Sep 10 2009
J-Speaks: A Former Patriots Hangs Up Cleats and Joins ESPN
At the University of Arizona, he used his talents and work ethic to become a two-time consensus All-American, won Morris Trophy Award as the Pac-10 best defensive lineman, three-time First-team all Pac-10 and tied a NCAA Division-I record with 52 quarterback sacks. In his 13-year in the National Football League (NFL), he helped lead his team the top of the league while garnering a few team records in the process. Last week, he hung up his cleats for good and started the next chapter of his life with the “World Wide Leader in Sports.”
On Aug. 31, New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons, all with the Pats.
In his 13 seasons with the Pats, the 3rd round selection of the 1996 NFL Draft helped lead his to five Super Bowls (XXXI, XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX and XLII) winning three. He was part of eight American Football Conference (AFC) East titles and five conference championship teams. In Bruschi’s 13 seasons with New England, they won including the playoffs 68.2 percent of their contests (144-67 record) he played in. His 189 regular season appearances are more than any linebacker in team history. The 22 playoff games Brushci played are the most in team history and his five Super Bowl appearances are second most all-time in (NFL) trailing only former NFL nose tackle Mike Lodish who played in six Super Bowls, four with the Buffalo Bills and two with the Denver Broncos, in which he won a ring both times.
“Over my career, I worked so hard to have this day more like a celebration because this would be so much harder for me if there was more that I wanted to accomplish. If there were anymore goals left on the table,” said Bruschi, who recorded 30.5 sacks and 12 interceptions in his career. “I think of everything that I ever wanted to achieve in this game and I was able to achieve those goals. Being a Patriot my entire career, I’m very proud of.”
What Bruschi will be remembered for more than any tackle on a ball carrier or a sack on an opposing signal caller was how he came back to the NFL after being diagnosed with mild stroke back on Feb. 16, 2005, just days after playing in his first Pro Bowl.
He was taken to the hospital after suffering from several symptoms, which included temporary numbness, blurred vision, and headaches. He suffered from a patent foramen ovale, a congenital heart defect which leaves a small hole in the wall separating the left and right atria of the heart. Bruschi also suffered from partial paralysis and was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital.
After several months of rehab with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, MA, Bruschi announced he would miss the entire 2005 NFL campaign.
On Oct. 16, 2005, the Pats announced that Bruschi was medically cleared to resume his professional football career and rejoined the team at practice three days later. He was officially re-activated to the squad on Oct. 29, 2005 and played the following the next night versus the Buffalo Bills on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Football.”
Following the 21-16 victory over their division rivals, Bruschi was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week by the NFL and received the 2005 Comeback Player of the Year, an honor he shared with Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith. He also received from the Patriots the Ed Block Courage Award. It is an award that each of the 32 teams in the NFL vote for one member of their team who, in the “eyes of his fellow teammates, is a source of inspiration and courage.” Each March, the 32 players are honored at the Ed Block Courage Awards held in Baltimore, MD. It is here where the players receive their trophy award - a pewtered game football helmet with their team’s logo on both sides (exceptions: Cleveland Browns - No logo - and Pittsburgh Steelers - only one logo on right side) atop a beautiful base, with the player’s name, team and year engraved on it.
In 2007, Bruschi wrote about this experience in a book entitled, “Never Give Up: My Stroke, My Recovery, and My Return to the NFL.”
His play on the field as well as his leadership were endearing to his teammates and to his former head coach Bill Belichick, who at the press conference of Bruschi’s let his normal stoic demeanor go and showed real emotion for someone he described as “a perfect player.”
“You know I’ve had the privilege of coaching a lot of great players and leaders in the National Football League and I’ll just put Tedy up their with all of them and above all of them,” said Belichick.
On Tuesday’s edition of ESPN’s “NFL Live” it was announced that Bruschi will be joining the “World Wide Leader in Sports” as a football analyst on “Monday Night Countdown.” He will also, according to a report from WBZ-TV in Boston, be writing a weekly column for ESPNBoston.com.
He was a great player as a collegian at Arizona. He was a great player in the NFL for the New England Patriots and helped them achieve greatness. He will know attempt to do the same on the media side. If takes the same approach as he did on the gridiron, he will be just fine.
Quotes, Statistics and Information is Courtesy of: en.wikipedia.com; 8/31/09 7 p.m. edition of ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown,” 9/8/09 4 p.m. edition of ESPN’s “NFL Live” and www.patriots.com.