By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HOUSTON - Word around the Super Bowl is New England, again, will be introduced before the game as a team and not as individual starting players.

The Patriots took that approach to symbolize their "us-against-the-world" mentality before upsetting the Rams two years ago to win Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans.

When they make their formal entrance Sunday at Reliant Stadium, the Patriots' en masse approach will reflect how they got to the NFL title game for the second time in three years.

Coach Bill Belichick, in the process of losing five of his 22 opening-day starters to season-ending injuries, started 42 different players in this season - the most by a division winner since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.

Players who started for the Patriots lost 103 games to injuries. Belichick started 15 different lineups on offense and 10 on defense.

"They haven't found just 22 guys who can play," 11th-year Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown said. "They've found a whole bunch of guys who can play."

Belichick and Scott Pioli, the Pats' vice president of player personnel, have built an old-fashioned team in the era of individual stars in the NFL. They've also managed to cultivate a budding dynasty when free agency and the league's salary cap promote parity.

Only 24 of the current Patriots were on the Super Bowl team of 2001-02; 43 players - including 11 on injured reserve - were acquired since New England won the NFL title two years ago.

All the Patriots have done, after a 2-2 start, is win 14 consecutive games - the NFL's longest streak since the 1972 Dolphins went 17-0.

"I think a big part of our team has been the depth," Belichick said. "That's just been a great job by our personnel people."

Belichick gets credit for a no-nonsense, team-first system. Though the Patriots have one star with a household name, quarterback Tom Brady, the organization continues to find players who have an attitude that fits Belichick's and the talent and aptitude to handle the mentally demanding schemes on both sides of the ball.

"It's definitely important," Belichick said Tuesday when asked how intelligent his players must be. "Our players have a lot of responsibilities and adjustments they must handle. (But) we're not doing an IQ test here. We're just trying to play football."

One player who fits Belichick's requirement as a smart player is running back Larry Centers. A 14th-year NFL veteran, Centers has played for Arizona, Washington and Buffalo. He played in six games in 2003 for the Patriots before being released Oct. 18. He was re-signed by New England on Dec. 9 and played in three more games. He has played in both playoff games and started the AFC Championship Game at fullback.

Centers is not angry about being released and brought back. He saw his yo-yo season as part of Belichick's roster mastery.

"In all my years in the league, I've never seen a coach who can create a oneness for the team like Bill does," Centers said Tuesday during media day. "It's kind of ironic, because he's not a rah-rah guy. He's real low-key. He still gets guys fired up by keeping it real with them, telling them exactly what's going on, and players respect it.

"If you're working for a guy who gives it to you straight, it's easier to accept your role, because there is no guesswork involved. You either do it or you don't, and I think Bill does an amazing job of plugging guys in."

The "plugging-in" starts in the offseason. Belichick said Pioli and his staff assemble 4,000 names in preparation of the draft and whittle it down to 1,500 before presenting him with 100. Of the 17 Pioli-Belichick draft picks on the roster, 15 started at least one game this season.

"The system is great, but the system is nothing without the players," said All-Pro free agent safety Rodney Harrison, who was considered washed up by most teams after nine years in San Diego. "The system only works if you have the players out there making plays."

Patriots vs. Panthers

Kickoff: 6:25 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Houston, Reliant Stadium.

TV: Ch. 12, 7.

Radio: WCKY-AM (1360).

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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