Kevin Faulk won’t reveal his guilty pleasure.

The Dallas Morning News / TOM FOX

FOXBORO — When Kevin Faulk was drafted by the Patriots in 1999, he immediately gravitated toward wide receiver Troy Brown, who at that point already had six NFL seasons under his belt.

Faulk began following Brown’s lead because of his quiet leadership, and the way he was able to excel despite not being the ideal size. But as the years have gone by, those qualities were just the beginning of what makes Faulk and Brown similar — in his career, Faulk has been a big part of the ground game, become a key third-down contributor catching passes out of the backfield, and played a key role both in returning kicks and punts and covering them.

In other words, the versatility Brown has flashed in his career.

This year, Faulk was voted a team captain for the first time, ostensibly taking his idol’s place, since Brown hasn’t been able to practice with the team because of a knee injury suffered in last year’s AFC Championship Game.

Now 31 years old, Faulk has already begun planning for life after football, teaming with four other pro athletes to buy 18 Burger King restaurants in Virginia.

More likely to be laughing with his teammates than leading the comedy show, the married father of three shares a little bit more in today’s Up Close.

MY FIRST CAR: Was a 1982 Chevy Citation hatchback. Whatever they had available (is how he ended up with that car), whatever we could afford, which wasn’t too much at that time.

MY FAVORITE OFF-DAY IS SPENT: With my wife (Latisha) and kids (Tanasha, 12, Kevin III, 11, and Kevione, 6). There’s hardly a time when we’re not together.

THE LAST ALBUM I BOUGHT OR DOWNLOADED: Chamillionaire (the hip-hop artist released “Ultimate Victory” last month).

MY HERO: My mother (Mary, who died of leukemia three years ago), for keeping everything together.

IF I WASN’T IN THE NFL: I’d be coaching, probably. High school. High school is where the fun is. In college and pro, there’s more of a business aspect.

ONE JOB I WOULDN’T WANT TO HAVE: It all depends. If it’s a situation that it’s the only thing I had, of course I would have to do it.

MY FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY: It’s not my favorite, but just getting the news that my oldest brother, from my dad’s first marriage, was killed when I was 10 years old. He was 21; I was really close to him. [Why is that the first memory that comes to mind?] A lot of different reasons — I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye, not really old enough to know what was going on, but knowing that you’re not going to see that person again. It was reality.

MY GUILTY PLEASURE: Everybody (has one). I do have one. [Care to share?] No, not really. We’ll keep that one under wraps.

smanza@projo.com