Kevin Faulk, taking a break at camp, has been a mainstay of the Patriots’ offense.

The Providence Journal / Bob Thayer

FOXBORO –– When New England Patriots co-captain Kevin Faulk was cited for marijuana possession during the offseason, he readily admitted that it was an embarrassing situation for himself and his family.

But having a young fan in his home state of Louisiana question Faulk about the incident was probably the most uncomfortable aspect surrounding the event.

“I had an embarrassing moment when I had a kid that came up to me and asked me how it happened, what happened, and that really kind of made me more embarrassed than anything,” Faulk said yesterday.

And his response to the young fan?

“I just gave him the answer that sometimes in life things happen, that you don’t want it to happen but it happens in order for you to learn a lesson or in order for you to understand where you are in life and what you need to do to move forward.”

Moving forward is something Faulk does well. Now five months removed from the late-February incident in which he was found to have four joints on him during a security check at a Lil’ Wayne concert (he pleaded no-contest to the charges last month and received a year of probation), Faulk has put it behind him.

One of just two players who was in New England pre-Bill Belichick –– Tedy Bruschi is the other –– Faulk is beginning his 10th season.

And it’s something he never expected.

“No. Never. Not at all,” he said. “You try to make yourself a goal that you want to play as long as maybe eight, 10 years, but you never see yourself doing that, especially at the running back position. When I came out (of LSU), they were telling me that the span of a running back is 2 1/2, three years, and here I am seven years after that. So I’m just blessed and I’m happy to be in the situation that I am.”

Voted a captain for the first time last year, Faulk enjoyed a stellar season. He played in every game for just the second time, and his 47 receptions were four off his career high, set in his second season. He was even better in the playoffs, snaring 20 passes over three games.

So it’s no wonder he still suits up every morning, even though he said that 10 days and 15 practices into training camp his “body feels terrible.”

“Love of the game. Passion. Teammates,” are the list Faulk offers when asked what brought him back for season number 10. “I think one of the number one things is the teammates that you have. Consistently being here, being with guys for so long … they understand you and you understand them.”

It is Faulk’s consistency that has made him a mainstay of the Patriots’ offense, even as he’s seen four other players –– Terry Allen, Antowain Smith, Corey Dillon and now Laurence Maroney –– carry the mantle as the team’s lead back. In recent seasons, as Dillon and then Maroney got the bulk of the carries, Faulk has embraced his role as a third-down specialist.

He’s proud of his longevity.

“Of course, every day. Me and Tom (Brady) were talking about it today, being here so long, knowing the high standards that this organization has for its players, its coaches, for its scouting department. Just being here and being consistent after 10 years” is a source of pride.

With Maroney now in his third season, fullback Heath Evans starting his fourth year with New England and veteran LaMont Jordan in the mix, Faulk likes what he sees.

“We’re a group that’s very experienced, being that Laurence is in his third year. But at the same time, we have to be a group that when the team is down, we have to be the group to pick it up, no matter what. With the experience we have, we have to be that group,” he said.

In Faulk’s eyes, all of the players are interchangeable; if one goes down, the others have to pick up for him.

As for Maroney, who racked up some big numbers over the Patriots’ final six games, Faulk believes things just clicked for the former first-round pick.

“I think sometimes that stuff happens at different times in your career, and I guess at that point in time last year he was starting to pick up a whole lot,” Faulk said. “You can (see) a lot of it right now in training camp, that he’s really put his mind into it, that he’s going to get better as a football player.”

smanza@projo.com