He didn't start a NFL game until his third season when he was with the Detroit Lions after being drafted out of BYU, and even then was thought of as a role player.
So now being considered one of the leaders on a Patriots defense that is on the cusp of making a return trip to the Super Bowl seems somewhat out of place for the fourth-year linebacker as he heads into Sunday's AFC championship game against Jacksonville.
"I mean going deep in the playoffs last year and then playing all of the games this year. .