ORWIGSBURG - NFL rosters are constantly changing.
Injuries, trades and poor performances force teams to make changes in personnel on a weekly basis.
Matt Stankiewitch isn't giving up hope that an NFL team will need his services for the 2013 season.
The former Blue Mountain and Penn State standout was released Friday by the New England Patriots as they trimmed their roster from 75 to 53 players.
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound undrafted, free-agent center was a longshot to make the team from the beginning, but performed admirably in the Patriots' four preseason games.
After returning to his Orwigsburg home Friday, the 23-year-old remained optimistic that his phone will ring and an NFL general manager will be on the other end.
"I was a longshot from the beginning, but I worked the hardest I could to make the 53-man roster," Stankiewitch said Saturday.
"I was released Friday by Coach (Bill) Belichick himself. He said, 'We don't have any plans for you to come back. That could change in two days, two weeks or two months. We like your work ethic, and you've come a long way since your hamstring injury.
" 'But we have to make roster moves and roster cuts, and we've decided to release you today.' "
Stankiewitch was signed to a free-agent contract by the Patriots on May 3 and went through rookie camp and organized team activities with the club. He suffered a hamstring injury during a conditioning test on the first day of training camp July 21, and was released by New England on July 24.
After returning to Schuylkill County and undergoing physical therapy with Dr. David Novatnak of Doctor's Choice in Pottsville, Stankiewitch was re-signed by the Patriots 11 days later Aug. 3.
Stankiewitch played a total of 11 quarters in New England's four preseason games, mostly with the Patriots' second-team offensive line, snapping for backup quarterbacks Ryan Mallett and Tim Tebow.
He saw action in two quarters against the Philadelphia Eagles, three quarters against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and two frames against the Detroit Lions. In Thursday's preseason finale against the New York Giants, Stankiewitch started at center for the Patriots and made every snap.
"It was definitely an awesome experience," Stankiewitch said. "Starting any game, even starting a preseason game, for the New England Patriots is an honor. Not many people in the world can say they did that.
"Going in there, I just stayed poised and focused on my job. We faced the Giants' first-team defense for the first quarter, and I thought it went well.
"It was a positive experience from all the preseason games. I got to play a lot, and
I'm very happy I had that opportunity to get film out there and show I can play at that level. Hopefully teams like that."
Stankiewitch said he immediately notified his agent, Edward Johnson of the Maryland-based Eastern Athletic Services, who will market Stankiewitch to the NFL teams that expressed interest before the draft, after the draft and when he was released by New England in July.
Saturday was the deadline for NFL teams to cut their rosters to 53 players, and a lot of activity will happen between today and the start of the regular season.
"I'm staying positive," Stankiewitch said. "Throughout all of this, if there's a team that needs me, I'm going to be ready and stay in shape and be ready for whatever team needs me."
Stankiewitch, who had several business offers after graduating from Penn State with a pair of degrees in December, said he's going to wait and see what develops with the NFL before deciding on his future. He said he hasn't discussed any timeline with his parents or his agent.
"My agent said it might be a little quiet for a while. Hopefully, when the season opens up and injuries happen, or players don't do as good as they should, jobs open up," Stankiewitch said. "I'm very thankful for the experience I had with the Patriots, and I'm going to be keep trying to get back to the NFL. I'm hoping for the best."