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2008

Bruschi back with Patriots

By Mike Reiss, Globe Staff | February 29, 2008

When assessing his football future in recent years, linebacker Tedy Bruschi has often said he likes to take inventory after each season. Then, after consulting with his loved ones, he'd make a final decision.

The inventory is complete. So, too, are the important discussions with his family.

And with that, Bruschi has decided he's ready to play some more football, agreeing to terms on a multiyear contract with the Patriots yesterday, according to a league source.

The decision gave the Patriots some positive momentum heading into the start of free agency early this morning. Bruschi would have been a free agent as his contract was set to expire.

Bruschi, who turns 35 in June, started every game for the Patriots in 2007. He led the team in tackles during the regular season (99), as well as solo tackles (69). One of his top performances came in the AFC Championship game against the Chargers when he tied for a team-high eight tackles, while diving to deflect a pass intended for tight end Antonio Gates at the goal line.

In the days leading up to Super Bowl XLII, Bruschi talked about how he planned to approach his future.

"I'm 34 years old and in my 12th year. After my season's over, how does my body feel? Do I still have the passion to play? I sit down with my wife and we discuss those things and we go from there," he said.

The 2008 season will mark Bruschi's 13th in the NFL, all of which have been with the Patriots. His fiery play on the field has earned him respect from teammates and foes, and his return from a stroke in 2005 has made him an inspirational presence to many off it. Teammates voted him a defensive captain last season.

From a football perspective, the 6-foot-1-inch, 247-pound Bruschi adds an important veteran presence to a linebacking corps that only has seven players under contract. Bruschi joins returning starters Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas, as well as backups Eric Alexander, Larry Izzo, T.J. Slaughter, and Pierre Woods.

In the Patriots' 3-4 alignment last season, Bruschi played both inside spots, starting the season on the weakside paired with Thomas. When Thomas shifted to the outside, Bruschi moved to the strongside to form a 1-2 punch with Junior Seau.

Although Bruschi's return is solidified, Seau's situation remains up in the air.

The 39-year-old Seau told the Associated Press yesterday he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left rotator cuff after the Super Bowl, noting he suffered the injury in the fourth game of the season.

A 12-time Pro Bowler and 18-year veteran, Seau has played the last two seasons for the Patriots. Asked about returning for a third, he said: "I know that it's a structure of what coach [Bill] Belichick and the Kraft family have to partake in, to put together a great team that can follow up what we did last year. That takes time. There really isn't anything on the table for me to look at except me getting healthy and being ready to go whenever anything that is a liking to me surfaces."

For now, Seau remains in San Diego, where he's a regular on the beach.

"I have a choice of playing or a choice of surfing," he said. "Those are great choices to have."

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.

Bruschi returning to Patriots - The Boston Globe

Courant.com
Bruschi Not Ready For Goodbyes
Linebacker Plans To Stick Around With Patriots

By DAVID HEUSCHKEL

Courant Staff Writer

February 29, 2008


The question was never whether Tedy Bruschi, who was set to be a free agent at midnight Thursday, would play for another team. It was whether he wanted to continue playing for the Patriots.

As Bruschi has said, winning another championship is more important to him than making money at this stage of his career. So he never intended to find out what other teams were willing to pay for his services.

Bruschi, who will turn 35 in June, has decided to keep growing older with the Patriots by agreeing to a multiyear contract, a source said Thursday night. The terms were not available.

Bruschi has continued to play at a high level as an inside linebacker. He has led the team in tackles the past two seasons.

In 2007, Bruschi had 99 tackles (69 solo) in 16 regular season games in 2007 and 23 tackles in three playoff games.

Bruschi wasn't even the oldest linebacker on the team last season. Junior Seau, 39, isn't sure he will return after having arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder after the Super Bowl.

"I have a choice of playing or a choice of surfing. Those are great choices to have," Seau told The Associated Press Thursday from his home in Oceanside, Calif.

The Patriots have other issues regarding personnel as the free agency period begins today. The priority is to re-sign wide receiver Randy Moss and find a replacement for cornerback Asante Samuel, another free agent who is expected to test the market.

The thinking is Moss, 31, will return because he wants to stay and Samuel, 27, will leave because he is seeking a long-term contract the Patriots can't afford.

Some believe the Patriots' decision to not put the franchise tag on Moss was a sign the sides have agreed to a deal that could be announced today. But if that's not the case, there is no guarantee Moss will catch a pass from Tom Brady in 2008.

After catching 23 touchdown passes to set an NFL single-season record, Moss could be the primary target of another team willing to pay huge dollars.

That's the route many expect Samuel to do take. He is unquestionably the top free agent cornerback and looking to cash in on the last two seasons, in which he had a combined 16 interceptions. So the Patriots may look at ways to replace him. Brandon Meriweather, the team's top draft pick last year, could step into that role.

The Patriots will probably lose two cornerbacks. Randall Gay, like Samuel, is an unrestricted free agent who might sign with another team after the Patriots offered much less than his asking price.

Veteran cornerback Ty Law, released by the Patriots three years ago, spoke of returning after being cut by the Chiefs this week. But he is 34 and probably more suited to a reserve role.

The Patriots don't have as much salary cap space to work with as last offseason, when they went on a spending spree. Their free agent signings included linebacker Adalius Thomas, tight end Kyle Brady and running back Sammy Morris right away, and later added wide receivers Kelley Washington and Donte Stallworth. Wes Welker and Moss were acquired in trades.

Washington has re-signed, the Boston Globe and Boston Herald reported on their websites early this morning. Terms were not disclosed.

After releasing linebacker Rosevelt Colvin this week, the Patriots are projected to be $12 million to $15 million under the 2008 salary cap of $116 million heading into the free agency period. Assuming they re-sign Moss, some of that cap space will decrease. But the team, as it has in the past, could ask some of its highest-paid players, including Brady, to restructure their contracts to get more cap flexibility.

Bruschi Not Ready For Goodbyes -- Courant.com

MONDAY MARCH 3, 2008 Last modified: Friday, February 29, 2008 11:53 PM EST
Tedy Bruschi has decided to put off retirement for at least one more year.

Bruschi, Paxton stay put

BY MARK FARINELLA / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

FOXBORO - Some free-agency goals are easier to fulfill than others.

For instance, the Patriots found it much easier on the first day of free agency to come to terms with fan-favorite, linebacker Tedy Bruschi, and their long-time long-snapper than it was to get their best wide receiver under contract.

