In yesterday’s one-liners, we passed along a report that the Patriots hadn’t extended a contract offer to running back Kevin Faulk, a free agent who has spent his entire 11-year career with New England.
Faulk saw that report, and disputed it.
“They have made me an offer, for the record,” Faulk said in a text message to a Boston Herald reporter.
But Faulk wouldn’t say any more than that. It’s possible that all the Patriots are offering Faulk is a contract with a league-minimum salary and nothing guaranteed, which would be an indication that the team thinks the 33-year-old Faulk is done, and all they’re willing to give him is a chance to prove them wrong between now and the start of the regular season.
On the other hand, although most 33-year-old running backs are done, Faulk played well enough in 2009 that there’s every reason to believe he can contribute in 2010. Faulk played in 15 games last season, started seven, carried 62 times for 335 yards and caught 37 passes for 301 yards.
I hate the patriots, but it’s very refreshing to see a guy….especially a RB, but with the same team for such a long time. Here’s hoping you get the chance for another year Kevin!
Kevin’s performance in 2009 was OK, but not the same as prior years. Too many times he was tackled before making a first down, which rarely happened in the past. He may have one more year of productive play left, but he is definitely on the decline, and running backs’ declines are not pretty to see.
Kevin has a lot left in the tank and I really don’t think he has slowed down much at all. He is money on 3rd down.
Kevin is also a Patriot through and through. He is like a Troy Brown. I will be shocked and extremely disappointed in the front office if we don’t give him a reasonable deal.
Seeing him trying to fire up the offense against the Ravens in the playoffs was great. We need more guys like him.
The Pats can’t afford to let him go. Class act.
I♥Kevin Faulk
Faulk can still provide a critical change to pace to the Pats offense. He is the Troy Brown of the team at this point. I think he can still provide that spark. He’s still fast, durable and a very savy player. Pat’s need to sign him to at least a one year deal with a couple years option.
Anyone see him ripping his offences asses on the sidelines of the Baltimore game?
He has lost a step, but he certainly has not lost his passion….one of my favorite players in the NFL
37 catches are nice for a 32 year old RB, but most will remember his 2009 season for the one ball he did not catch.
I’ve always respected Faulk’s versatility (one of the select few Pats I didn’t have utter disdain for, period) as a player. One of the best 3rd down type backs I’ve seen. I also did enjoy him being stopped on 4th and 2 in Indy. Tough break he lost his SEC TD record to Tebow.
If he’s got another year left in him, hope he gets the chance.
The guy has been a phenominal player for all 11 years. He brings a lot more than Fred Taylor.
Mr. Clutch.
In regard to Bo Peterson’s comment, if you’re referring to the INDY 4th and 2, he actually made the catch but got knocked back. Frankly, as a Pats fan, I put that one on the offensive coordinator for not drawing the route up so that all the receivers were at least a yard or two beyond the first down marker. Last years offensive play-calling for the Pats was dubious at best. Most fans complain when a critical 3rd or 4th down pass route is run too short… Pats fans saw several key 3rd down passroutes actually thrown to a receiver behind the line of scrimmage. It’s the type of stuff you might expect in PeeWee, perhaps in high school, but certainly not in the big leagues.
“37 catches are nice for a 32 year old RB, but most will remember his 2009 season for the one ball he did not catch. ”
Erm, he did catch it.
@edgeofepic: Amen, Brother. Great observation.
I hope that gets fixed this season. And Faulk, he was totally clutch at the end of the season when the other RBs couldn’t find their MoJo. I don’t know how many times last season I found myself wondering what the heck the team would do when he hangs up his cleats. Who do they turn to in a jam, Maroney? LOL, nope. [Fweeep, "And the ball comes out AGAIN!"]
Yeah…4th and 2. That’s BB fault. “I thought we could get a yard”. yes, you did…but you needed two of them!
Faulk is a great, great player for the Patriots and one of the best pure football players around. Being that he’s not taking the normal pounding that other full time RB take, I think he’s got more left in the tank. The void if he didn’t come back would be awful..especially with a locker room full of clowns like Adalius Thomas, Shawn Springs, and a bunch of first and second year players who don’t want to walk the wrong way for fear of getting yelled at.
I hope they give him his due…obviously it’s not going to break the bank. He’s been extremely durable considering the hits he’s taken after catching the ball…
Bo Peterson:
umm he DID catch it
@ edgeofepic:
What you say is true but the question is whose fault is it?
1. The OC for not drawing/selecting a play that has the receivers going far enough down the field?
2. The receiver for cutting his route shorter than he was supposed to?
3. The QB for throwing a ball too early (thus not letting the receiver get far enough downfield) or throwing it too weakly (requiring the receiver to “come back” for the ball more than he should have to)?
4. The QB simply throwing the ball to the wrong receiver, when another receiver (farther down the field) should have been the target.
Any of the above could be explanations for why Faulk’s 4th and 2 versus Indy (or any of the other plays) were ultimately unsuccessful. Without being inside the huddle, it’s impossible for us to ever know which of the above (or what combination of multiple factors of the above) was the ultimate cause.
When you think about the big plays he’s made in some very big moments/games throughout the decade its not a stretch to say he’s the best 3rd down back of all-time. I think he’ll go down as a great NFL player. One of the most underrated/under appreciated players the league has seen over his career. Hell he may not even be done yet !
Maybe he is contemplating retirement. I hope he re-ups with the Pats. He is Troy Brown quality.
Bring him back and give him something more than the league minimum. The guy deserves some back payments for what he has done and given to this team throughout his career. Like others have mentioned already – he is a TRUE Patriot that we fans have enjoyed watching (well maybe not his first couple/few years – he was EXACTLY like Maroney, do any of you remember that?).
And for those of you getting on the 4th and 2 that “he didn’t make”, the fact is that he really did, but it was not given to him. Because the officials decided “he didn’t have control of the ball” (opinion call at best) it was not rewarded. The man had the ball, foward progress was over the line, but they did not see it that way. Look at the film again before commenting haters….
Bottom line is that this guy needs to be signed for at least one more year as a player, then maybe as some kind of assistant or consultant after that. Someone needs to show the new guys how it is done so we can look forward to seeing some good games in the future at this position.
One of the best second round draft picks ever!
Kevin Faulk is their best running back… they can’t afford to lose him because they are affraid to declare Morris a waste of roster space and Maroney = bust.
Faulk isn’t going anywhere. They’re letting him test the market to see what that is and they’ll match anything that he comes up with.
You normally don’t want other teams to be essentially negotiating for you, but for some odd reason the market on Faulk isn’t as big as I would’ve guessed.
Great locker room guy, leader on and off the field, passionate player and is great in 3rd down situations regardless of the distance.