Faulk, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 of the 2010 season, began the 2011 season the physically unable to perform list. He played in seven games last season, but did not play in the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl XLVI.
“Stress, not playing as much as I did before last year, not dressing in the Super Bowl, that weighed into [asking] ‘is it time for you to let it go?’” Faulk explained. “But in [my] mind I still knew that I could play the game of football. Coming back last year, I don’t think it was me physically playing the game, I think it was more so mentally.
"If you’ve been playing the game as long as I’ve been playing, at the same speed, for the New England Patriots, everything has to be perfect, you have to be perfect,” Faulk continued. “And last year didn’t feel that way to me at all, until towards the end of the season, but at that point in time, it was too late, because our team was already developed. So in order to sit back and watch your guys perform, and play each and every week, that was a hard thing for me to swallow.”
https://www.patspropaganda.com/faulk-who-suffered-a-season-ending-knee-injury-in/
Corner is becoming an even more critical position in the new-wave NFL, with the increased athleticism and formation versatility of tight ends. Again, it comes back to numbers. If you have a corner who can cover man-to-man without help from another defender, whether it be a safety, a linebacker or a slot corner, then you have more players available to defend the four other eligible receivers. And that corner does not have to match up to the most dangerous wide receiver. If you’re playing the Patriots for instance, you can put your best cover corner on Deion Branch and then have more bodies to play Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and/or Aaron Hernandez.
Cosell Talks: What’s at a Premium : NFL Films Blog
Interesting stuff as always from Cosell and a reason why the Pats made a concerted effort to play more man early in 2011. It didn’t work out, but their intentions were clear. It will be interesting to see what their intentions are this year, especially if they’re able to add another corner, perhaps one in the slot, who can excel at man.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/corner-is-becoming-an-even-more-critical-position/
Kevin Faulk wants to come back to Patriots
Let me start by saying the above photo is a fan-made photoshop mock up of a red Pats alternate. I’ve always thought it looked pretty cool.
Mary Paoletti of CSNNE reports today that Kevin Faulk is training with a return to the Patriots in mind. Doesn’t mean the Patriots want him back, but he’s now two full years removed from his ACL surgery which is when most guys are finally back to 100% and with such a young backfield it makes some sense that Faulk could fit in. He is 35, but there’s no question his leadership would be a positive.
Let’s put it this way, unless he’s totally lost his speed I’ll take Kevin Faulk back on the Pats in any capacity. Make him an offensive assistant for all I care, but the guy is a Patriots legend and one of the final holdovers from the dynasty days. He’ll make the 2012 Patriots better in one way or another.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/kevin-faulk-wants-to-come-back-to-patriots-let-me/
Rob Gronkowski gives back, speaks at school.
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/rob-gronkowski-gives-back-speaks-at-school/
It wouldn’t make a lick of sense to reach the pinnacle of your chosen profession and not look at the things that you and your teammates did well, and then also see the things that ultimately foiled you,” Jackie said. “If you can do that, you’ll have even more of a clear vision when you start to try and pursue that same goal again.
Jackie Slater
It Is What It Is » The Slater family finds important lessons in rewatching Super Bowl defeat
https://www.patspropaganda.com/it-wouldnt-make-a-lick-of-sense-to-reach-the/