It's a fantastic fourth

It hit Ted Johnson after the AFC Championship game. It hit him so hard that he turned to some of his longtime buddies on the Patriots and said, "You know something? We're going to our fourth Super Bowl."

Troy Brown, Tedy Bruschi, Adam Vinatieri, Willie McGinest, and the injured Ty Law join Johnson on that special list. The NFL record is six for a player, held by Mike Lodish, who played for Buffalo and Denver. There are 12 other players who went to five Super Bowls.

"It's mind-boggling to think about that and all that's happened and all we've done here," said Johnson. "I've been in the league nine years and four of them I've gone to a Super Bowl. I can't believe how fortunate I am, and I know all of the guys who have been there are really appreciative of the chance to play in the biggest game of all.

"It never gets old. It's always exciting. It's so difficult after you leave one season to think you can make it all the way back to the Super Bowl the next year."

These holdovers from the Bill Parcells era have not known that much disappointment in their NFL careers. Even under Pete Carroll, they twice went to the playoffs. All of them have dodged bullets when they've had to renegotiate contracts or face being salary cap casualties, but all survived. You could say the four-timers are the lifeblood of the Patriots.

They are the leaders and de facto captains, the ones who are looked up to the most on the team because of their long and meritorious service. When their careers are over, they might be the most revered players in team history.

They have come back from injuries. McGinest had serious groin, abdominal, and back problems. Brown has had ankle, hamstring, and hernia injuries. Johnson twice ripped biceps. Bruschi had knee surgery in 2000.

In this age of free agency, it's remarkable that McGinest, Brown, Johnson, Bruschi, Vinatieri, and Law have stayed together under three coaches, and in the vastly different philosophies of Carroll and Parcells/Belichick.

"It will be something I can talk to my kids about," Brown said. "You think about it, but you can't spend a lot of time on it because you're in the middle of it and you're trying to get another Super Bowl win. When it's over, I'll be able to reflect on it. I know it's special, but I don't want to stop now."

These veterans are what's left of what used to be a bigger core. They have seen Drew Bledsoe, Chris Slade, Curtis Martin, Ben Coates, Bruce Armstrong, and Todd Collins depart.

They remember when Charlie Weis was a running backs coach and when Dante Scarnecchia coached special teams. They played for assistant coaches such as Al Groh, Ray Perkins, Steve Sidwell, Maurice Carthon, Ray Hamilton, and Johnny Parker. They remember when Belichick was the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach. All of those experiences have made them what they are today, and now, with teammates such as Tom Brady, Corey Dillon, Rodney Harrison, Mike Vrabel, and Richard Seymour, they have forged a winning identity for the Patriots.

Vinatieri, who may be the best money kicker of this generation, is one shy of tying the record for field goals attempted in the Super Bowl (six), a mark shared by Jim Turner, Roy Gerela, Rich Karlis, and Jeff Wilkins. He needs two field goals to tie Ray Wersching for the most made at five. Vinatieri is also one PAT away from tying Mike Cofer's record of nine.

Brown needs two punt returns to break the career record for the Super Bowl, which is currently six, shared by eight players.

McGinest is two sacks from having the most career sacks in the Super Bowl. The record is 4 1/2 by Charles Haley.

Brady is one MVP away from tying Joe Montana for the all-time high of three, and he would be only the third player to win back-to-back (Terry Bradshaw and Bart Starr being the others).

Johnson is right. It is mind-boggling to consider where this team and these players started, where they've been, and where they might end up.