The value of Heath Evans's place on the Patriots' roster had just come to life on national television.
There was some hard-nosed lead blocking. Add in two receptions, one of which went for a touchdown. There were seven carries, the most dynamic a 43-yarder that set up his 2-yard rushing touchdown. And, of course, there were his special teams contributions.
A little bit of this, a little bit of that -- coupled with a 24-7 exhibition victory over the Panthers last Friday night.
Just the way Evans likes it.
"With the stable of backs we have, it's enjoyable to do what they ask me to do here, and it can be totally different from week to week," the 6-foot, 250-pound Evans said. "I know there are guys out there who are better blockers, better runners, and better special teams players, but I just want to pride myself on being a guy that Coach [Bill] Belichick can come to for a number of different things and he'll know the job is going to get done."
Almost an hour after Friday night's game, Evans was one of the last players to leave the locker room. He touched on how much he enjoys playing football, and how his NFL career was revived when the Patriots signed him in the middle of the 2005 season.
Evans, 28, had been devastated when the Dolphins cut him after six games, and when the Patriots brought him aboard seven days later, few could have predicted it would be such a fruitful partnership. The Patriots were banged up at running back at the time and needed reinforcements. Evans was simply looking for a job.
Fast-forward to the present day and Evans, then a temporary fill-in, is now in his third season with the club, having signed a two-year contract with a $250,000 signing bonus this offseason.
"It seemed at the beginning it was meant for harm, but in the end the good Lord was faithful to my family and me," said Evans, who is devoutly religious and will be honored by Athletes in Action in November with an annual award that goes to a Boston athlete who exemplifies outstanding character.
"I loved to be in South Florida, but now it's to the point where you could put Foxborough in India and this is where I'd want to be. I'm playing a position I absolutely love and personality-wise I feel like I fit here, in a team atmosphere full of a bunch of tough, unselfish guys. It's kind of like a match made in heaven."
Evans specifically likes the chemistry among the running backs, with Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk at the top of the depth chart. In many ways, he sees Maroney's approach and it reminds him of the exuberance Deion Branch showed in the brief time they were teammates.
