One of them, it turned out, was the team's decision to cut locker room favorite Pepper Johnson.

Pepper Johnson has shared playing time, especially in passing situations.

With the help of veterans like Pepper Johnson, he just wants to be a player now and let the impact come later.

Another wanted to see Pepper Johnson, the inside linebacker, play tight end.

But for right now at least, Pepper Johnson is ahead of me.

"We could have made a few more plays on defense," said Pepper Johnson, the inside linebacker.

"They were still coming off the ball at the end," said Pepper Johnson.

"We played pretty hard on defense," said Pepper Johnson, the inside linebacker.

"I got here an hour and 20 minutes before the game," said Pepper Johnson, the other inside linebacker.

Pepper Johnson didn't even arrive until after last season had started.