Lonie Paxton, who is more famous for the snow angels he created on the Foxboro Stadium turf after the "Snow Bowl" victory in 2001 than for anything he has done on the field, has agreed to a one-year contract to take him out of the unrestricted free agent rolls.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

According to published reports, Paxton drew some interest from at least two other NFL teams. But his agent, Paul Sheehy, said the eight-year veteran from Sacramento State has a goal of being able complete his career with the team that originally signed him.

"He is so emotionally entrenched in the Boston community and the Patriots organization that it would have taken a contract of epic proportions from a team that has a chance to compete in the postseason every year for Lonie leave at this time," Sheehy told the Boston Globe. "Ultimately, Lonie is exactly where he wanted to be when this process started."

As of midday Friday, there had been no indications that the Patriots and Randy Moss are prepared to announce an agreement despite widespread rumors that the record-setting wide receiver was virtually assured of returning to the team.

Cornerback Asante Samuel wasted no time in finding a new home, agreeing to a six-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, reportedly worth up to $57 million.

Other moves have yet to be announced by the team, but are reportedly finished.

Bruschi has accepted what's been termed a "multi-year" pact that will ensure that the 35-year-old veteran will have played for only the Patriots in his career. Bruschi started all 16 regular-season games and all three playoff contests last year, and led the Patriots in total tackles (99) and solo hits (69) in the regular season (99).

There has been no further word on his fellow inside linebacker, Junior Seau, who told the Associated Press earlier in the week that he underwent shoulder surgery a few days after Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants.

The Patriots have also reportedly reached an agreement with wide receiver Kelley Washington to return for a lower salary than he made with the team last year. Terms of that agreement have not been announced. Washington did not catch a pass last year after having been signed as a free agent following four years with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he became a special-teams standout.

With the decision to let Donté Stallworth depart, and other possible moves among the receiving corps, Washington could receive more of a chance to prove himself in the passing game next year.

The Patriots are allowing backup defensive tackle Rashad Moore, a restricted free agent, to depart without offering him a tender. They also gave veteran safety Eugene Wilson their blessings to depart, while apparently retaining the services of linebacker and special-teams captain Larry Izzo.

The team also released tight end Kyle Brady. Brady, a 13-year veteran, caught nine passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns last season after being signed last March.

There has been no reported movement in the cases of unrestricted free agent receivers Troy Brown and Jabar Gaffney, safety Mel Mitchell and cornerback Chad Scott. Cornerback Randall Gay has a visit scheduled for the weekend with New Orleans.

The Patriots also reportedly tendered contracts to four exclusive-rights free agents, linebackers Eric Alexander and Pierre Woods, offensive tackle Wesley Britt and safety Ray Ventrone, assuring their return for the 2008 season.

The Sun Chronicle Online - Sports

Tedy Bruschi follow-up
 Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff March 3, 2008 11:54 AM

Following up on the contract agreement between the Patriots and LB Tedy Bruschi:

Bruschi inked a two-year deal, and received a $1.2 million signing bonus. His base salary for 2008 is $1 million.

Bruschi's base salary increases to $1.9 million in 2009.

There are workout bonuses in each year.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/tedy_bruschi_fo.html

New blood coming to linebacker corps?
By Douglas Flynn
GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
Posted Mar 08, 2008 @ 11:44 PM
FOXBORO —

Tedy Bruschi signed, Rosevelt Colvin was let go, Junior Seau’s status is in limbo; will the team will break tradition and draft a linebacker early.

It’s the age-old question facing the Patriots. Is their aging linebacking corps just too old?

The Pats’ top five linebackers last year boasted a combined 58 years in the league and averaged 33 years of age.

The Pats played up the benefits of that experience during the season.

“Any time you get older players that have a lot of knowledge about the game, that experience is going to pay off,” said defensive coordinator Dean Pees the week before the Super Bowl. “You might want them to be faster, but a lot of times that knowledge overcomes any lack of speed or decline in speed. I love coaching these guys. It’s like coaching coaches.”

Still, it wasn’t shocking when one of those five — outside backer Rosevelt Colvin — ended up on injured reserve with a foot injury suffered in late November.

Bruschi stays

Without Colvin, Adalius Thomas moved outside and 39-year-old Junior Seau and 34-year-old Tedy Bruschi were forced into full-time duty inside. While both provided leadership on and off the field and continued to come up with some clutch plays, neither was well-suited to that kind of workload at this stage of their careers.

“You don’t really compensate,” said Bruschi. “You still go out there just to try to perform the best that you can. As you get older, experience absolutely comes into factor. Yes, I was maybe faster or quicker when I was younger. I’m not 24 anymore. I mean that was 10 years ago. But did I know as much then? So is it an advantage or a disadvantage?

The Pats will keep their emotional leader around a little longer, as Bruschi put off retirement and signed two-year deal with a $1.2 million signing bonus and base salaries of $1 million in 2008 and $1.9 million in 2009.

Seau, who underwent shoulder surgery after the season, hasn’t committed to come back yet, but he’s certainly left open the possibility.

“I’ve always loved the game,” Seau said before the Super Bowl. “I love it as much now as I did in my rookie year. I couldn’t love it any more than I do. I believe I was born to be a football player and I’m going to hold onto it until the day comes where I can’t anymore.”

Colvin let go

The Patriots did cut Colvin, however, as he was as much a casualty of the cap system — he was due to count $7.6 million against the cap next year — as the lingering effects of his season-ending foot injury.

That helps give New England some needed cap space to start injecting some new blood in the linebacker corps. There’s still plenty of experience with Mike Vrabel, Thomas and special teams captain Larry Izzo back, but there’s also opportunities for third-year man Pierre Woods on the outside and fourth-year vet Eric Alexander inside to take on bigger roles.

Vrabel is coming off his first Pro Bowl season, having led the Pats with a career-high 12.5 sacks. But he failed to bring down the quarterback in seven of the eight games after Colvin went down, and will need another pass rusher on the other side to emerge to help keep offenses from keying on him too much.

Thomas could fill that role. He started his first season in New England playing inside, but moved outside to replace Colvin and seemed more comfortable out there, culminating in his best game as a Patriot in the Super Bowl.

Where Thomas lines up next fall will likely be determined in the coming weeks, as New England finishes its free-agent shopping and makes its draft selections. If they go for help inside, Thomas will likely remain as an outside backer. But his ability to man an inside slot could also allow the Pats to target better value with additions on the outside.

That versatility is a trademark of anyone who plays linebacker in a Bill Belichick defensive scheme.

