Salave'a answers the call; Lineman carves niche with improved unit.(SPORTS)

Byline: Jody Foldesy, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Just married and still unwinding from another long NFL season, Joe Salave'a wasn't thinking about football that day in March. Heck, he was on his honeymoon in New Zealand, on the opposite side of the earth. Just two things were on the mind of the 295-pound nose tackle:

"Eating and sleeping," Salave'a recalled yesterday.

Think Pumbaa from "The Lion King." "Big Joe," as he's known around Redskin Park, spent his days in a state of pleasant semi-consciousness, chowing on fresh fish and sunning himself. The San Diego Chargers, his 2003 team and preferred employer, said they would be in touch sometime soon. Life was good. Hakuna Matata.

Then his agent called. Washington Redskins assistant head coach for defense Gregg Williams, Salave'a's …