Patriots: 3 most underrated Pats of Tom Brady era
By Jerry Trotta
Here are the three most underrated Patriots of the Tom Brady era.
Over the last 20 years, the New England Patriots have established themselves as the most storied franchise in NFL history. That simply wasn’t the case as before the arrival of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, as they were widely recognized as a team that couldn’t get it done in the playoffs in previous eras.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that most of the Patriots’ success is greatly attributed to the legendary duo.
However, while the franchise’s six Super Bowl titles could not have been achieved without these two, there are dozens of other players that don’t get nearly enough credit for the role they played during those championship runs.
We’re not talking about perennial superstars like Randy Moss, Richard Seymour, Rob Gronkowski and Ty Law, either. Three of them are or will be Hall of Famers, and all of them are widely and rightfully regarded as all-time greats in Patriots history
In an effort to shine some long overdue light on overlooked Patriots of the last two decades, let’s take a look at the three most notable players during the Brady era that fill that bill.
3. Kevin Faulk
Props to the Patriots franchise for inducting running back Kevin Faulk into its Hall of Fame back in 2016. It’s an honor that was fully deserved, but not all fans, especially those outside of New England, would admit that.
The former second-round pick out of LSU devoted 13 years to the Patriots, never playing for another franchise, and retired as their all-time leader in all-purpose yards and kickoff return yards, ranking fifth-best in receptions. The dude knew his way around a screen pass.
He also ranks fifth in franchise history with 3,607 rushing yards, which is extremely impressive for a player who totaled more than 100 carries just two times in his career.
Faulk never made a Pro Bowl and his annual stats wouldn’t suggest that he deserved to. However, he won three championships during his tenure and personified what it meant to be a Patriot. That alone qualifies him for this list, but there are unfortunately two players that, in our eyes, were more essential to the Brady era.