Shopping for help

Not surprisingly, New England has been in the market for even more veteran help at the position. The Pats brought in Zach Thomas for a meeting after he was released by the Dolphins, but he opted to sign with Dallas instead.

They could also take a run at recently released Takeo Spikes, another former star who might just have enough left in the tank to make a significant contribution along the lines of other Patriots additions like Seau and safety Rodney Harrison.

But even if they hit paydirt again with a veteran like Spikes, the Pats have to get some young blood into the organization at the position. That’s why they also met with restricted free agent Adam Seward this week. He drew interest from New England in the 2005 draft, but was plucked by Carolina in the fifth round.

He’s been limited to mostly special teams action with the Panthers, but could be a better fit in New England 3-4 base than Carolina’s 4-3 system. He has the size at 6-foot-2, 248 pounds and is just 25, and since the Panthers tendered him at the lowest level, signing Seward would cost the Pats just a fifth-round pick in compensation.

That, interestingly, is the highest round New England has ever chosen a linebacker in the draft under Belichick, as Seward’s UNLV teammate Ryan Claridge was picked in the fifth round in 2005.

Drafting up a plan

The Pats might finally have to take a linebacker on the first day of the draft this year, and there are plenty of solid candidates to choose from. They’d love to land Virginia’s Chris Long (son of Howie), but he likely won’t be available when they pick at No. 7 and could actually go first overall.

If they do use their first round pick on a linebacker, Ohio State’s Vernon Gholston would be the top candidate. A defensive end for the Buckeyes, the 6-3, 266-pounder projects as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the pros and could be a longterm replacement for Colvin.

If the Pats address another need with their top pick, they still have a second rounder and two thirds to go after a linebacker. Penn State’s Dan Connor, Maryland’s Erin Henderson, Oklahoma’s Curtis Lofton, Miami’s Tavares Gooden, Tennessee’s Jerod Mayo, Georgia Tech’s Philip Wheeler and Vanderbilt’s Jonathan Goff, who is soaring up the charts after finishing second in the bench press and fifth in the 40 among linebackers at the combine, are possibilities at inside linebacker, with Jeremy Leman of Illinois a sleeper for the later rounds as he was unable to run at the combine following ankle surgery.

There’s no shortage of potential help at the position for the Patriots. Now they just need to go out and get it, or these questions about their linebacking corps will really get old.

http://www.patriotledger.com/sports/x147850057

News and Notes:

--New England-area stroke survivors were invited to the visitors' locker room at Gillette Stadium to meet Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi, himself a survivor of a stroke. Bruschi joined the group as they posed for photos, which will be used by the American Stroke Association as part of what they're calling "a large-scale stroke awareness campaign." Bruschi and his new friends also filmed a public service announcement to help this important cause.

 LB Tedy Bruschi, also took some time this offseason to help a cause that’s important to him – surviving a stroke.

A number of New England residents who survived strokes were invited to Gillette Stadium’s visitors’ locker room recently to meet Bruschi, himself a stroke survivor.

There, they also posed for photos with Bruschi, which will be used by the American Stroke Association as part of what they’re calling “a large-scale stroke awareness campaign.” Bruschi and his new group of friends also filmed a public service announcement for the campaign.

PAPA GINO’S HONORS 26 NE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES ‘FEED YOUR TEAM’ WINNERS

Papa Gino’s and 18 high schools throughout New England honored their “Feed Your Team” winners with a luncheon with New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi Saturday, March 1, at Gillette Stadium. The event, hosted by Papa Gino’s, honored outstanding student-athletes in Papa Gino’s communities for feeding their teams, schools and communities. Each student-athlete received a photo with Bruschi and spent some quality time with the linebacker. In addition to dining with Bruschi, students were able to ask Bruschi questions about his achievements both on and off the field.

The winning “Feed Your Team” athletes honored include Plymouth North High School’s Kevin Broderick. Congratulations Kevin!

“Papa Gino’s was thrilled to collaborate with New England high school athletic directors and provide them with an opportunity to recognize their student-athletes that perform in the classroom, community, as well as on the field,” said Michael McManama, senior vice president of brand development for Papa Gino’s. “We are pleased to have Tedy Bruschi as our spokesperson for the way he ‘feeds’ his team and community and the example he sets for all student-athletes. We thank Tedy for taking time out of his schedule to meet these deserving students and answer their questions.”

Around town: Happy Easter - Plymouth, MA - Wicked Local Plymouth

Pats' Bruschi lobbies for stroke awareness funds

BOSTON -- Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi is joining stroke survivors to push for more spending on stroke awareness programs.

Bruschi visited the Massachusetts Statehouse on Tuesday to meet with Gov. Deval Patrick and legislative leaders. Bruschi recalled waking up with a headache just 10 days after the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2005. He said he didn't realize he was having a stroke and went back to sleep. When he woke up later, he was rushed to a hospital. He said the key to his recovery, and the ability to save the lives of others, is to be able to quickly realize the symptoms of a stroke and get immediate care. -- AP

http://www.charlotte.com/sports/story/552944.html

Northeastern Athletics: Teaming up with Tedy
By: Amara Grautski
Posted: 3/31/08

Last Marathon Monday, Katie Jerdee was on the 49th floor of the John Hancock Tower gazing down at the crowded finish line.

This year, Jerdee will run the Boston Marathon for Tedy's Team, a charity founded by the New England Patriots' Tedy Bruschi. Bruschi suffered a stroke in February 2005 and set up the organization that raises money for stroke research and awareness. Jerdee, a middler on the club women's soccer team, found inspiration after suffering a stroke last year, during a routine run to practice.

"I was running with the team and I immediately veered off to my right [and] grabbed a stop sign," Jerdee said.

Concerned teammates got the attention of a nearby security guard from Simmons College, who called an ambulance. Jerdee was rushed to Brigham and Women's Hospital.

"In the first half hour I was fully conscious," she said, but her capacities diminished shortly after. "I couldn't remember what year it was, or my birthday or anything."

The next day, Jerdee awoke around 9 a.m. to find she couldn't move her right hand.

"I asked the doctor, 'Am I ever going to use it?' and he said he didn't know," she said

Although seemingly healthy, tests concluded that Jerdee had suffered a stroke that affected her cerebellum and caused temporary paralysis on the right side of her body. She spent the next few months at the Spalding Rehabilitation Center near Massachusetts General Hospital, undergoing occupational, physical and speech therapy, but Jerdee said she considers herself lucky.

"My brother had cancer and my mom had cancer, so they know how to deal with stuff really well … and were all supportive in what I chose to do," she said.

Jerdee said her family helped her maintain a positive outlook.

