INDIANAPOLIS -- Lousaka Polite knew he wouldn't be a feature of the offense when the Patriots signed him in late December.
For 2011, his hiring at fullback was a stop-gap measure; New England's offensive line was vulnerable because of injuries and Tom Brady was taking risky runs. Polite, a short-yardage specialist in Miami, could help there. He could also help on special teams.
But capacity didn't matter as much to Polite as opportunity. The 30-year old had been released by the Dolphins last summer. When the Patriots called he was still unemployed.
"It's been a roller coaster ride," Polite recalled Thursday. "But I'm getting settled in and I'm enjoying myself. Just looking forward to playing the game. I was out of football for so long. That was a learning experience, just not knowing what the next move is going to be. As the weeks go by, you start to wonder what's next."
The layoff gave him time to reflect.
"I learned to develop an even greater amount of patience. I've always been a patient person, but sometimes you assume things are going to go a certain way, like I just expected to get on a team faster. It was wishful thinking. Not thinking I'm the best player, but just thinking, 'Hey. It'll happen soon.' But it didn't."
Polite continued to work out, but said he also efforted to improve as a man and a father.
"Spending time with my daughter was great," he said. "You don't really get to do that during a season. I don't know. I'm in a good place mentally because of that. I've learned to appreciate it while it's here, don't let it go and make the most of it."
Anya Polite, 9, was with her father when the Patriots called. It was a fitting moment. The girl is his motivation and his salvation. Though Polite's contributions to New England's Super Bowl season have been minimal -- three yards rushing on one attempt in three games, some run-blocking -- he doesn't resent being in the right place at the right time.
He considers the bigger picture.
"When you become responsible for another human being you have to really flip it that way. A lot of times it doesn't hit you until something comes up, but every day I think about it, how I want to be the best man that she knows. I want to set the example for whoever she marries one day.
"She's my number one reason. I want to secure her future. It's not just about money -- it's definitely about playing football, playing the sport I've been playing since I was nine-years old. Now it's also about taking advantage of this opportunity to set up the future for your family -- especially children, their future -- for all their lives."
Father and daughter will be reunited today. Polite nodded his head in grave anticipation when discussing Anya's arrival in Indianapolis. He is thrilled to wear a Patriots jersey in his seventh season, feels blessed to experience an NFL championship run, and can't wait to share it with his girl. Will the number of snaps he gets matter? Polite is fine contributing when needed.
Anya has taught him something about perspective.
"She's a very humble child, very giving. The sweetest kid," he said. "I remember, with the Haiti relief fund, we went to a charity function and she gave her entire life savings. All her tooth fairy money, all her birthday money -- she gave. She gets it.
"That was one of the proudest moments of my life."
A Super Bowl ring would probably also rate pretty high. But regardless of Sunday's score, Polite will have to return to patience because the clock's ticking on his contract. Will the Patriots expand his role or let him go? The question of where he'll work hangs on the other side of the Super Bowl XLVI.
Who he's working for? That's one he never wonders about.