Lineup takes a hit

Broken foot KO's Patriots' Johnson

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff, 9/11/2003

FOXBOROUGH -- Less than a week after the release of safety Lawyer Milloy, the Patriots have lost another key defensive contributor.

Starting inside linebacker Ted Johnson underwent surgery yesterday at Massachusetts General Hospital for a broken bone in his left foot suffered in Sunday's opening-game loss at Buffalo, and according to his agent, Jack Mills, the veteran is expected to be sidelined at least through midseason.

"It's a tough break," said coach Bill Belichick. "Ted has played well. He was having a very solid year. It's a tough setback."

Exactly when the injury occurred is hard to determine because Johnson played the entire game, but Mills indicated it came in the last five minutes. Johnson was one of the last players out of the trainer's room after the game after going for X-rays.

Belichick will now turn to 13-year veteran Roman Phifer to fill Johnson's void. Phifer played on the outside last season, but with the addition of Rosevelt Colvin as a pass rusher, and Mike Vrabel also on the outside, Phifer was moved inside as protection for Tedy Bruschi and Johnson. Phifer's been superb in coverage, a good linebacker rushing the passer usually taking on a tight end or a fullback. Now he's going to be taking on guards, some of them 50 to 60 pounds heavier.

Normally you wouldn't want to expose a 35-year-old player to the wear and tear of the inside at this stage of his career, particularly if the player hasn't played the position.

"Any time someone goes down we all have to step up," said Phifer. "It's an opportunity for me and Bruschi. We have to step up our games. We had that rotation of three guys inside, but right now me and Bruschi have to hold it down. That's just part of the game. I've experienced that a lot in my 13-year career."

Phifer played in the rotation against Buffalo and held his own, but he wasn't playing every defensive snap. Against the Eagles, he'll face two of the most physical guards in the league in John Welbourn and Jermane Mayberry.

"I wouldn't say it's weird; it's still football," said Phifer. "It's still being a linebacker, just seeing it from a different angle. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I want to contribute to this team any way that I can. Yeah, I've got to take on guys who are a little bigger. It's a little more physical. Like I said, it's still football. I love it. I've been playing for a while, so it shouldn't be a hard adjustment."

Phifer said he prepared for the switch. "I felt like I got a little bigger personally," he said. "I put on a few extra pounds. I'm not sure it was all good weight, nonetheless I'm a little heavier and that really helps inside, the guys are a lot bigger in there."

He estimates he's 5 or 6 pounds heavier, but feels he can still maintain his quickness and speed. He may also give Belichick and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel the option of staying in the game on third down because he does have outside skills, and he can get to the quarterback or cover a running back or tight end.

He calls the inside linebacking position the "headache drill.

"That's basically what it is, you've got a big guy in front of you and you run into him as hard as you can," Phifer explained.

Phifer said his conditioning to play an inside position shouldn't be in question. He said having Ted Washington at nose tackle "takes on some of those guys and it prevents me from taking as many hits."

Phifer acknowledges the hit the Patriots have taken the past two weeks. First Milloy and now Johnson, who was named a defensive cocaptain at the start of the season to replace Milloy. Johnson told the Globe last week how much he was looking forward to life as a captain. He had been an appointed captain during Pete Carroll's reign, but this was the first time his teammates had voted for him.

"His leadership and overall presence in the locker room will definitely be missed," said Phifer. "Going from outside to inside, Ted along with Tedy have been helping me adjust to the reads. They've both been very helpful."

Johnson made most of the defensive calls, and that will likely fall on Bruschi.