"Whenever I felt the least bit discouraged, they were there to be like, 'What are you doing? Get going!'" she said.

While recovering, Jerdee read "Never Give Up," by Bruschi, who wrote the book after suffering a stroke in 2005. Although Bruschi's circumstances were different then her own, Jerdee found herself identifying with the NFL star.

"It was different than talking to my friends, family or doctor, because he actually went through it and I can definitely relate to everything," she said.

After reading the book, an inspired Jerdee said she realized she didn't just want to get well, she wanted to get better. She began working with the American Heart Association and applied to run the Boston Marathon for Tedy's Team - a large leap for someone who has never run a marathon and had just re-learned how to do simple daily tasks like walk and write.

Tedy's Team was created because Bruschi felt compelled to raise stroke awareness and also give back to the community, said Zachary Blackburn, the senior director for the organization.

"We had an existing marathon program and Tedy said, 'You know, this sounds really great. I'd like to be a part of this,'" Blackburn said.

Jerdee got in contact with Bruschi through the organization. The two exchanged stories and quickly formed a bond. While most of the runners on Tedy's Team admire Bruschi, Bruschi admires Jerdee, Blackburn said.

"I think everybody on the team does look up to Tedy as a hero and as a figure for the organization and the cause," Blackburn said. "The great thing about him is he looks at Katie [Jerdee] as a hero. They play off each other."

Together Jerdee and Bruschi decided to launch a warning signs campaign, which will help educate the public about stroke symptoms, like dizziness, slurred speech, facial changes and arm numbness.

Jerdee said these advertisements and public service announcements from Bruschi and herself began earlier this week.

"I would say, because I'm running for Tedy's Team and I'm doing all these ads, it's definitely a way to inspire people and show that things can be done after bad things happen," she said.

Since Jerdee's stroke, she said her outlook on life has changed and she's now toying with the idea of working for a nonprofit after graduation. She said she believes in the power of positive thinking and the power to overcome.

"I just want to say I had a stroke, I returned to soccer and now I'm running a marathon. Just to show people, even if it does happen to you, you can get the best out of it," she said.

Jerdee has raised more than $3,000 for Tedy's Team but has not yet met her goal of $5,000. To make donations visit http://tedysteam2008.kintera.org/boston/jerdee.

Northeastern Athletics: Teaming up with Tedy - Sports

Local marathoner teaming with Tedy Bruschi
BY PHYLLIS BOOTH PBOOTH@HOLDENLANDMARK.COM

The four Sues - Sue Lauring, Sue Manero, Sue Sullivan and Sue Devaney will be running the Boston Marathon as part of Tedy's team.
Sue Manero of Princeton and Susan Lauring of Worcester are running the April 21 Boston Marathon for Tedy's Team to support the American Stroke Association's Train to End Stroke program.

Manero's goal is to raise $7,000 and Lauring's hopes to raise $5,000.

Both women have notified family, friends, and business associates seeking donations.

"My dad died from a stroke and two of my aunts have had strokes," Manero said. "Then a 59-year-old cousin had an aneurysm. I was running before to stay healthy but I decided to put my running to good use and join Tedy's Team. It's always been in the back of my head what can I do to inspire someone else and at the same time give something back to a community or give to a charity."

Lauring is a personal trainer and had done a lot of competitive running when she was younger. "I don't need to compete anymore and decided it was now time to give something back," she said.

Tedy's Team was created in 2005 and is led by New England Patriots linebacker, and stroke survivor, Tedy Bruschi.

This year Tedy's Team is allowed 43 runners in the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon Association decides how many runners each group can have, Manero said.

Both Lauring and Manero have run the Boston Marathon before and also ran the Kona Marathon (26 miles) in Hawaii in June 2007.

"In August we ran 12K in Falmouth to raise money for Tedy's Team," Manero said.

The women applied to run for Tedy's Team and learned in November they had been selected.

"Tedy sits down with representatives from the American Stroke Association and goes over all the applications," Manero said. "They look at your commitment to both fundraising and training."

"The training and the fund raising is very difficult," Lauring said.

Once they found they had been selected the women immediately started training. That meant two days a week doing cardio workouts, weight training, stretching and going on a long run every Saturday.

"We recently did 18 miles in Maine. Sometimes we run shorter runs and one day did seven miles on cross-country skis. It's every day of the week. I don't consider myself a runner," Manero said. "I'm an athlete. I do rugby, cycling, hiking and skiing. I started running for health reasons. I contacted Susan and she got me on a running program. We have a lot of hills around here to train on."

The Boston Marathon has to be completed in six hours, said Manero. To be eligible to run, you must qualify timewise and also have run a marathon before, she said. Qualifying times are determined according to age.

"There are two other Sue's running so our group is known as the 'four Sues'," Manero said.

"We'll be training right up until April 12 then give our bodies a chance to recover before the race on April 21," Lauring said.

"We're ready. Once we start we always finish. We're not out for time but we do have an idea where we'd like to finish," Manero added.

Stroke is the third largest cause of death in the United States. Every 45 seconds, someone in America has a stroke and every 3.1 minutes someone will die of a stroke.

The warning signs can include sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or confusion, sudden severe headache with no know cause or sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg, especially on one side of the body.

"I think about what Tedy and what he's done and what he's come through," Manero said. "We've met Tedy and his wife Heidi and they are very appreciative of people giving up their time to run for this cause. We've heard so many stories about stroke victims, including stories from teammates whose kids have problems."

People can donate online at www.tedysteam2008. kintera.org/boston/manero or www.tedysteam2008.kintera.org/boston/ lauring. Both runners encourage donors to check with their place of employment to see if they offer matching funds.

Local marathoner teaming with Tedy Bruschi

VAGazette.com
Commentary
Patriots' Bruschi held in high regard
Even Pats haters must respect linebacker
Bill Ordine

March 1, 2008

The first time I noticed Patriots Hater Nation rear its head, I was in an out-of-town sports bar in October. New England, 6-0 at the time, was playing against Miami in Week 7.

The Dolphins were roadkill from the opening kickoff.

The Patriots scored the first five times they had the ball. I didn't notice any obviously partisan Patriots or Dolphins fans in the place, but there was a palpable sense that the crowd was hostile toward New England.

In my blog the next day, I wrote about this growing undercurrent of anti-Patriots sentiment - a neo-Damn Yankees mentality. And some folks wrote back to tell me I was nuts, that I was making it up.

Of course, by the time the Super Bowl rolled around, Patriots Hater Nation was pretty much a national movement. But whether the Patriots deserved the rancor they engendered, one of those guys elicited nothing but respect.

