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Tigers' Faulk a perfect fit for Patriots
Posted: Sunday April 18, 1999 03:00 PM
LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) -- For nearly seven hours, Kevin Faulk waited to find out his future. In fact, he was nearly nodding off by the time his number was about to be called during Saturday's NFL draft. That wasn't because of the long wait, though. But rather, the always cool LSU tailback had tired himself out by playing basketball and riding a four-wheeler over some dirt mounds as the draft droned on. "Anyone getting picked by the NFL has some type of excitement," Faulk said. "I'm the kind of guy to keep it in." No kidding. Fortunately for the New England Patriots, Faulk was still awake when they made him the 15th pick of the second round, 46th overall. That was somewhat later than Faulk expected, but he figures that's just something he'll use to his advantage down the road. "If I had told you that I would go late in the second round, I'd be lying," Faulk said. "I thought I'd go late first or early second. So I'll have to go and prove myself on the field. There's always something I use to motivate me, and that's what I'll do." Faulk has landed with a team that desperately needs help with the ground game. New England thought it had found a replacement for Curtis Martin, who joined the Jets last season, in last year's top choice -- Robert Edwards of Georgia. But after a strong rookie campaign, Edwards likely saw his career end with a freak knee injury suffered in a touch football game on the beach during Pro Bowl week in Hawaii. Edwards' loss left the Patriots with the relatively undistinguished duo of Sedrick Shaw and Derrick Cullors to battle for time with whomever the Patriots could bring in. New England was one of three teams that flew Faulk in for a private workout. In fact, the Patriots had shown so much interest that most of those watching at the draft party thrown by Faulk's attorney Jason Robideaux thought the team would pick LSU's all-time leading rusher with the 28th pick of the first round. Instead, they chose linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer, drawing jeers and groans from the crowd. About two hours later, however, the Patriots traded its second-round pick and its fourth-round selection to Tennessee for the 46th slot and promptly grabbed Faulk. New England likes Faulk's versatility, especially his ability to return kicks and punts and catch the ball out of the backfield, but also told the player that they think he could be an every-down player. That was music to the ears of Faulk, who thought many NFL pundits were selling him short by billing him as just a role player. "They're basing that judgment on the fact that I shared time with Rondell [Mealey]," Faulk said. "But that was just my situation at LSU. I know I can carry the ball 20 or 25 times a game." Faulk will get his chance to prove that to the Patriots starting Thursday, when he heads up north for a rookie mini-camp.
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