Morris is set to enter his fourth season with the Patriots. (AP)

FOXBORO — When Sammy Morris took a four-year deal with the Patriots following the 2006 season, it was seemingly to have an opportunity to get carries with a team that figured to be in the competitive mix for quite some time. With all the uncertainty that has surrounded New England’s backfield since the days of Corey Dillon, however, the fact that he is set to complete the contract this season can be one of the positives drawn from a lackluster rushing attack.

“I guess each year is a different entity in itself, so you don’t really know what to expect,” Morris said Tuesday at Gillette Stadium. “When I signed here I figured physically I could play the four years. At the same time, you never know what each offseason is going to bring, the different bumps and bruises from the year before. I physically felt like I could sign for four and definitely play for that. Fortunately it’s worked out and I just want to keep plugging away until my body says I can’t go anymore.”

Morris can’t see the end of the road from where he is now, though, as he spoke of how his conditioning and diet has led him to buck the trend of running backs 30 years and older having less production. With Kevin Faulk, 33,  and Fred Taylor, 34, the Patriots’ backfield would appear to benefit from a younger back who brings more consistency than 25-year-old Laurence Maroney, but the trio of veterans have picked up enough over the years to know that they have to respond to whatever call they get.

“I’ve played with a lot of guys that have played a long time and it would be foolish for me to not pick something up from everybody across the board,” Morris said. “I just turned 33 on the 23rd, so I know age-wise I’m getting up there, but physically I don’t really feel old. We’re talking football years, so it’s not that 33 is old anyways.

“That’s what Kevin [Faulk] and I were talking about last year at the end of the offseason. That was the strongest that I have been since I’ve been playing. A lot of it is diet and conditioning and whatever else is in there.”

Morris’ contract is set to expire following the upcoming season. The deal may run out, but Morris feels his legs still have some yards left.

“I just keep going,” Morris said. “I don’t want to get to the point where I say I can play two more and I shut it down after two when I actually could go more. I’m just going year to year but right now I still feel good.”