Thursday, linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who will turn 35 by the opening of training camp, agreed to more time in New England.

Under normal circumstances, a guy who has played 12 NFL seasons is pretty much on his way to the golf course. And Bruschi's medical history represents anything but normal circumstances.

He reportedly agreed to a multiyear contract, and anyone familiar with the NFL knows not to put too much stock in the notion of long-term deals. But it still has to make even the most cynical among Patriots detractors smile to see the gutsy Bruschi return.

This is a guy who had a stroke after the Super Bowl in 2005, had surgery to fix a hole in his heart and came back to play the last half of the 2005 season and make 62 tackles. He broke a wrist in training camp in 2006 and missed one game. This past season, he led the Patriots in tackles and had a couple of sacks while helping form a geriatric linebacking corps that contributed to one of the greatest seasons in NFL history.

A couple of recent personnel developments might have facilitated Bruschi and the Patriots coming together for this contract that kept him off the free-agent market. New England missed out on free-agent linebacker Zach Thomas, who was cut by Miami and signed with the Dallas Cowboys. And the Patriots waived linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, whose season ended with a foot injury in November.

Since New England lost in the Super Bowl, some of the edge may be off Patriots Hater Nation next season. That type of rooting interest based on raw emotion ebbs and flows.

But for Bruschi, the respect will endure because of the way he has earned it.

bill.ordine@baltsun.com

Patriots' Bruschi held in high regard -- VAGazette.com

Tedy takes part in 3 part video interview with NECN

Watch embedded videos here.

(NECN) - In a wide-ranging, one-on-one interview with Mike Giardi of NECN, New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi discussed the Patriots, his career, and his efforts to raise awareness about stroke prevention.

Bruschi and his wife, Heidi, founded 'Tedy's Team' in an effort to educate the general public about the risk factors, symptoms and effects of stroke, and on Saturday, April 19th, the Bruschis are co-hosting 'A Night of Inspiration' (learn more) at the Seaport Hotel to raise money and awareness.

In this part of the interview, Bruschi talks about his recent efforts to educate Massachusetts lawmakers about stroke, discusses his own struggles, and says that out of all of his accomplishments and titles, the badge that means the most to him is that of 'stroke survivor.'

(NECN) - Tedy Bruschi says that once upon a time, his life as a football player was all about winning championships. That all changed on the day he was rushed to the hospital with a life-threatening stroke.

Today, Bruschi says he plays football with a second purpose - to use that opportunity as a platform to raise awareness about stroke.

In this portion of his one-on-one interview with NECN's Mike Giardi, Bruschi discusses his change of perspective, and looks ahead to the New England Patriots 2008 season, as they recover from a disappointing Super Bowl defeat.

And he admits, the loss this year to the Giants isn't the only one that still bugs him to this day. For more on Tedy and Heidi Bruschi's fundraiser, 'A Night of Inspiration' to raise money for stroke awareness, click here.

(NECN) - New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi says the team has had a productive off-season as they prepare to launch another effort at a fourth Super Bowl title, and that the 'Spygate' controversy won't be much of a distraction for a team that has picked up critics for doing one thing well - winning.

"When you're a World Champion, there isn't anything anyone can do or say that will take that away from you. No matter what's said, or what's done, we won those games. That's what I'll always know," Bruschi told Mike Giardi of NECN.

Bruschi credited the team with re-signing some key parts of last season's undefeated team, calling the off-season slower, but productive. "It's quality," Bruschi said.

Bruschi and his wife Heidi are sponsoring "A Night of Inspiration" on Saturday, April 19 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston to raise money for stroke awareness. 'Tedy's Team' will also feature a group of runners raising money for charity at this year's Boston Marathon. 

http://www.necn.com/Boston/Sports/Bruschi-Productive-offseason-for-Patriots/1207243713.html

Tedy's Team Runs For Stroke Victims

(NECN: Leslie Gaydos, Foxboro, Mass.) - New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi is headed into his 13th season with the Pats this year, but he hasn't forgotten what he went through three years ago when he suffered a stroke. Bruschi continues his efforts to educate the public about strokes. He'll have help doing that on Marathon Monday when Tedy's Team hits the pavement.

Tedy's Team is a group that will run the Boston Marathon to raise awareness fro the stroke warning signs and raise money for stroke research.

While he won't run with them, Bruschi, who suffered a stroke in 2005, provides the inspiration. He has motivated Katie Jerdee, a 21-year-old Northeastern student, who was in rough shape last spring -- in speech therapy and physical therapy after suffering a stroke.

Steve Hamilton runs for the four stroke survivors in his family.

Many of the members of Tedy's Team are running their first marathon and after what some of them have already been through, they're not worried about it.

Tedy's Team hopes to reach as many people as possible to get them to recognize stroke warning signs like sudden dizziness, numbness or headache and educate them to call 911 immediately.

For more information please call Charlene Bemis at 508-656-2000.

Link to video here.

Tedy's Team runs for stroke victims | NECN

Tedy's Team

FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi hosted runners from "Tedy's Team" today at Gillette Stadium. The runners, who are set to conquer the Boston Marathon course later this month, are helping raise awareness and funds for the American Stroke Association.

Bruschi took time to answer questions from reporters, speaking about the cause before addressing a few football questions.

The Q&A:

In 1996, you were a rookie finding your way in the NFL. Now you’re 34 years old, a multiple Super Bowl champion and a top spokesman for stroke awareness. When you think of that progression, what does that mean to you?
“I think I only had one goal at that point of my career – and that was to win championships. Now it’s changed. Now I have two goals. The other goal I have, besides winning championships, is to make a difference. I really didn’t have something I was passionate about in my life back then, where I could help someone or make a difference out in the community somewhere. I think after my stroke it was obvious to me what I needed to do – raise awareness about stroke and its warning signs.”

You are here today with runners from Tedy’s Team, who will be at the Boston Marathon later this month. Can you provide an idea of how the team has grown over the last three years?
“At first, it was trying to scrounge to get numbers for the Boston Marathon. We wanted to have a presence in it. People at the American Stroke Association talked to me about forming Tedy’s Team – a group of runners that really focused on raising awareness about stroke. We had to scramble that first year for [runners], but as the years have gone on, the numbers sort of accumulate. The Boston Athletic Association has been very kind in providing us with more numbers every year, and now our team is up to 50. Not only do they have to raise awareness, but they have to fund-raise for the things we want to do, and also they have to train to run one of the toughest races in the world and that’s a lot of time. I wanted to make it hard, so to be a part of Tedy’s Team isn’t a walk in the park. Every one of the members of my team has a direct correlation with stroke, because I wanted everyone to be able to relate with each other. Relationships are formed, friendships are formed on this team, and it serves as a little bit of bouncing your thoughts about what you went through, or what your mom went through, so I think it’s very therapeutic also.”

