New England Patriots: 6 Veterans With the Most to Prove in 2011

The New England Patriots have done an excellent job of late in using the NFL draft to bring in young talent to build from within.

Young names like Devin McCourty, Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski, Sebastian Vollmer, Brandon Spikes, Jerod Mayo and so many more have given Patriots fans hope for another dynasty in the future.

These young guys have a lot to prove in the coming years, but youth does not a great team make. There must be a certain measure of experience in the fold.

These veterans will be looked upon to do something to get the team back on track when things aren't going well.

In fact, former Patriots linebacker and ESPN Boston analyst Tedy Bruschi raises a very good point that this may have been what was missing from the Patriots team that lost to the Jets in the divisional round this year.

Lest we forget those who came before, here are some veterans that have just as much to prove as any of the young guys on the team.

Erik Frenz is the co-host of the PatsPropaganda & Frenz podcast. Follow Erik on Twitter @erikfrenz.

Matt Light

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HONOLULU - JANUARY 30: Matt Light #72 of the New England Patriots stands on the field during the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on January 30, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

There's no better way to tell a player that you're looking for his eventual replacement than to draft a player at his position in the first round. That's exactly what the Patriots did to Matt Light, their left tackle of the past decade.

In fact, word is that after the Nate Solder pick was announced in the first round of the 2011 draft, Light got up and left Vince Wilfork's charity event.

Fans love to get all over Light's case when he gets beaten by Dwight Freeney, and immediately pull out the "gets beat by speed rushers" artillery and fire away.

Really, though, Patriots fans don't realize how lucky they are. The left tackle position has been a non-issue for the past decade.

Light's contract expired after the 2010 season, so he may not even be in a Patriots uniform in 2011. Either way, he has something to prove.

Whether it's to prove that a team was right to take a chance on him, or that the Patriots were right to keep him around remains to be seen.

Tully Banta-Cain

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 12: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears runs under pressure by Tully Banta Cain #95 of the New England Patriots at Soldier Field on December 12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Patriots defeated the Bears 36-7. (Photo by Scott Boehm/G

A breakout season in 2009 had some Patriots fans thinking (hoping...praying) TBC could be the answer to the long-lost pass rush. One year and just five sacks later, it seems we're right back to square one.

To make things even more interesting, Banta-Cain was vocally unhappy with his role last year as a sub package pass-rush specialist.

With the young Jermaine Cunningham ready to make an impact and Rob Ninkovich looking to do the same, TBC will have to ward both of them off to ensure that his role isn't diminished even further.

Kevin Faulk

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FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 12: Kevin Faulk #33 of the New England Patriots looks on before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL season opener on September 12, 2010 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

When Kevin Faulk went down with injury in Week 2, the Patriots backfield immediately went into flux. Enter Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and it looks like the long-term fate of the Patriots backfield is secure.

That is, until Belichick drafted two running backs in the 2011 NFL draft. Then, it went from "secure" to outright locked down.

And where, exactly, does this leave Faulk upon return from injury? Potentially, it could leave him on the outside looking in.

With so much youth in the backfield, the Patriots could really use to keep Faulk around for his veteran experience and mentorship. The only questions are, what does Faulk have left? Do the Patriots want him back? And finally, does Faulk even want to come back?

Ty Warren

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TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 17: Defensive lineman Ty Warren #94 of the New England Patriots watches play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on August 17, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

After sustaining a hip injury during training camp that kept him out for the entire 2010 season, there are several levels of speculation regarding Warren's future with the Patriots.

One could argue that he's on the roster bubble. Who knows how strong he'll return from the hip injury. The Patriots may be willing to have him back, but if his skills are diminished as a result of the year off and the rust, who knows what the Patriots will do.

At his age and with his salary, they may only be willing to have him back at their price.

There are a lot of younger players who stepped up last year in his absence. Still, they are young minds ripe for the type of mentorship Warren could provide.

Again, the Patriots may not be willing to have him back as simply a mentor for the price they're paying.

Of course, there's always the possibility that he could just have a great season in return from his injury. He may need to if the Patriots are going to keep him around.

Wes Welker

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Wes Welker #83 of the New England Patriots looks on during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Welker's roster spot isn't in any kind of trouble. There are some young receivers in the fold in Brandon Tate and Taylor Price, but neither is threatening to overtake Welker as a leading receiver and long-time starter for the Patriots.

The biggest question mark around Welker, though, is whether he can return to his '07-'09 form, when he was "the slot machine," raking in upwards of 100 passes every year.

Many have said that Welker benefited greatly from the presence of the deep threat, Randy Moss.

Welker's production declined somewhat after that trade,but there's also the possibility that the reconstructive knee surgery was a hindrance to Welker's performance, and a full year back could be the end of those problems.

Don't forget, too, that Welker came back just eight months after tearing his ACL. He was practicing and running routes by mid-June. Most athletes take a full year to recover.

No matter what the circumstance, it appears Welker has something to prove: That he can still perform at a high level.

Leigh Bodden

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 10: Leigh Bodden #23 of the New England Patriots looks on against the Baltimore Ravens during the 2010 AFC wild-card playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 10, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Much like Warren, Bodden sustained a season-ending injury before the season even began. Bodden's shoulder injury, however, is far less threatening to his future than Warren's hip injury.

Of course, it also helps to know that Bodden told the Boston Herald he's "firing on all cylinders" and "ready" for 2011.

However, much like Warren on the defensive line, Bodden returns to a crowded secondary that features 2010 first-round selection Devin McCourty, 2011 second-round selection Ras-I Dowling, up-and-comer Kyle Arrington and other names.

Bodden should have no trouble earning some playing time over names like Darius Butler and Jonathan Wilhite, but how much rust will he have after a year off?

With plenty of other capable defensive backs in the fold, Bodden's starting role is no longer the sure thing that it was entering the 2010 season.