FOXBORO — Seated in the front row at Mike Vrabel’s introductory news conference were two Patriots team captains: center David Andrews and long snapper Joe Cardona.

After Vrabel’s remarks, Cardona offered a player’s perspective on New England’s new head coach.

“First impression is exactly where we’re at,” Cardona said. “It’s just an interesting opportunity to get to work, and I’m excited to come in the building and get this back to what the fans deserve.”

Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a Patriots linebacker and is a member of the franchise’s Hall of Fame, inherits a roster that ranked among the NFL’s worst last season. Significant changes are expected as New England enters the offseason with the most salary cap space in the league and the No. 4 overall draft pick.

Every Patriots player is now “starting over,” Vrabel said, and must “prove to us and to this team the impact that they’ll make.” With that outlook, even a longtime staple like Cardona, who’s been with New England since 2015, knows he’ll need to convince the new regime to keep him around.

“As a veteran player, the first thing I’ve got to do is make sure I earn the opportunity to do that,” the 32-year-old said when asked how he, as a team leader, can help Vrabel establish accountability within the locker room. “Ultimately, my goal is to earn the trust of my teammates and my coaches. Whether I’ve done that for 10 years or whether I’m freshly stepping in the building, that’s my ultimate goal.”

Cardona and Andrews are two of the few remaining holdovers from the Patriots’ Super Bowl heyday. New England has not won a playoff game since Super Bowl LIII in February 2019, has missed the playoffs in three straight seasons and is coming off back-to-back 4-13 finishes.

“All you can ask for in this league is an opportunity,” Cardona said. “For my own personal situation and for my teammates, it’s just that: It’s an exciting opportunity.”