Do you have runners that have come back to join the team a second time?
“Yeah, I know a lot of runners who have run twice, and we may have one or two that have run all three. We have this race, which is 26.2 [miles], but we also have the Falmouth Road Race, which is in the fall and is around 7 miles. So, of course, we have a lot more participants in that [laughs]. But we do have a lot of people who stick with the team for years.”

When you go on the field now, does the stroke ever cross your mind?
“No. When I first came back, that first hit, I got up thinking ‘Am I OK?’ That first tackle, that first time there were a couple 300-pound guys on top of me and -- ‘Am I going to get up?’ – sure, you think that. Those are firsts I had to re-live over and over again. But it was part of what I had to go through to make the comeback complete. It was tough, but I think what anyone will tell you when they’re coming back from something, a devastating sort of occurrence in their life, all those things, those firsts again, you’re not sure of. Especially when you have to strap on all that equipment to play football, that’s a little bit different also. I wasn’t just coming back to work at a job behind a desk. It was sort of a hazardous job at that. But it’s something that I had to work through and I felt it was my responsibility to do it.”

Can you provide an idea of what the atmosphere has been like at the offseason program; I believe this is entering the third or fourth week?
“It’s getting going. At first, I think it starts slow. Especially after we ended the year last year it isn’t like ‘OK, we’re here, we’re ready, let’s go.’ Everybody is sort of just trying to get back going again. It was a long season, ending in early February, so the longer the seasons go, the less time you have off. You take it a little bit slow, but now that we’re in the third, getting into the fourth week, guys are really starting to work hard and getting ready to do it again.”

What are your thoughts on Victor Hobson, the new linebacker the team signed? Do you have any background with him?
“I don’t have any background with him. I know he was with the Jets. I don’t know him personally and just met him for the first time today. So I look forward … I’m here all the time also, and it looks like he’s going to be here, so I think him and I are sort of forming a working relationship. We’ll start now.”

Tedy's Team - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

Get with the program

Tedy Bruschi said he met newly signed linebacker Victor Hobson for the first time yesterday at the team's offseason program. Bruschi said he looked forward to forming a bond since both are planning to be regular participants in the team's offseason program. Bruschi added that the program, which officially began March 24, has shifted into another gear. "At first, I think it starts slow," he said. "It was a long season, ending in early February, so you take it a little bit slow, but now that we're getting into the fourth week, guys are really starting to work hard and getting ready to do it again." . . . Hobson will wear No. 59, last donned by Rosevelt Colvin . . . Bruschi hosted a group of runners from "Tedy's Team" at Gillette Stadium yesterday. This marks the third straight year Bruschi has organized a team to run in the Boston Marathon to raise stroke awareness through the American Stroke Association.

Patriots will find out their 2008 schedule today - The Boston Globe

Tedy’s Team is gearing up for the long run

Tedy Bruschi wants everyone to know he won't be running the Boston Marathon on Monday. "I train for eight-second bursts, not 26.2 miles," the Patriots linebacker said yesterday. Still, he's got a lot riding on the outcome of the annual trek from Hopkinton to Boston and will be cheering for the nearly 50 members of Tedy's Team, who are running to raise money for the American Stroke Association. "To train for the marathon is impressive. To do that while raising money for a cause is a lot to take on," Bruschi, who suffered a stroke in February 2005, told us yesterday while meeting with members of his team at Gillette Stadium. "I'll be tracking them and cheering loudly for them." Among those running is 23-year-old Ashley Girard, who underwent open heart surgery two years ago to correct a problem that could have led to a stroke. "It means a lot to be on his team," said the Northeastern University alum. "Everyone here has a personal connection to someone who has been affected by a stroke. We're not just running for ourselves." After starting his Marathon team three years ago with about a dozen runners, Bruschi has expanded his Patriots Day events to include a pre-run fete on Saturday with several of his Pats teammates.

http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2008/04/15/new_new_york_rivalry

http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=31631&pcid=41&rss=1 

News and Notes

Inspiration for Tedy's Team

Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi was joined Saturday night by Trisha Meili, author of the best-selling memoir "I Am the Central Park Jogger" in providing some inspiration to the 50 members of Tedy's Team running in today's Boston Marathon to raise money for stroke research. Also at the sold-out Seaport Hotel soiree that raised an additional $300,000 for the American Stroke Association were Bruschi's teammates Eric Alexander and Pierre Woods, and former Pats players Joe Andruzzi and Christian Fauria.

Inspiration for Tedy's Team - The Boston Globe

SBLI announces first annual contest to win a chance at attending a football clinic for kids hosted by Tedy Bruschi


Woburn, Mass (PRWEB) April 29, 2008 -- The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts (SBLI) today announced the inaugural SBLI Kids Football Clinic with Tedy Bruschi. This one-of-a-kind clinic will take place on June 26, 2008 at Gillette Stadium and will give children ages 8-12 the opportunity to dress in the locker room, enjoy a blackboard session with the New England Patriots star, and participate in on-field drills with Bruschi. Parents or guardians may enter their child for a chance to win Here.

"We are pleased to provide children with such a unique experience. Not only will kids learn football fundamentals from the very best, they will also get to see Tedy in a different light," said SBLI President & CEO Robert K. Sheridan. "As a father of three young boys, Tedy understands and embraces his role as a mentor and role model for kids everywhere."

As SBLI's spokesperson, Bruschi has stressed the importance of families preparing for the unexpected with dependable life insurance. He became an SBLI policyholder earlier this year.

About SBLI
Conceived by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, the Savings Bank Life Insurance system was established in Massachusetts in 1907. T he Massachusetts company is currently licensed in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Its products are now available through 200 financial institutions in New England; Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp. and Mt. Washington Assurance Corp. property and casualty agents; the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Societies of CPAs; and AAA Southern New England, AAA Merrimack Valley, and AAA Pioneer Valley.

In addition, the Company's products are offered to New Jersey residents through members of the New Jersey League of Community Bankers; to consumers in Virginia through an alliance with the Virginia Bankers Association; and to consumers in Tennessee through an alliance with the Tennessee Bankers Association. It is also endorsed by the Massachusetts Bankers Association.

