Why the New England Patriots Can't Replace Kevin Faulk with Joseph Addai

Having a veteran presence at a young position on the roster is always smart, but not all veterans are created equal.

The New England Patriots could be disappointed if they are hoping that Joseph Addai can bring what Kevin Faulk has brought to the Patriots over the course of his career and even in recent years.

There's no evidence that's what they're expecting, but with training camp approaching and with Faulk as yet unsigned, the next step in his career with the Patriots is unclear. Still, Faulk's 13 years of experience in the Patriots system will be hard to replace.

Yes, Addai is just as versatile as Faulk and a full six years younger, but he has almost just as much wear and tear. He's missed a combined 17 games in the past four seasons due to varying injuries, ranging from concussions to hamstring and knee issues.

His role with the Indianapolis Colts was similar to Faulk's role with the Patriots—he acted as a third-down back, was kept in for blitz protection, ran draw plays and was a solid receiver out of the backfield. 

With all of that said, Faulk has had 13 years to study the nuances of the Patriots system. That's a lot of knowledge that Addai won't be able to impart on the likes of young running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen.

There are other ways that Faulk could impart that wisdom, and Jeff Howe—formerly of NESN.com and now of The Boston Herald—explains what the outlook is for Faulk:

"

He wants to play, but I'm guessing Belichick will want to gauge Faulk's progress with his knee. Remember, Faulk suffered another knee injury during last season's Steelers game, so it hasn't been a perfectly clean recovery.

Faulk definitely wants to coach, and I believe he's got some interest in doing it in the NFL. It would definitely be a good match, even if he's assigned the general role of a coaching assistant. 

"

That was something I speculated on last year when the Patriots were faced with almost the exact same situation: Faulk coming off a knee injury, looking at the end of his career, and the Patriots fielding a young group of running backs.

Nothing against running backs coach Ivan Fears, who has done well with the position in his 10-year tenure with the team, but adding Faulk as a coaching assistant (if he's unable to play or doesn't make the roster) would be a great way to make sure the young backs still have that encyclopedic knowledge base to tap into during the season.

Beyond that experience in the system, it's important to account for Faulk's experience and rapport with one Tom Brady. We've seen receivers struggle to build chemistry and trust with No. 12, and that chemistry and trust are just as important for a running back—especially one who figures to contribute mainly on passing downs.

Addai's experience in the NFL and his versatility give the two youngsters a good veteran role model, and if he makes the roster, there are certainly ways for him to contribute both on and off the field. Just don't expect him to provide the same mentoring that Faulk can.

Erik Frenz is the AFC East lead blogger for Bleacher Report. Be sure to follow Erik on Twitter and '"like" the AFC East blog on Facebook to keep up with all the updates.