Will Campbell talks poor Super Bowl performance, avoiding media

Earlier than he began fielding questions from the media on Tuesday throughout clear-out day within the Patriots locker room, left deal with Will Campbell opened his availability by providing up an apology.

Lower than an hour after Campbell and his teammates walked off the sphere at Levi’s Stadium following a crushing 29-13 loss in Tremendous Bowl LX, the rookie offensive lineman declined to talk to the media in New England’s somber locker room.

For Campbell, the fourth total choose within the 2025 NFL Draft, the ache was nonetheless too uncooked amid an inconceivable run that led to calamity. 

“[I] simply had a whole lot of feelings, clearly, going after a tricky loss, a protracted 12 months. Simply a whole lot of feelings include that,” Campbell stated to reporters, together with Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. “I simply wished to guarantee that I had my head on correctly earlier than I stated something I didn’t need to say, something that I didn’t have to say. And I do know that may occur, particularly with myself, every time there’s feelings concerned.”

Campbell picked a tough time to submit one in every of his worst performances of his younger profession.

The 22-year-old deal with was shredded by Seattle’s protection in Santa Clara, with Subsequent Gen Stats knocking Campbell for a whopping 14 pressures allowed in Tremendous Bowl LX. That stood as essentially the most pressures allowed by any participant in a sport this season, together with the playoffs.

In whole, Drake Maye was sacked six instances and hit on 11 different events on a night the place New England’s offense utterly imploded. 

Campbell didn’t mince phrases when requested of his efficiency on Sunday, labeling it as “horrible.” 

“It comes with the job. Whenever you don’t carry out — clearly I used to be picked excessive, paid so much. So folks count on a sure factor, and I count on extra of myself,” Campbell advised Callahan. “So every time I don’t carry out, I don’t count on everybody to be like, ‘It’s OK, buddy.’ I imply, clearly it sucks. However it doesn’t suck for anybody greater than it sucks for me.”

Campbell’s struggles down the stretch have raised questions over whether or not or not the younger offensive lineman can perform as franchise left deal with — with a transfer to left guard (whereas hindering his total worth) doubtlessly permitting him to turn into an All-Professional expertise.

Mike Vrabel shot down that discourse on Tuesday, as soon as once more reaffirming that Campell would stay because the crew’s left deal with transferring ahead. 

“Will’s 22 years outdated, he’s our left deal with,” Vrabel said. “He’ll get higher, he’ll get stronger. … There’s performs he’d prefer to have again. We’re not transferring Will to protect, or middle, or to tight finish, or anyplace else.”

Campbell had a number of different supporters in Foxborough on Tuesday, with Drake Maye giving his left deal with a vote of confidence regardless of what performed out in opposition to Seattle on Sunday. 

“It’s a pleasure going on the market with Will each time. I do know it’s in all probability been a protracted 12 months for the rookies. A protracted 12 months for Will,” Maye said of Campbell. “A protracted 12 months for these guys to get tailored to the NFL. 

“I believe Will is a superb case of any individual who skilled all of it. Who skilled the ups and downs of the harm aspect of it. The lengthy instances the place you don’t need to speak to the media, however it’s a must to.”

Past the hope that Campbell will proceed to develop right into a dependable presence defending Maye’s blind aspect with extra reps, a clear invoice of well being may also serve Campbell properly.

Campbell suffered an MCL harm in November that put him on injured reserve, forcing him to overlook 4 video games. Regardless that he returned in time for the playoffs, his play did dip — giving up 4 sacks within the postseason. 

“It clearly wasn’t 100%,” Campbell stated. “I imply, I don’t assume once you tear a ligament in your knee, it’s not going to be the way it was earlier than, however I used to be wholesome sufficient to go. I’m not going to say that it held me again, however yeah, it wasn’t the identical because it was earlier than, clearly. However I used to be good.”

Regardless of an unpleasant finish to his rookie season, Campbell believes there’s much more positives that he can harp on as he tries to place Tremendous Bowl LX within the rearview mirror.

“I don’t assume one efficiency defines a season. I believe I did some good issues this 12 months,” Campbell stated. “Clearly, there’s room for progress in each side of my sport. I’m 22 years outdated. I’ve a whole lot of room for progress in each side as a participant, as a frontrunner; whether or not that’s power and conditioning, go safety, run-blocking, no matter it is perhaps. I’ve progress in every single place. I’m younger. I’m studying.”

 

Conor Ryan is a employees author overlaying the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Pink Sox for Boston.com, a task he has held since 2023.