No-Torry-Us: Torry Holt Brings Leadership, Heart to New England Patriots

"The Patriots lack heart."

That four-word phrase has many times left me scratching my head for a few moments before I begin to feel nauseous and run for the bathroom.

It seems like yesterday that the New England Patriots were the exemplary organization of football players who lived to please their coach, putting every ounce of energy into every play. That mindset won them four trips to the Super Bowl and three titles.

Last year, though, the Patriots became a shell of their former selves. Gone was the confident swagger that had defined the "Patriot Way" since the early 2000s.

By signing Super Bowl champion WR Torry Holt to a one-year, $1.7 million contract on Tuesday, the Patriots hope to inject a bit of that mentality back into their line-up (they also join AFC East rivals Miami and the New York Jets in the wide receiver shopping spree of the offseason).

Holt is a football player first. He loves the sport, and his productivity has been a byproduct of that passion over the years.

To those who want to criticize this signing as yet another "dinosaur" wide receiver, you may be right that Torry Holt (33 years old) is no longer the speedster he once was.

This isn't, however, the second coming of Joey Galloway. He's not an injury-riddled athlete who relies on his speed to make plays. Holt is just as good of a playmaker with his hands as he ever was with his feet.

While it's true that Holt may not put up 1,000 yards again, what he does add is consistency, heart, a humble team-first mentality, and much-needed depth at a rapidly-thinning position on the Patriots' depth chart.

With Wes Welker's knee injury still a question mark to this day, the Patriots can't afford to put the hopes of their franchise on sophomore sensation Julian Edelman and 35-year-old David Patten next year.

My colleague, Phil Shore, points out that Holt had the worst statistical season of his career last year, but he played in the Jags' run-first offense with a mediocre-at-best quarterback throwing him the ball.

On a team that's dedicated to passing, and with a future Hall of Fame quarterback at the helm, another 50-plus receptions should be in the books for Holt. Tom Brady must be happy to have yet another safety net in the passing game.

In the twilight of his career, Holt won't be the future of the franchise. He won't be the main character in New England's offense, either.

As a role player on an offense that will most certainly exploit his strengths, Holt could find New England to be the perfect setting for his final act and curtain call.