Whatever Happened To Joseph Addai? Oh, Now He's On The Patriots

I wasn't happy when I read a few weeks ago that the Patriots were kicking the tires on veteran running backs Tim Hightower, Joseph Addai and Ryan Grant. I felt like they were three players that were either over the hill (Addai) or not that good to begin with (Hightower).

You can imagine my reaction this afternoon when I found out that New England was going to sign Addai, the one I would least prefer out of the three worn out running backs all past their prime. There is no use getting too worked up about it since whatever they pay him, it won't be much and who knows if he'll even make the team out of training camp?

Addai just represents a reliable (work with me) backup for youngsters Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen, who need to take the next step in their development this season without BenJarvus Green-Ellis (now on the Bengals) to lean on.

Proving how short the shelf-life is on No. 1 running backs in the NFL, Addai was drafted 30th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. You'll remember that the Patriots selected Laurence Maroney with the 21st pick that year. How'd that turn out?

Coming out of LSU, Addai was a very solid player for the Indianapolis Colts his rookie season and the next year. Both times he went over 1000 yards rushing and 325+ yards receiving. In his six seasons with the Colts, he put up 4453 rushing yards, 39 rushing touchdowns, 1448 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns. He went to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and was a key member of the Super Bowl champions team in his rookie year that beat the Bears and in 2009 when they lost to the Saints in the Super Bowl.

Injuries have taken their toll though as he's only played 16 games in one season (his rookie year). He combined for only 20 games in the last two seasons with the Colts due to a hamstring injury and nerve injury to his shoulder. It's easy to forget since Indy was so bad last year but he actually played in 12 games. His modest numbers were 118 carries, 433 yards rushing, one rushing touchdown; 15 catches, 93 receiving yards.

If Addai makes the team and stays healthy (two huge ifs), he will be counted on mostly for blitz pickups, catching the ball, goal-line situations and maybe third-downs. Maybe Bill Belichick can squeeze something out of Addai but I know I'm not counting on it.

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