When the New England Patriots refused to be introduced individually before the Super Bowl five months ago, preferring instead to enter the Superdome as a team, it graphically demonstrated how much the 53 players on the roster bought into the concept of depth.

	Tom Brady proved the value of depth, filling in for injured Drew Bledsoe.

For the Patriots, the sum was, indeed, more significant than any of the single components. And while it would diminish its achievement to suggest that quantity bested quality in the stunning New England upset of the St. Louis Rams, roster depth was an undeniable factor in the Patriots' championship season.

"You always felt like, if a starter went down, there was a veteran guy there to step into the (breach)," said cornerback Terrell Buckley, who played for the Patriots in 2001 before signing last week with the Tampa Bay Bucs as a free agent. "Everywhere you looked in the locker room, there were former starters from other teams, players who knew what they were doing and knew how to play the game. It was a huge factor (in winning the Super Bowl championship)."

The NFL remains, particularly in the era of the salary cap, a league in which star players characteristically determine the outcome of games and the importance of role players is diminished. But that is more a function of free agency and the salary cap, a double-edged sword that's made it nearly impossible to develop experienced backups, and to maintain any semblance of roster continuity.

Still, under the stewardship of head coach Bill Belichick and personnel chief Scott Pioli, the Patriots assembled a roster with notable depth in 2001. Not surprisingly, the club has followed the same formula this spring, as recently as Sunday adding another proven but modestly priced veteran in former New York Jets starting safety Victor Green.

Even in a copycat league, where last year's Super Bowl champion immediately becomes this season's alleged paradigm for productivity, few franchises can duplicate the overall consistency of the New England roster. But some franchises have been able to assemble solid groups at particular positions.

Here then, with some assistance from personnel directors and general managers around the league, is a look at the deepest individual units entering training camp. Remember, these aren't necessarily the best units in the league, but rather the best equipped to deal with adversity:

Quarterback

	Shaun King is caught in a numbers game as the Bucs' third-string QB.

In starter Brad Johnson and backups Rob Johnson and Shaun King, the Tampa Bay Bucs possess three quarterbacks who started an aggregate 65 games over the past two seasons, no small feat. Only three other teams –- Cincinnati, Oakland and Seattle -– have three quarterbacks on their camp rosters with at least 10 career starts each. "We're really blessed here at the quarterback position," Bucs first-year coach Jon Gruden said. In fact, the Bucs' trio might be the deepest since the San Francisco 49ers' depth chart included Joe Montana, Steve Young and Steve Bono, and that was before the era of free agency. The old adage is that, if you're forced to play with the No. 3 quarterback, you aren't going to win many games anyway. But King took Tampa Bay to the playoffs in 2000, owns a 14-7 record as a starter, has more career starts than seven projected starting quarterbacks in the league for 2002, is still just 25 years old, and probably would be atop the depth chart for at least a few NFL franchises.

Running back
The easy thing to do would be to peg Denver, which has three former 1,000-yard rushers and another potential star in second-round draft pick Clinton Portis, as the deepest backfield. But despite the optimistic reports on the health of Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary, we prefer to wait until training camp, to see if the two tailbacks really are as sufficiently recovered as Broncos officials have hinted. Tennessee certainly has added great depth during the offseason with tailbacks Robert Holcombe and Skip Hicks, and fullback Greg Comella. But until workhorse Eddie George demonstrates that he is over the foot injury that slowed him in 2001, we're withholding judgement here also. Ditto the Colts, where Edgerrin James is coming off knee surgery, but could provide Indianapolis an incredible 1-2 punch with second-year pro Dominic Rhodes, if healthy. The winner? In a close call, we're making it Buffalo over Pittsburgh, once again because the Steelers' Jerome Bettis must prove he is beyond a 2001 groin injury. Buffalo is actually four-deep at tailback, with Travis Henry, Sammy Morris, Shawn Bryson and Richard Huntley. And that doesn't even count Curtis Alexander, who had a terrific season in NFL Europe this spring, but probably won't make the roster. The tailbacks are augmented by venerable fullback Larry Centers, never much more than an adequate blocker, but still one of the NFL's premier receivers out of the backfield, even at age 34.

Offensive line
Not even the anticipated retirement of left guard Steve Wisniewski, who seems to be serious this time when he suggests he's played his final game, can diminish the depth of the Oakland Raiders blocking unit. In their fifth and fourth NFL campaigns, respectively, guard Mo Collins and tackle Matt Stinchcomb, both first-round selections, still can't crack the starting lineup. "It's one position where you don't want to be caught short," said new Raiders head coach and former offensive line mentor Bill Callahan, "You want lots of bodies, because of all the collisions these guys have, in the practices and games. If the bodies are experienced, then, all the better." The underrated personnel tandem of Chet Franklin and Mike Lombardi always seems to replenish the assemblage of backup blockers and this spring was a typical effort, with the club signing tackle Brad Badger and guard Tom Ackerman. A close runner-up to the Raiders this year is New Orleans, which, despite departures of tackle Willie Roaf and guard Chris Naeole, has done an admirable job of developing depth. The Saints signed tackles Victor Riley and Spencer Folau, center Bubba Miller and guard Kendyl Jacox, and selected former Ohio State center/guard LeCharles Bentley, a likely starter, in the second round.

