady.
  • Memorable Story:
    “I made flashcards. All the stuff teachers tell you to do to learn how to study and then you don’t do in school, that’s what I did coming in.” (32:38)

C. Locker Room Personalities & Mythical Stories

• Sweaty Ass Anecdote: Tom Brady’s obsession with dry footballs, requiring Andrews to use baby powder and towels.
  • “That’s what made Tom so special, he just found these little edges.” —Andrews (37:06–42:08)
• Gronk, Julian Edelman, and Edelman’s practice antics.
  • “Bill would give us two days off, the O-line was like ‘how quick can we get to Boston and be out at the bars?’” (42:30)
• Practice fights as mood shifters, but how football culture differs from hockey (44:24–46:00).

D. Super Bowl Memories & Mindset

• Atlanta Comeback: No miracle speeches—just focus, adjustments, and sticking to the standard (59:59–63:00).

• Cherishing the team-only moments during Super Bowl week, before families arrive (55:29–56:33).

  “You never know when it’s going to be over…so you damn sure better take advantage of it.” —Andrews (57:04)

3. Current NFL Analysis & Sam Darnold Discussion

• The Patriots' current Super Bowl opponent: Seattle Seahawks and the Sam Darnold comeback arc.
  • “Minnesota's got to be kicking themselves for letting this guy walk out of the building.” —Andrews (48:50)
• Insider discussion on how today’s NFL teams manage new and old player personalities, learning from Vrabel and Belichick.

E. Super Bowl Prediction

• David Andrews (at 80:58):
  “Offensively, they just haven’t looked great in three weeks, and that makes me very, very nervous...I’ll go Pats. 30–24.”
  • (81:54) Whitney: “Those jerseys be getting chucked in the trash if you picked Seattle.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Yandle on the Patriot’s Winning Culture:
  “When you got a good o-line and guys that click with each other and play together for a long time, it doesn’t matter because … when shit hits the fan, you know how everyone’s going to react.” (36:33)

• Andrews on Belichick & Brady:
  “Tom, when he went to Tampa, he took everything he learned from Bill and just instilled it into Tampa...” (25:41)

• Andrews on details:
  “If this guy at the top of his game is this detail-oriented, then who am I?” (41:42)

• On football-fights vs. hockey-fights:
  “Football fights are dumb. You have helmets. You're just going to hurt yourself.” —Andrews (45:19)

Additional Segments

Hockey & Culture Round-Up (86:23–128:20)

• Penn State Whiteout: The crew previews an on-location episode and a packed NCAA weekend.
• NHL Hot Topics:
  • Detroit Red Wings’ rise and whether Steve Yzerman should make a big move now or wait (113:48+)
  • Kadri, Trocheck, and potential blockbuster center moves.
  • The future of Connor McDavid (118:05); speculation on whether Detroit is angling to lure him.
  • Oilers: McDavid historic point pace, Bouchard’s rise, Leafs soap opera (Nylander’s antics, Marner’s departure, William Nylander’s press-box finger), more.

“RA’s World” (155:50–end)

• RA gives the Instagram vs Twitter update:
  “Instagram has a lot of good stuff…there’s wholesome stuff, way more positive.”
• Super Bowl picks:
  All picking the Patriots, but with nerves about the offense.
• Oddball & heartfelt territory:
  • Space Talk: NASA’s moon trip, astronaut colonel friend, Chiclets flag on the ISS (176:12)
  • Serious discussion: On recent U.S. events and public policy (182:37–186:18)
  • Tributes: Shout-outs to the Darlene family (tragedy), Michigan State’s Dan Sturgis

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Patriots/Football Deep Dive with David Andrews: 08:29–82:44
• Sweaty Ass / Tom Brady Towel Talk: 36:53–42:08
• Seattle/Sam Darnold Talk: 47:43–53:09
• Super Bowl Week Stories & Locker Room Culture: 53:21–65:08
• Transition to Hockey Segments: 85:36
• Detroit Red Wings, Trade Speculation, and Future Moves: 112:48–128:20
• NHL Playoff Races, Player Drama, and League Rundown: 128:21–154:00
• RA’s World (social media ban, moon landing, and more): 155:50–end

Final Thoughts

This episode is packed with crossover sports knowledge, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and the banter that defines the Chiclets universe. David Andrews brings a rare look inside what life was really like in the heart of the dynasty-era Patriots, revealing the grueling standard, the (occasionally hilarious) drive for any edge, and how legacy is built and shared. The hockey talk is its usual cocktail of serious analysis and absurdities—a perfect blend for listeners who like their sports unfiltered.

Listen if you love:

• Superb cross-sport insights about football and hockey cultures
• Outlandish locker room tales (ass towels, anyone?)
• Deep discussion on historic league cultures and player mentality
• Raw, unverifiable rumors about the next mega NHL trades
• The offbeat, heartfelt, and occasionally deranged world of RA

Listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts — prime territory for Patriots, hockey lifers, and fans of ridiculous stories alike.