Consumers may also deal directly with Savings Bank Life Insurance in California, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.

SBLI and The No Nonsense Life Insurance Company are registered trademarks of The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts, Woburn, MA, which is in no way affiliated with SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. ©2008 All rights reserved.
For more information about SBLI's product offerings, please visit www.sbli.com or call 1-888-GET-SBLI.
###

Savings Bank Life Insurance
Matt Parquette
508-620-6664
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Dr. Alessi: Bruschi's story brought strokes to forefront
By Dr. Anthony Alessi
For the Norwich Bulletin


Stroke is defined as a condition resulting from a lack of blood supply to an area of the brain. It is typically associated with elderly patients who have weakened or hardened blood vessels. That’s why so many people were shocked when in February 2005, 31-year-old New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi was suddenly stricken with a stroke.

At this year’s American Academy of Neurology meeting, Bruschi received the Public Leadership Award for his work in the field of stroke awareness. The story of how his stroke evolved and his recovery is an important lesson.

He awakened on the morning of Feb. 15, two days after playing in the Pro Bowl, with numbness and weakness of his left arm and leg. He described a severe headache with an inability to see objects on his left side. While he was inclined to ignore his symptoms, his wife called her father, a physician’s assistant, who advised them to get to a hospital. An MRI showed that he’d suffered a stroke in the back of the right side of his brain.

An ultrasound of Bruschi’s heart showed that he had a hole between the upper chambers of his heart known as a patent foramen ovale. This condition allowed free passage of a small clot from the right side of his heart to his brain, resulting in stroke. Placing a patch over the hole through a catheter sealed the hole. Unfortunately, he was left with weakness on his left side and vision loss.

Three months of intense physical therapy followed. He worked with therapists specially trained in rehabilitation of neurological disorders. During that time, Bruschi had to summon all of the toughness and drive he had acquired from his years of competitive sports.

By late spring, the cause of his stroke was treated and he had regained sufficient physical function to transition from rehabilitation to actual football workouts.
Bruschi’s comeback culminated with a return to the NFL on Oct. 15, 2005.

Bruschi’s story shows us that the combination of modern medical care, a strong will and hard work can overcome the obstacle of a stroke — even to the point of returning to the highest level of sports.

Anthony G. Alessi, MD, is Chief of Neurology at The William W. Backus Hospital and in private practice at NeuroDiagnostics, LLC, in Norwich. E-mail him at aalessi@wwbh.org. If you wish to learn more stroke or other sports health topics. Listen to the podcast, view the video or go to the Healthy Sports blog at www.backushospital.org.

Dr. Alessi: Bruschi's story brought strokes to forefront - Norwich, CT - Norwich Bulletin

Bruschi down, but not out
By Eric Mchugh
The Patriot Ledger
Posted Jun 06, 2008 @ 09:06 PM
FOXBORO —

Tedy Bruschi crumpled to the artificial grass inside the Dana-Farber Field House Friday afternoon, and you wondered if all the best-laid plans for the Patriots’ 2008 linebacking corps had just been blown to smithereens.

Luckily, Bruschi’s knack for bouncing back remains intact.

Not to compare a stroke to a knee injury – or whatever felled Bruschi as he got caught up in the pass-rush wash during an 11-on-11 drill – but the Patriots cannot afford to lose their leading tackler from each of the last two seasons, even with veteran Victor Hobson and rookie Jerod Mayo in the fold.

Bruschi stayed on the turf for a minute and eventually made his way, gingerly, to where the defensive subs were standing. One or two plays later he jogged back onto the field and – wouldn’t you know it? – immediately deflected a pass on the goal line.

The comeback prompted one teammate to yell out “Paul Pierce!” – a reference to the Celtics star’s remarkable (or, if you live in L.A., “suspicious”) return from a knee injury in Thursday’s Game 1 of the NBA finals.

Speaking of which ...

“Very gutsy, very inspiring. Heart of a lion,” safety Rodney Harrison said of Pierce. “It was awesome,” agreed Patriots coach Bill Belichick. “That was a great win for the Celtics. I am really happy for them.”

Ironically, Bruschi was courtside for Pierce’s resurrection at TD Banknorth Garden. He was sitting next to the Lakers bench – the same seat Belichick filled for the Pistons series.

“You know, we had some early meetings this morning and I didn’t want to be late for our big day today,” Belichick joked when asked about the switch. “I thought I’d better be here on time.”

Bruschi down, but not out - Brockton, MA - The Enterprise

He's a happy birthday boy
Bruschi excited for new season
By Christopher L. Gasper and Mike Reiss
Globe Staff / June 9, 2008

FOXBOROUGH - Tedy Bruschi celebrates his 35th birthday today, and save for a few stray grays in his jet-black mane, there are few outward signs of his advancing age. The veteran inside linebacker has the same passion for the game he had when he entered the league as third-round pick in 1996. That is why he is back for a 13th season.

The heart and soul of the New England defense, Bruschi signed a two-year, $4.1 million contract in February, less than a month after the Patriots lost Super Bowl XLII. Bruschi said yesterday, after the Patriots wrapped up their three-day mandatory minicamp at Gillette Stadium, that it only took him two or three days after the season ended to let the Patriots know he wanted to return.

"There was never really a decision for me," said Bruschi. "There is just a process I go through. After the season is over, I take a few days to see how I feel, where I am physically, where I am mentally and emotionally. Do I still have the hunger? It was a short process for me."

It's debatable whether Bruschi is an every-down player at this point in his career - he came off the field often in third-down situations last season - but there is no doubt he is still a valuable and productive one. Last season, he started all 16 regular-season games and was the Patriots' leading tackler, credited by coaches with 99.

The Patriots got him some help at inside linebacker during the offseason, signing free agent Victor Hobson and drafting Jerod Mayo.

Part of that was preparing for the day when Bruschi no longer desires to play. But yesterday he certainly sounded like someone who would like to play more than just one year. Bruschi is already into bonus years; few thought he'd be able to play after suffering a stroke in 2005. He's now entering his fourth season since the stroke and still going strong.

"I just signed a two-year contract, so I'm looking forward to being around," said Bruschi. "Do I feel good? Yes. Do I still have the fire? Of course I do after that last game. The offseason program, the training, is my body responding? Yes, it is. I feel great.

"The process is always what it is with me - offseason workouts, passing camp, minicamp, finish the offseason workouts, then training camp. I really think you need all that to get ready for a full NFL season. I participated in it and got myself ready for this year, and I'm excited about it."