Tight end
Pretty much a no-brainer, given the return of Shannon Sharpe to Denver, where he will conclude his Hall of Fame career. Even before Sharpe returned as a free agent, the Broncos were loaded at the position, with Desmond Clark, Dwayne Carswell and H-back Patrick Hape. The trio combined for 100 receptions in 2001 and Clark, who had 51 of them, enjoyed a breakout year. Only one other team in the NFL had two tight ends with 30 or more receptions. Even in his dotage, Sharpe, the most prolific receiving tight end in league history, had 73 receptions for Baltimore last season. "They can bring those tight ends at you in waves," said former Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski, now with the Oakland Raiders. "And they're all very solid players."

Wide receiver
Sometimes you simply have to opt for the obvious and this is one of those occasions. In starters Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt (on the cusp of surpassing his more celebrated running mate), and backups Ricky Proehl and Terrence Wilkins, the St. Louis Rams will field the deepest wide receiver unit for yet another season. The departure of Az-Zahir Hakim is notable, but the acquisition of the elusive Wilkins via trade should help assuage the loss. A skitterish runner after the catch, Wilkins does not possess the pure, explosive speed of Hakim, but always has been excellent after the catch and his stamina should not erode as readily in his new environs. Even at age 34, Proehl is still one of the NFL's premier third-down receivers. Two groups, beyond the Rams, to watch in 2002: Tampa Bay and Buffalo. The Bucs don't have a legitimate deep threat, but the physical trio of Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius should be formidable. The trade for Drew Bledsoe should make Bills starters Eric Moulds and Peerless Price better, and the team added Josh Reed in the second round and veteran Charles Johnson through free agency. If either of two youngsters, Jerry Porter or Marcus Knight, develop in camp, Oakland could squeeze into this category.

Defensive line
Historically, the toughest position of all to create depth, since so many teams cling to every 300-pounder with a pulse. "You look at rosters around the league and the backup (defensive) linemen are rookies or rejects," one AFC personnel director points out. Not so, though, in Dallas and Chicago, two teams that tie for the top spot at this position. The addition of tackle Christian Peter on Friday provides the Bears a proven No. 3 run-stopper to go with behemoth starters Ted Washington and Keith Traylor. Getting end Keith McKenzie is a nifty insurance policy in the event that Bryan Robinson doesn't recover from two broken wrists in time for camp, and gives youngsters Alex Brown and Karon Riley time to develop as pass rushers. In Dallas, the Cowboys made a terrific springtime move in retaining tackle Michael Myers, who started 16 games in 2001, and now will be the No. 3 guy in a rotation with Brandon Noble and standout pass rusher La'Roi Glover. So loaded are the Cowboys at tackle (John Nix is a solid No. 4 there) that they recently moved second-year veteran Daleroy Stewart outside. At end, Peppi Zellner started 15 games last season, but he could lose his job if Ebenezer Ekuban is fully recovered from back surgery. The Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals are two more teams that should not be overlooked.

Linebackers

	Kendrell Bell quickly established himself among the league's best linebackers.

In opting for the Steelers' unit over those of New England and Cincinnati, we'll acknowledge some concession here to quality as well as quantity. The Steelers made only one key defensive free-agent signing, importing former New York Jets starter James Farrior to replace the departed Earl Holmes at inside linebacker, and he might not earn a starting job because of the springtime performance of former special teams ace John Fiala. Fourth-round draft pick Larry Foote will contribute immediately on special teams and perhaps in some "nickel" situations. The three certain starters -– Jason Gildon, Joey Porter and Kendrell Bell -– all are Pro Bowl-caliber defenders. "Those guys make our defense go," said end Kimo von Oelhoffen. As long as Bill Belichick is around, the Patriots always will have an excess of linebackers, because he loves the versatility it provides him in alternating between three- and four-man fronts. This year's backups (Ted Johnson, Ryan Phillips and special teams standout Larry Izzo) are excellent, as usual. The Bengals' unit is usually overlooked, but Adrian Ross could start for many NFL teams, and Canute Curtis and Armegis Spearman are more than serviceable.

Secondary
There are some teams (like Tampa Bay and Seattle) deeper at cornerback, and others (such as Pittsburgh) with more safeties who have been league starters, but no franchise has as many overall secondary players as New England possesses on its camp roster. The weekend addition of safety Victor Green, who likely will get as much playing time as some of the starters, pretty much clinched that for the defending Super Bowl champions. "They sold me on the fact they use a lot of people (in the secondary), play all sorts of 'sub' coverages, and that they find roles for everyone," said cornerback Tom Knight, the former Arizona Cardinals' first-rounder who signed with the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent this spring. "You look around the (position) meetings, and they're crowded with good players, guys who have played a lot." New England has six safeties, including top role players like Chris Hayes, Antwan Harris and Je'Rod Cherry, who provide great insurance at the position. Knight will have to hold off challenges from youngsters like Leonard Myers and Brock Williams to win the top "nickel" job. The Bucs, Steelers, Seahawks and Raiders also should be cited for depth in the secondary.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com