EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Stories like Niko Koutouvides' is part of what makes the NFL so unpredictable.
On Wednesday, the eight-year veteran linebacker was back in the Patriots' locker room, joining the team at the midpoint of the season. He explained that over his career with the Seahawks (2004-2007), Broncos (2008) and Buccaneers (2009-2010), he had never been a midseason pickup forced to learn on the fly.
Koutouvides, who spent time with the Patriots in training camp this year, proved to be a quick study last week. He was part of the "core four" special teams units in Sunday's win over the Jets, and recovered a third-quarter fumble while covering a punt. His contributions on special teams reflect why the Patriots were interested in signing him.
With Koutouvides' contributions as a springboard, a look at the players who appeared on multiple special teams units Sunday:
Four units
S Sergio Brown
LB Niko Koutouvides
LB Jeff Tarpinian
LB Tracy White
Three units
S James Ihedigbo
WR Matthew Slater
RB Danny Woodhead
Two units
CB Phillip Adams
KR/PR Julian Edelman
CB Antwaun Molden
LB Rob Ninkovich
S Ross Ventrone