FOXBORO -- Last season, the Patriots struck gold with the acquisition of veteran tight end Alge Crumpler. Crumpler didn’t end up contributing much when it came to the on-field product numbers-wise, but his presence in the locker room was immense when it came to guiding the younger players.

When it comes to veteran pickups, it appears New England has hit the jackpot again. Veteran offensive lineman Brian Waters has only been in Foxboro for two-plus weeks, but he’s already being hailed by coaches and players alike as one of the smartest, most professional acquisitions the franchise has made in recent memory.

The 6-foot-3, 320-pounder spent the last 11 seasons with the Chiefs (2000-10), where he earned four Pro Bowl berths while playing in 163 regular seasons games with 149 starts and earning Pro Bowl berths in 2004-06 and 2008. He was signed on Sept. 4 with an eye toward providing depth along the New England offensive line, and there appeared to be some question as to how fast he could get up to speed in the Patriots offense.

But in his short time in New England, he has distinguished himself with his professionalism, preparation and overall approach to the game while playing almost every snap of the first two games. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien has called him a “pro’s pro,” while coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday that whenever he sees Waters at the facility, he’s always got his head in either his notebook or playbook.

“Brian has been very professional,” Belichick said. “He’s come in here, he’s really worked hard, learned all the things that he can in this time about our offensive system and communication and process of calling plays and changing them and so forth.

“I’ve really been impressed with not only the way he’s performed, but just the way he’s gone about his job. I think again, the level of experience and professionalism that he brings to the team; you can see why he has played in the league as long as he has at such a high level. He really works at it. He adds a lot of -- not in an outspoken way -- but he adds a lot of quiet leadership and professionalism to our football team. I’ve really been impressed with him.”

The 34-year-old Waters says that approach was taught to him during his time in Kansas City by teammates like Will Shields and Willie Roaf.

“I’ve just learned from a lot of great veterans in my time in KC, just doing the things that you need to do to be prepared weekly and just making sure that you’re always up on your game as best as possible, because you know week to week that different obstacles will be in front of you,” he said. “You have to make sure that you’re taking care of your business, both physically and mentally, taking care of your body.”

Of course, Waters came to New England with a reputation as a high-character guy. The winner of the 2009 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for his off-the-field community service, he was hailed as a great locker room presence in his years with the Chiefs. Released by Kansas City this summer in what sounded like a mutually agreeable decision (Kansas City was interested in going with a younger, less expensive option), he was signed by the Patriots earlier this month to a two-year deal.

But while Crumpler was a part-time player at best, Waters has become a steady presence on a New England offensive line that has suffered its’ share of injuries two weeks into the regular season. The Patriots already lost center Dan Koppen for the season, while a back injury shelved tackle Sebastian Vollmer for the season opener (and kept him out of practice on Wednesday).

Meanwhile, despite the fact that he’s flipped from left guard to right, Waters has brought stability to the right guard position. He was in and out in the opener against the Dolphins, but when Koppen went down and Dan Connolly slid from guard to center, it’s been all Waters at that spot. In all, he’s played 141 of a possible 152 snaps over the course of the first two games, according to Pro Football Focus. (PFF has graded Waters with a +1.8 for his performance against the Dolphins and a +2.3 for his effort against the Chargers.)

Quarterback Tom Brady said it’s clear that Waters’ acclimation to New England was made easier by the year he spent in Kansas City with former Patriots’ offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. Weis and Waters were together for the 2010 season -- Weis was the Chiefs’ OC that year -- and the time there really gave him a good idea as to what to expect in New England.

As a result, after less than a month in the system, he’s already instructing some of his younger teammates.

“He’s teaching other guys the plays now. He’s just that kind of guy,” Brady said. “He’s really been a professional. Every time you walk by his locker he’s looking at his playbook trying to understand his role in the play, and that’s what you get from a guy who has been to a bunch of Pro Bowls -- a veteran player who takes his job very seriously and really wants to go out there and win games.”

True to Belichick and Brady’s word, when he was approached in the locker room on Wednesday, Waters was holding a notebook. He said that despite the fact that there was some carryover from his days with Weis and the Chiefs, he is continuing to try and play catch-up in the New England offense.

“(That’s) probably been the most important thing for me -- along with trying to get into the physical shape that I need to get into. The mental aspect of trying to catch up with these guys,” Waters said. “To make sure I’m not slowing anybody down or really just making sure that I’m sharp as I possibly can be by Sunday. That’s been the most important thing so far.”

In Waters’ relatively brief time with the Patriots, there’s been one big thing that’s really stood out for him.

“The tempo -- these guys are real fast,” Waters said of the New England offense, which has utilized no-huddle for 30 percent of their offensive plays through the first two games. “I think everybody has been, and you can tell within the scheme, these guys have been around the system for a long period of time, so that’s something I’ve had to deal with.

“Luckily, for me, there’s been some carryover from Kansas City, but for the most part, there’s been some stuff that I’ve definitely had to catch up on. I would definitely not want to be a guy who would come in here without any carryover from another team. That would be difficult to catch up with.”

Waters says it’s “been great” working with veteran offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, and has been impressed by the work his teammates have been willing to put in in order to succeed.

“Everybody just has to be prepared to go,” Waters said. “Wherever you have to be plugged in, wherever you’re asked to play, you have to be ready to go. I think that’s something (where) all these guys understand the urgency of that. They understand the importance of being prepared wherever you’re asked to play.”