Joseph Addai is filling the Kevin Faulk void
Such is life in the NFL that a 29-year-old earns such respected veteran status, but that's exactly how the former Indianapolis Colts back is viewed by the two younger runners that the Patriots' coaching staff ultimately hopes will lead the charge, Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen.
"I look up to him, almost like a big brother," said Ridley, the 2011 third-round draft choice who showed flashes of excellence as a rookie. "To have this time with him, like I had with Faulk, I'm going to cherish it and learn everything I can from him.
"He's an awesome guy, somebody who has seen it all. And he's very willing to teach. It's a comfort zone for me to have someone I can depend on who has seen everything that I can learn from and try to better myself."
Addai seems to have stepped into the veteran leader role very quickly. Still, even though he is playing the role of mentor to both second year runners Steven Ridley and Shane Vereen, he is not that old himself.
One of the key differences between Kevin Faulk and Joseph Addai is just that, age. Addai is only 29, Faulk is 36. It's likely a big factor why Faulk might not be brought back this year, and why the Patriots will turn to Addai to bring them most of what he did.
I'm sure that their roles on the field will be very similar. I see Danny Woodhead getting most of the reps as a change of pace back instead of the third down back. Addai would probably be more of the guy on third down. He's is versatile just like Kevin Faulk. He can catch and block.
Even if Addai doesn't get on the field very much, it's obvious that the former Colt is having a positive impact on this team already.
