Ridley: Kevin Faulk 'Taught Me a Lot of Things'
Patriots long-time runningback Kevin Faulk finds himself still as a free agent, with his future still uncertain as he waits for a call from his former/current team.
Kevin Faulk’s future is still up in the air, but he’s already left his mark in the locker room. (FILE:USPresswire) |
As of right now it appears the team is moving in a new direction, with BenJarvus Green-Ellis having departed for Cincinnati via free agency New England seems to be placing their hopes on second year runningbacks Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley, along with veteran Danny Woodhead and undrafted free agent Brandon Bolden. Up to this point Vereen and Ridley seem to be in the lead to handle the majority of the workload, with both battling for the lead back role.
Faulk’s specialty on New England’s roster was on 3rd down, where he was always a terrific change of pace back and someone who could catch the ball out of the backfield. However it was his leadership in the locker room that his former teammates have always admired, and Ridley told the Boston Herald that the 36-year old taught him how to be a true professional.
“Man, Faulk taught me a lot of things, on and off the field,” Ridley said. “But overall, he just told me, ‘You have to come in here and work every day.’ And he was up here, what 13-14 years? So, apparently, he was doing things right. So I just watched the way he carried himself, and the way he did things, and he was a lot of times the first one in, and the last one out. So for me, watching Faulk, that’s the way to be successful. You have to dedicate yourself to this program and be a team guy. That’s what I learned from Faulk.”
As for Faulk, according to the newspaper it seems should the phone ring, the Patriots would be the only team he’d be interested in playing for. Otherwise he’s ready to move on to the next phase of his life.
“I’m training, feeling good, just waiting to see what happens just in case. You never know,” Faulk told the Herald. “I’m trying to move on a little bit. It’s hard. But you have to move on.”
Faulk finished last season with 9 targets for 7 receptions and 34 yards, while rushing 17 times for 57 yards.