Solid Player, Great Teammate

When you think about the New England Patriots and their budding NFL dynasty your mind tends to envision the stars behind the winners of three of the last four Super Bowls. Names like Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Richard Seymour, Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Troy Brown, Ty Law, Corey Dillon, Willie McGinest, Deion Branch and Lawyer Milloy are just a handful of the prime time players that have been responsible for bringing the Lombardi Trophy to Foxboro. But in all of that hoopla, some names seem to be forgotten. Even on a team as prominent as the Patriots, some players contributions often get over looked. Ted Johnson, a Patriot since 1995 when he was drafted out of Colorado, is one of those players who is forgotten from time to time. Today, on the day he retired from the Patriots after ten years and three Super Bowls, is a day to remember him. For those of you who have become Pats fans since the magical ride to Super Bowl XXXVI, let me fill you in on big No. 52. Ted Johnson was one of three landmarks on the young Patriot defense of the mid-'90s. A powerful run stopper, Johnson -- along with Milloy and Law -- formed the foundation of a unit that reached Super Bowl XXXI. He was a monster on the field who dominated in a quiet but forceful manner. Long before Tedy Bruschi was the man in the middle on Sundays for New England, Ted Johnson stuffed on coming running backs. Injuries, especially multiple tears to his large bicep muscles, kept Johnson off the field towars the end of the '90s. Unlike some of the pretenders in the NFL who enjoy avoiding the battles on the field, Johnson was a victim of cruel irony -- it was his great work ethic in the weight room that caused his injuries. Injuries would plague Johnson for most of his career. In his place, Bruschi blossomed into a Pro Bowl linebacker. However, you never heard Johnson complain. Yes, he threatened to quit right before the 2002 season opener, but that was more about feeling lost on the team rather than a squabble over losing his job to Bruschi. Johnson returned to the team, was a successful contributor and was even voted in as a defensive captain before the 2003 season. Over this great Patriots run, Ted Johnson the role player has been as valuable as Ted Johnson the rising star. In winning the AFC Championship Games in both 2002 and 2005 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson's role in shutting down Jerome Bettis was priceless. Without him, The Bus could have run wild and history would be written rather differently today. Replacing Ted Johnson will be no easy feat for Belichick, Scott Pioli and the Patriots. His role on the field may not be what we once thought it could be but he was still an integral part of the defense. And his position as one of the veteran leaders can not be made up for. The Patriots lost a solid player today. They also lost one of their greatest team players. Another challenge to overcome for the World Champions.