New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk has been a mainstay in their offense for years, but he is frequently the forgotten piece, and Pro Player Insiders caught up with Faulk this week to get his view of the 2012 version of the Big Game.
When talking about the New England Patriots, we things of the precision passing game with Tom Brady, Wes Welker, and Deion Branch, and we think of upcoming stars like tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez and running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead. But Faulk has been with the Patriots since 1999, and has seen it all.
He provides veteran leadership in the locker room and on the field. Rookie running back Shane Vereen told PPI this week that the biggest lessons he’s learned this year came from Faulk, saying, “Working with Kevin Faulk has really opened my eyes. His work ethic is on a whole other level. Learning how hard he works has helped me a lot.”
Faulk was never the big name playmaker that the media adored, but he is consistent running and catching the ball. Faulk has 3,607 rushing yards in his career, and 3,701 receiving yards – a rare balance. And with his extensive experience with the Patriots, he provides some interesting comparisons to years back. His recipe for the night before the big game? Not surprisingly, for one of the quieter leaders on the team, it is to “lay low.”
PPI: How does the excitement level change, or does it at all?
KF: It changes, because it’s the Super Bowl you’re playing in. You can’t say how it’s going to change, because that level hasn’t got here yet, but Sunday a lot of guys are going to feel a different feeling, a different electricity.
PPI: Do you pick up tips, in terms of preparation from years past? Do you take notes in terms of how you might do things differently preparing for Sunday?
KF: Of course. That goes organizationally, players, coaches. You always have to. You’re always going to learn something different and [you] have to understand you may have to adjust certain things. That’s just dealing with life.
PPI: Saturday night, the night before the game, is your preparation the same as any other game?
KF: Yes. Athletes, we’re routine guys. You don’t want to get out of your routine, so you’re going to try to do the same thing you’ve done each and every night before a game.
PPI: What’s your routine?
KF: Lay low, mellow, talk to friends, talk to the wife, and just thinking out the game in your head.
