Tackler

Linebacker Mike Johnson, the Cleveland Browns' top tackler four years in a row, will miss at least four weeks and possibly as many as eight because of his broken right foot.Coach Bill Belichick said yesterday that Johnson broke a bone in the front of his ankle Sunday. Johnson was placed on injured reserve and will be out at least four weeks, meaning he will miss at least three games. The Browns have a bye Sunday, which counts as Johnson's first week on the injured list.* RAIDERS: It started with a national television report speculating that rookie Todd Marinovich might soon replace Jay Schroeder as starting quarterback.

ASHBURN, Va. - For the first time this week, inside linebacker London Fletcher practiced with the rest of his Washington Redskins teammates, working on a limited basis inside the team's indoor bubble Friday. Fletcher, who has been hobbled by a sprained left ankle, is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens at FedEx Field in Landover and sounded unsure about whether he'll be able to extend his streak of 236 consecutive games played -- tied with Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Ronde Barber as the longest active streak -- and 195 straight starts.

For as long as he can remember, Kyle Eckel could run fast for a big guy and could run over most defenders while carrying a football. As the junior who is gaining a grip on the competitive fullback position in Navy's triple-option offense, Eckel remains quick for his size and quick to lower one of his broad shoulders to punish a tackler. But the economics major from South Philadelphia continues to refine his game. Eckel no longer looks to bulldoze people automatically. He is learning to use his blockers and rely on his cutting ability.

:: Top talents Bart Scott or Jason Brown could re-sign before Friday, according to the agent for both players, who said his "gut feeling" is that one probably will become a free agent. Agent Harold Lewis said Scott, a linebacker and the team's second-leading tackler each of the past four seasons, has a better shot at staying than Brown, who starts at center.

The injury that knocked out the Houston Texans' leading tackler, Zac Diles, was freakish indeed. Diles was running downfield on a punt coverage drill this week when his left leg snapped. There was no contact involved. The surgery to repair the break to the tibia requires a rod, and Diles is obviously out for the season. Players said they actually heard the break when it happened. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/ordine)

:: Top talents Bart Scott or Jason Brown could re-sign before Friday, according to the agent for both players, who said his "gut feeling" is that one probably will become a free agent. Agent Harold Lewis said Scott, a linebacker and the team's second-leading tackler each of the past four seasons, has a better shot at staying than Brown, who starts at center.

Nobody has ever accused Ravens rookie linebacker Ron Rogers of not going full speed, even when he wasn't supposed to.Rogers always has given his all playing football, so much so that coach George O'Leary had to kick him out of Georgia Tech practices for leveling teammates during drills."

CINCINNATI -- Ravens rookie cornerback Duane Starks didn't give up the big play yesterday, and he finished as the team's leading tackler with eight and knocked down three passes, most of those long attempts to Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Carl Pickens.Starks has been burned several times by the out-and-up move, but not yesterday even though the Bengals tried it."I went up to Carl and said, 'Man, you didn't think I was going to fall for that again?' He said he knew it wasn't going to work, but they might as well try it."

COLLEGE PARK - The linebacker position was Maryland's strength at the end of 2000. It still is, but the grip on that claim has loosened. "It's getting thin," Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen said after yesterday's practice. "We can't afford to lose any more. We're running out." Marlon Moye-Moore, the team's second-leading tackler last season, is suspended because of assault and battery charges from a February incident. Kevin Bishop, a third-stringer at middle linebacker and the team's third-leading tackler from 1999, left the team last week to pursue law school.

Eric Barton loved the vibes he received from Raiders coach Jon Gruden yesterday after Oakland selected the Maryland linebacker in the fifth round of the NFL draft."

The injury that knocked out the Houston Texans' leading tackler, Zac Diles, was freakish indeed. Diles was running downfield on a punt coverage drill this week when his left leg snapped. There was no contact involved. The surgery to repair the break to the tibia requires a rod, and Diles is obviously out for the season. Players said they actually heard the break when it happened. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/ordine)

COLLEGE PARK-- --They've reached the season's midway point, but already a brief reintroduction is probably in order. The 2007 Maryland Football Team Version 2.0 isn't like the team that began the season last month. Starting quarterback? Wearing street clothes. Top offensive lineman? Done for the season. Defensive leader? After 17 straight starts, he didn't dress either. Defensive leader's replacement? Carted off the field and airlifted to the hospital. You know it's bad when a game ends and half the team reports to the locker room and the other half to the emergency room.

