Pepper Johnson left Patriots coaching staff to get out of Belichick's 'shadow'

Pepper Johnson's decision to leave the New England Patriots' coaching staff and become the defensive line coach of the Buffalo Bills came as a bit of a surprise.  Johnson had been on the Patriots staff since 2000, but appeared on "The John Murphy Show" on WGR 550 in Buffalo to explain his reasoning.

"My legs are still shaking a little bit," Johnson said, via the Bills' official website. "But I'm excited, I'm so excited.  I have always been a fan of Doug (Marrone) and the Buffalo Bills, and just getting the opportunity to spread my wings, and get up from under the shadow of Coach (Bill) Belichick.  So it's a good thing, a good opportunity."

Johnson's eventual departure from New England may have started prior to the 2012 season.  The Patriots were looking for a new defensive coordinator and Johnson was considered for the job, but New England ended up promoting safeties coach Matt Patricia. Being a defensive coordinator in the league is clearly something that is on Johnson's agenda.

"I would love to," Johnson said of being a defensive coordinator.  "In a sense, those 13 years that I played in the NFL, I graduated to calling a lot of the defenses and having the responsibility of running our defense, and being an extension of the head coach on the sideline.  It's a dream of mine and a goal of mine, but right now, I have to deal with this defensive line."