Is there anything in the world that Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels covet more in their offense than third-down running backs? Since Bill Belichick’s arrival in 2000, that role has consistently been filled for the New England Patriots. Kevin Faulk, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, Dion Lewis, James White, and Rex Burkhead have kept the tradition alive through two decades and were all focal points of the offense during their stints.
That tradition is coming to a crossroads this offseason, as James White and Rex Burkhead are both slated to become free agents, leaving that ever present role relatively unoccupied.