NFL terminology

[beau_boy04]

Can anybody explain me how the NFL records tackles?????? please

For example: in 2002 regular season stats Derrick Brooks recorded 87 tackles, 70 solo, 30 assists, 11 passes defended (data taken out from the stats links in the official nfl web site)
However after reading the article:
http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/6113868

it says the following:
He led his team in tackles (170) for the fifth consecutive year
Brooks also had career highs in interceptions (five) and passes defensed (15).

What's wrong with these calculations? I don't get it....what the "solo and assists" is supposed to mean and are they even different? how did they come up with the 170 tackles ? because having 87, 30 and 30 there is not way I can come up with 170.

Can anybody help me with this topic.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

ps. and if you play Madden 2003 for PC, I know a tackle means when I knockdown a player to the ground, push him off the side, etc.... there is no solo and assists in the game as long as i know...

[jydog2003]

don't forget a sack counts as a tackle too(i think) and he is an outside LB so they do blitz alot more...but yea 30 asst. and 70 solo does not make 170...