Patriots: A Fan Favorite Finds His Way Back to Foxboro
Monday, August 01, 2011
There was never any doubt in Kevin Faulk’s mind.
After a devastating knee injury that occurred in just the second game of the year last September against the Jets, more than just a few folks figured Faulk might be done. After all, it was his 12th year in the NFL, he was 34 years old, and coming back from knee injuries for running backs is always a tough proposition.
So when did he know he was coming back?
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“The day I got hurt. That was it,” Faulk said after training camp practice this weekend. “I knew I had to make the football team. Honestly speaking, before the lockout started, Bill called me and told me, ‘Look, Kevin, I want you on my team in 2011,’ and that was motivation enough for me to go out and rehab my butt off and get ready for the season, whenever it may be and whenever it may come. So, that was pretty much enough for me.”
Faulk has been more than just a fan-favorite at Gillette Stadium…he’s been an integral part of the Patriots’ success in winning three Super Bowls. The all-time franchise leader in all-purpose yards gained and in kick return yardage, he’s been known for his ability to fight for tough yards when he carries the ball, and for his ability to make things happen in the open field when he’s catching the ball. Faulk is also well-respected within the locker room, which made it tough on him not to be around on a daily basis last year, getting ready to play the next game.
“It was very hard – really hard – but sometimes God does things to help you look at other things, and that’s how I took it after a while,” Faulk explained. “And then to come back and be on the football field and see the guys doing well, that really helped me out a whole lot as well.”
Making the team this year is going to be an uphill battle for the former LSU star, and not just because he’s still working his way back from an injury. The Patriots drafted a couple of running backs (Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley), and last season his role in the offense was filled rather capably by Danny Woodhead – which could make this season a bit more of an uphill climb to be on the roster at the end. “I’m motivated to play football each and every day, so it doesn’t matter who’s on the football field,” Faulk said. “But credit to Danny for what he did for this football team last year. He did a wonderful job.
“You have to know that you are actually competing and that’s what I do,” Faulk added. “That’s what I’ve been doing for 12 years.”
And with so much talk around the start to the season focusing on the “Patriot Way,” with new players coming and going from the roster, chances are the guys who have been around the block before – like Faulk – will be looked up to for leadership, if not ability. “I’ve been hearing that a lot – instill the Patriot way – but it’s kind of ironic that when a guy comes here, it’s already in him,” Faulk said. “He wants to come here for that reason, and that’s to win a championship and win football games to be a better football player. And there’s no better coach to do that than Bill (Belichick).”
No doubt in Faulk’s mind about that, either.
Training Camp Notes
Faulk also added that physically, he feels fine, but that he’s definitely anxious to test the knee. “Mentally I want to get out there and see how it is getting hit, pushing and pulling against linebackers and stuff. And you know, that’s just the process of it. Wes (Welker) has been telling me, ‘Man, you had a great advantage of being hurt early on in the season and coming back a year later,’ which is true. I credit him for the way he came back last year, how fast he came back, but he can tell you and Tom (Brady) can tell you, for me, that was probably one of the toughest things – to have knee surgery and then have a lockout and not be able to see my trainers, talk with my trainers and try to do rehab on my own.”
Patriots Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio met with members of the media Sunday morning prior to the start of practice, and mentioned that without the benefit of earlier camps for rookies because of the lockout, each passing day makes it tougher for anyone who isn’t here. “The reality is, everybody starts from the same point and they’re going to be judged on what they do moving forward,” Caserio said. “With all due respect, whatever anyone has done in the past whether it’s in the NFL or in college or whatever team they were on, it really doesn’t matter. The most important thing is what they do now from this point moving forward and they’re going to be judged based on their performance. The players that haven’t had experience in our system, sure, they haven’t been here, but everybody has to get up to speed and the goal is to get prepared as best they can and put themselves in a position that they make a contribution to the team.” Draft picks Nate Solder, Shane Vereen and Ras-I Dowling are still unsigned and not in camp…
Albert Haynesworth apparently passed his conditioning test Sunday morning…as the defensive tackle was on the field for the morning walk-through session, and in pads for the afternoon practice. There was never any confirmation that he had failed Haynesworth the test…only that he had “more work to do” before he could be on the field, according to Bill Belichick…Haynesworth also lined up alongside Vince Wilfork in a four-man defensive line...where are the Patriots on signing free agents Matt Light and BenJarvus Green-Ellis? “Matt’s been a good player for us for a long time. I’d say there are discussions that are ongoing,” Caserio reported. “We’re (also) talking to Benny. I would think that at some point here during the week, I think he’s going to be here.”
The players have been given Monday off, so there will be no Training Camp practices open to the public. The camp schedule for Tuesday, and the remainder of the week should be announced Monday afternoon...
