Marc Bulger loves to play golf. He also obviously loves football. So it was that Bulger joked during the team’s Organized Team Activities (OTAs) about his absence from the golf course this spring. “I can’t wait for us to win some games and not change coaches,” he said.


That comment came after he was asked whether there has been time for much golf this offseason. Clearly, there has not as Bulger has been busy learning another new offense, this one being implemented by new coordinator Pat Shurmur.


It has been a whirlwind for Bulger since the 2005 season, when head coach Mike Martz became ill and Steve Fairchild took over as offensive coordinator. Since then, the coordinating and play-calling has gone from Scott Linehan to Greg Olson, back to Linehan, and then Al Saunders.


For those counting, including this year, that’s seven changes in five seasons.


Contrast that to Peyton Manning, for example, who has had the same coordinator during his entire 11-year career with the Indianapolis Colts.


Said Bulger, “I think when you look at teams that are successful there’s some sort of stability. Obviously, New England had some changeover. Yet, when you’re successful guys leave, but at the same time the ground work is set. That’s what we’re doing right now. We’re building a foundation. We can go through the whole thing that he (coach Steve Spagnuolo) is preaching right now, but it’s true. Once we have that foundation set we can lose myself, we can lose a coach, we can lose a player here and there. It’s a culture you form and I think that the Patriots showed how in the NFL you can win if you just get the right culture.”


For now, Bulger is simply concentrating on the new offense, and being prepared, knowing training camp is just two months away.


Asked the progress being made, he said, “Getting there. (Last) week we put a lot in. We’re not as crisp as we need to be. I think the base things are in, but now we’re adding a lot of formations and different looks which can be confusing when you’re shuffling guys and finding out what they can do, but we’re making good progress.”


Despite knowing Bulger had two difficult seasons, Spagnuolo has been his No. 1 supporter since being hired in January.


Asked if he made it a point to boost the psyche or confidence of Bulger when he was hired, Spagnuolo said, “Well, it wasn’t anything psyche or confidence wise, it was honesty. I told him those exact words. Myself, Pat, (quarterbacks coach) Dick (Curl), and the rest of this team have all the confidence in the world in him. And you have to have that in a quarterback. Again, I’ve said this before about Marc: The guy’s been to the Pro Bowl. I’ve tried to defend him before as a (defensive) coordinator or defensive coach in a number of different games and I still think he’s a tough guy to defend.”


As for getting that “vote of confidence,” Bulger admitted it was important. He said, “Any time a new staff comes in I think that they’re going to bring in the people they want. He made it clear to me from the get-go that he wanted me to be his quarterback and I appreciate that, but now it’s my turn to keep my side of the bargain and play better and get this team winning. I think that’s the way it has to work. It’s a two-way street.”


Of course, Bulger never lacked for confidence, even as things were collapsing around him. A new start has him confident again.


Asked about being able to play at a high level again, Bulger said, “I do (believe I can). But I always say, it’s one thing saying it and it’s another thing to do it. We have these young guys coming up at receiver. Our line’s pretty much all new. Steven (Jackson)’s going to be healthy. So I’m really, really optimistic. I’m excited, especially to start winning games. But talk’s cheap.”


He understands in the end it’s about winning. When asked if he ever thought about just coming out and talking about the obvious problems around him, Bulger said, “No, I think 99 percent of the quarterbacks in the NFL understand that doesn’t do any good. Your teammates don’t want to hear it, coaches don’t want to hear it and the fans don’t want to hear it, so you can sit there and cry over spilled milk.


“You can make every excuse in the world, but there’s no point in it because in this business it’s wins and losses. ‘Just win baby’ and that’s so true, I’ve started to learn that. The tough stretch isn’t over; we have to start winning games before we can say it’s over.”