21.   Gone is middle linebacker Allen Aldridge, who went to Detroit in free agency, and defensive tackle Michael Dean Perry, who was released.

22.   Gray says creatine just added water weight on him and his teammates and that linebackers are more prone to use the substance.

23.   He is not the player you want to face when your starting middle linebacker is out for the season.

24.   He is a linebacker, but usually linebackers are much bigger.

25.   Here is a linebacker no longer on the Buffalo Bills roster.

26.   Here the linebackers are faster and they can cut through the line of scrimmage faster and be on top of you before you know it.

27.   If he succeeds, his linebackers should be free to rush the passer or make the tackle.

28.   If you thought San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau was a one-man gang in the AFC title game, imagine the kind of damage Senior Seau would have done.

29.   If the season started today, the linebackers would be Godfrey and Dexter Coakley outside and Strickland in the middle.

30.   In the background are linebacker Corey Widmer, left, and Mike Haluchak, the assistant coach for linebackers.