SAN FRANCISCO - Maybe all Patriots fans should give a quick thanks for the Bobby Grier Era.

While serving as Vice President of Player Personnel for the Patriots from 1997-99, Grier was responsible for three of the worst drafts in club history. Chris Canty, Sedrick Shaw, Tony Simmons, Andy Katzenmoyer, Tebucky Jones and Rod Rutledge were all flat-out stinkers plucked from the collegiate level by Grier, who was shown the door after the 1999 season to make way for the (sort of) former “HC of the NYJ”. A dynasty was born and Grier was never heard from again.

So why the thanks?

Ask Bill Belichick.

“Kevin Faulk is such a pivotal player for us,” said the Patriots coach Sunday of Faulk, who Grier tabbed with the 46th overall pick in 1999. “No matter what we ask him to do, he always steps up and does a great job for us.”

Faulk’s two-touchdown effort yesterday isn’t really a surprise, is it? He’s always around. The LSU alum has seen a million running backs come and go in his 10 years with the Patriots- guys like Terry Allen, J.R. Redmond, Antowain Smith, Mike Cloud (remember him?), Corey Dillion and Patrick Pass ... and he has survived. How has he managed to do it?

“You just go out there and do your best to help your team win no matter what,” said Faulk, who moved past Terry Glenn and into fifth place on the club’s all-time receptions chart in the win yesterday. “There’s no time to think about where you stand.”

Where does he stand? Where can you rank a running back that has never come near 1,000 yards rushing in a season (career best is 638)? For all his pass-catching acumen he has only one season with over 50 receptions (51, 2000). So why the endless plaudits from coaches and teammates?

“He is the consummate pro,” gushed teammate Sammy Morris yesterday. “It’s great to watch and learn from him. Whenever his number is called on he is ready to perform.”

Faulk’s number hasn’t always been the first one called by Belichick over the years. There have been seasons where he wasn’t a significant factor in the offense (2004 and 2005 come to mind), but here he is in 2008, the one member of the backfield the Patriots could not afford to lose.

He was at it again in the 30-21 win over the Niners, first finding the end zone with a two-yard run with six seconds remaining in the first half. The second score was perhaps the game’s biggest play, as Faulk took a direct snap on a fourth-down play from the San Francisco two-yard line and found pay dirt to give the Pats a 24-14 lead with 5:35 to go in the third quarter.

The direct snap at the goal line is a Faulk trademark, and it was strange to see Matt Cassel play the Tom Brady “I have to jump because this ball is 20 feet over my head” role. The most famous of the Faulk direct snap plays, of course, was two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII gave the Pats a 29-22 lead (and were the only points scored by Faulk all season).

Does he every worry that the opposing defenses might know that the direct snap is coming?

“You just play,” said Faulk, who can match his coach in the non-answer department (nine years will do that). “Things are going so fast you don’t think about that.”

Although Tedy Bruschi is the longest-serving Patriots player, Faulk has taken over for Troy Brown as the graybeard on the offensive side of the ball. He’s seen it all in his 10 years.

A not-so-real QB controversy (Bledsoe-Bishop) and a real QB controversy (Bledsoe-Brady). Pete Carroll getting yelled at by Ron Borges. Ty Law and Terry Glenn at the Canadian border. Bill Belichick’s 5-13 start. The Super Bowls. Tom Jackson (who still hates the Patriots, by the way). Six AFC East titles. The perfect season. Spygate. Faulk played in Foxboro Stadium. He was teammates with Ben Coates and Shockmain Davis. Through it all Faulk has caught third-and-eight passes and converted them into first downs. It’s been an amazing career for someone who has never been the clear-cut lead back for the Pats.

Any chance that we’ll get a reflective thought from Faulk on the long, strange trip?

“Reality sets in quick after the game. You have to go to work tomorrow. It’s a job. You have to do your job. That’s why you’re here.”

Is Kevin Faulk the best running back in franchise history? No. That line starts with Sam Cunningham and Curtis Martin. Faulk is simply the most valuable back in club annals. He can run, catch and block at a high level. (It is very possible that had Faulk decided to leave the Mario Juana in the car on his way to the Lil’ Wayne concert that Tom Brady still would be on the field today. Faulk is not missing that block.) And he always brings it in the big games. Proof of that arrived in last season’s run to the Super Bowl, as Faulk finished third among postseason performers with 20 catches, including several fourth-quarter grabs in the AFC Title Game. He was also outstanding in Super Bowl XLII, hauling in seven passes for 52 yards.

Though he was not a draft pick of Belichick, Faulk is one of “his guys.”

“He’s just a clutch, dependable player for us,” said Belichick of Faulk, who is New England’s career leader in catches by a running back.

Maybe one day Bill Belichick can draft a player like Kevin Faulk and finally get out of the shadow of Bobby Grier.

Kirk Minihane is a regular WEEI.com Contributor.