Except for when the Patriots opened in a nickel defense against the Cincinnati Bengals, Seau has started every game this season. He was fourth on the team with 70 tackles, and he was part of the third-ranked run defense in the league, one allowing 83.2 yards per game.
Playing beside Tedy Bruschi, the 12-time Pro Bowler, who was coaxed out of retirement and signed Aug. 18, plugged what had been a trouble spot for New England last season, when the subpar play of Monty Beisel and Chad Brown forced outside linebacker Mike Vrabel to move inside for the final 11 games of the regular season and playoffs.
"Junior was real good," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick. "Our system, even though he worked a little bit in it in Miami last year, is different from anything he's played in, and that was an adjustment for him. He worked very hard to kind of change his style of play a little bit to fit what we do."
According to an SI.com report, Seau, who made his name in San Diego with a swashbuckling sideline-to-sideline style, wasn't always successful. Sports Illustrated's Michael Silver writes in this week's issue that Seau and Patriots defensive line coach Pepper Johnson had to be separated a few weeks ago, when they became engaged in an altercation that extended to the parking lot. According to Silver, the source of the disagreement was Seau not following the design of a scripted defensive play.
"I'm aware of the report, but I have no information on it," said Patriots spokesman Stacey James.
Seau's absence had a domino effect on the Patriots' 3-4 defense. After Seau was injured bringing down Bears ball carrier Cedric Benson for no gain, Vrabel, normally at left outside linebacker, reprised his role inside. Rosevelt Colvin slid over to take Vrabel's spot and reserve Tully Banta-Cain replaced Colvin at right outside linebacker.
"We work it that way in practice," said Belichick, who has become a master of contingency plans. "The rotation was exactly the way we've been practicing all year since Tedy came back."
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