The Ravens nearly won their season opener at the Cincinnati Bengals after turning the ball over for three quarters. They nearly lost Sunday to the New York Jets after dominating for three quarters. So, how should the Ravens feel about themselves at 1-1? "This group has taught me about staying very focused on the task at hand, which is the next game," coach Brian Billick said. "But you also have to appreciate the game you just won. We're not going to lose sight of that, either. "I like that the players have that businesslike attitude that we didn't finish the game as well as we should have, but I don't want that to mute their passion and excitement for what was a very good win."

College Park -- As Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen gears up for his annual four-week recruiting tour, he does so this year with some unexpected holes to plug, as several players - and one coach - have informed him of their decision not to return next season. Among them are starting middle linebacker Wesley Jefferson, who was second on the team with 110 tackles, but has decided to graduate early and pursue a career as a state trooper. Also not returning are fullback Tim Cesa, a former starter whose career was cut short by a series of concussions, and redshirt freshman fullback Chris Gronkowski, who has decided to transfer.

WHO'S HOT Clemson The Tigers return 15 starters, including the Atlantic Coast Conference's top returning wide receiver (Chansi Stuckey), the No. 2 returning rusher (James Davis), the top returning scorer (Jad Dean), the top tackler (Anthony Waters) and the top sacker (Gaines Adams). Florida State The defending ACC champions have eight home games this season and have a reliable group of receivers in De'Cody Fagg, Greg Carr and Chris Davis. Senior running back Lorenzo Booker, who had 552 yards and four touchdowns last season, will anchor the running game and also has good hands out of the backfield.

Score: Jets lead 14-0 Quarter: Second Situation: Jets' ball, first -and-10 at the Ravens 17 Play: Already up 14 points, the Jets go for the knockout with a trick play. Jets quarterback Quincy Carter (17) turns and pitches the ball to running back LaMont Jordan (34), who tries to sell the run. Jordan runs toward the sideline and pulls up, looking for a receiver in the end zone. With no receivers open, Jordan throws the ball into the end zone. The ball goes over the outstretched arm of Corey Fuller (24)

MIAMI -- The Atlanta Falcons' defensive line is made up of a bunch of no-names who are calling themselves the "Bomb Squad," even though virtually nobody noticed.If they shut down the Denver Broncos' Terrell Davis in the Super Bowl, they'll get noticed, but they have been shutting down the run all season.During the regular season, they allowed an average of 75.2 yards per game and 3.33 yards per rush. They were second in the league to the San Diego Chargers in both categories.It's one of the reasons they held opposing teams to 18.1 points a game this season, the fourth-lowest total in the league.

Score: Jets lead 14-0 Quarter: Second Situation: Jets' ball, first -and-10 at the Ravens 17 Play: Already up 14 points, the Jets go for the knockout with a trick play. Jets quarterback Quincy Carter (17) turns and pitches the ball to running back LaMont Jordan (34), who tries to sell the run. Jordan runs toward the sideline and pulls up, looking for a receiver in the end zone. With no receivers open, Jordan throws the ball into the end zone. The ball goes over the outstretched arm of Corey Fuller (24)

ASHBURN, Va. - The last memory many Washington Redskins fans will have of Ifeanyi Ohalete is of the safety being victimized on a 68-yard touchdown pass by the Carolina Panthers in a preseason game Saturday night. Yesterday, the Redskins cut Ohalete, who started 15 games for them last season, made three interceptions and finished third on the team in tackles. But he had been slipping on the depth chart and was badly beaten by Carolina's Keary Colbert on a third-quarter play in the team's second preseason game.

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is expected to have "relatively minor" surgery on his right shoulder, club officials confirmed yesterday. The NFL's Defensive Player of the Year would not be able to do any heavy lifting for four to six weeks after the operation but should be able to participate in all of the team's minicamps. An official decision will be made today after Lewis' shoulder is examined by team orthopedic surgeon Leigh Ann Curl. It is not the same shoulder that Lewis had surgically repaired in 2002 and required four months to heal.