As if New England Patriots fans don't already have enough reasons to despise the New York Jets, it was learned before last Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills that Kevin Faulk would miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. And who injured him? A Jet, of course, and defensive back Drew Coleman in particular, during the fourth quarter of the Jets' 28-14 win over the Patriots two weekends ago. It wasn't intentional, but it still stings. That's football.
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The 12-year all-purpose Patriot was named one of four co-captains this year (two offense, two defense), and his loss is a big one for the Pats. Faulk was a reliable special teams player and pass-catching running back for all of Tom Brady's career–he's the only Patriot who's tenure with the team predates the Bill Belichick era. He took on several assignments to help the Patriots win three Super Bowls and countless other games, including punt returns on special teams, being a check down receiver on third down, and a sneaky running back when needed.
It sort of annoys me that people are asking only how the Pats will replace Faulk's third down heroics. Sure, he's had some memorable catches on that crucial down over the years, whether it was during the Patriots' first Super Bowl run in 2001-2002 or as recent as week one this season against Cincinnati.
But Faulk was much more valuable to the team than on just third down. You don't get to be the Patriots all-time leader in all-purpose yards (12,140), first in kickoff return yards (4,098), fourth in receptions (418), fifth in rushing (3,505) and sixth in punt return yards (932) by being primarily called upon on third down. That said, how will the Pats fill this void?
Article comments
1 - Chaz
The one thing that Faulk brings to the team that cannot and will not be replaced is his leadership! I agree with you, third downer my ass! Thank G-d he can and will be there with all that Patriot experience he has, to lead the younguns!
2 - paul
As a lifelong New Englander and committed Patriots fan I think many would agree with me that NE has much much larger problems with their defense than any one offensive will cause.
They have been shredded against the run and thanks god there offense is high powered.
3 - fcetier
Sorry to learn of his injury. Faulk began a pilgrimage to NE by LSU stars. There were enough LSU players there that it was once referred to in Baton Rouge as "LSU North".
4 - Victor Lana
As a Jets fan, I feel sorry about the injury, Charlie. His loss will probably be bigger for the Pats than the Jets losing Revis.
5 - Charlie Doherty
Bigger than Revis? I don't know about that, Vic. I think losing Welker again for a lengthy time would be bigger than the Jets losing Revis (by comparison), but Faulk's versatility and longtime reliability is unmatched by any other offensive player on the Pats. So in that respect it's still a huge loss. Totally unexpected. But like I said before, that's football.