Bruschi a happy camper - The Boston Globe

No hang-ups for Tedy Bruschi
By Karen Guregian / Patriots Notebook | Monday, June 9, 2008 | http://www.bostonherald.com | N.E. Patriots

FOXBORO - Tedy Bruschi [stats] indicated yesterday he knew within 48 hours after the Super Bowl loss to the Giants that he wasn’t going to turn in his helmet and pads.

The linebacker, who signed a contract for two more seasons, said the fire still burns as much as it has in the past. But hasn’t the 12-year veteran, who turns 35 today, asked himself, “Why am I still here?”

“Ask me that question again about the third or fourth day of training camp, after we have a few two-a-days under our belts,” Bruschi cracked, “but no, not right now. Training camp is going to be the toughest month of the job, it always is. But that’s what you have to push through, and once you get to those regular-season weeks, that’s when the fun really begins.”

Bruschi, who took part in the three-day mandatory minicamp that concluded yesterday, was told he looked like he could play five more years. Basically, he said he had to pass all the tough questions in his mind before knowing he would return.

“I just signed up for a two-year contract, so I’m looking forward to being around,” Bruschi said. “It took me a couple of days (to decide). Do I still feel good? Yes. Do I still have the fire? Of course I do after that last game. So I still feel great. In the offseason program, the training, is my body responding? Yes it is.

“The process is always what it is with me, come the offseason workouts, passing camps, minicamps, finish the offseason workout, then training camp. You need all of that to get ready for a full NFL season, and I’ve participated in it, gotten myself ready for this year and I’m excited about it.”

Bruschi also would like to see 39-year old linebacker Junior Seau return.

“We’ll see,” Bruschi said. “I’d love to see him. He’s one of my favorite teammates of all time. having played with Junior Seau has been a lot of fun for me, and I hope he comes back.”

No hang-ups for Tedy Bruschi - BostonHerald.com

: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:14 AM EDT
During the 5th Annual Golf Tournament and fund-raiser hosted by Tedy Bruschi and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital at the TPC-Boston in Norton, Bruschi lines up his putt, which he would make to give him par on the hole. (Staff photo by Drew Pillsbury)

Bruschi tees it up for Spaulding Hospital

BY MARK FARINELLA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

NORTON - Tedy Bruschi's relationship with the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital was in place long before he needed its services.

But after the Patriots' veteran linebacker suffered a life-threatening stroke in February 2005, the role that Spaulding played in getting his life back together - including, but not exclusively about his return to the football field - ensured that the bond would never be broken.

"Spaulding Rehab is a special place for me," Bruschi said Monday, just before teeing off at the fifth annual golf tournament to raise funds for the hospital to continue its work in multi-level rehabilitative care. "It's the place that helped me and rehabilitated me to play football again, and it's an organization that I'm proud to be a part of."

Bruschi was joined by Patriots' backup quarterback Matt Cassel, former Patriots Andre Tippett and Steve Nelson and several foursomes for a day of golf at the Tournament Players Club-Boston that was expected to raise $385,000 for the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network's Annual Fund.

The hospital has long been one of the Patriots' "official" sponsor-partners, but Bruschi turned to it for the rehabilitation that followed his stroke only a few weeks after the Patriots defeated Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX.

"First I just wanted to rehabilitate myself so I could be a good father again, a good family man," Bruschi said. "And then all of a sudden, it's whether I'm making the right decision to play football again, to put on a helmet, to put something over my head where I've suffered an injury to the brain.

"Sometimes it's more mental and emotional than physical," he continued. "I started to recover physically quickly, but still I wasn't ready. That's what my rehabilitation therapist, Anne McCarthy Jacobson, helped me do. Those are the type of people that are at Spaulding. They're not only specialists in rehabilitation, they're also counselors and they help you get back to feeling regular again, mentally and emotionally."

Bruschi, of course, went on to play the last nine regular-season games of the 2005 season and one of the Patriots' two playoff games that year, then all but one game of the last two seasons. He told the story of his recovery and Spaulding's role in it in his recent book, "Never Give Up: My Stroke, My Recovery and My Return to the NFL."

Bruschi said Monday that it's been less of a surprise for him to have played for two full seasons following the stroke than it was for him to play within the first eight months after it.

"My first year back, those eight to 10 games that I played after I started the year on PUP (physically-unable-to-perform list), that was a big decision for me after the Denver game, if I wanted to continue this and if I wanted to keep on playing," he said of the last week in October 2005 that he spent on the reserve list. "My wife and I huddled about it and talked about whether I wanted to continue or not ... but I actually felt better at the end of the year than I did after that Buffalo game when I came back, and I continued to get better even after that season, so the decision was easy.

"Just having my body respond for me that first season was huge for me, to know I could still play football," he said. "And then the seasons I've had, still helping the team win championships around here, is something I'm proud of."

Bruschi now needs only periodic checkups in relation to his stroke, a year apart, after having been closely monitored and tested every two weeks earlier in his recovery.

"I was in a data-free zone," he said. "They couldn't give me an example of someone who had done this before."

"To see Tedy run out on that field ... I was there when he came back," said Cassel, who was a rookie during Bruschi's "comeback" season. "To know that (Spaulding) had a helping hand in that, it means a lot to come out here and support what they've been able to do for people, and obviously for Tedy, who is a lot closer to us."

With the preseason conditioning program winding down and about a month's worth of time off ahead before the start of training camp, Bruschi has had the chance to relax a little, play some golf and happily follow the ascent of the Boston Celtics - the team he embraced as a fan during his boyhood in San Francisco - to their 17th NBA championship.

"When you grow up with an older brother and you sort of have that rivalry going, my brother grew up being a Sixers' fan," he said. "I started getting into basketball, finding out who his team was and what their biggest rival was, and so I picked that team."

As an iconic figure with one of the three Boston-based teams to have won recent championships, Bruschi enjoys the occasions when each of the teams have reached out to the others to help celebrate their success. That leads to more interaction between the players and their coaches, and Bruschi enjoys a special relationship with Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who has also had to deal with health-related issues under the microscope of fame.

"We've helped each other get through things in terms of support and e-mails," Bruschi said. "He was supportive during my times, and I wore his jersey out to take that first pitch. But as for the players, there's a mutual respect that has to be there because we all realize what we're trying to do ... and there are guys who've been in those organizations forever, like Wake (Tim Wakefield) with the Red Sox or (Paul) Pierce with the Celtics, or myself here. All you want to do is try to bring this region some joy in the form of a championship, and when each of us do that, it's very satisfying."

Bruschi's ongoing support for Spaulding Hospital is a way for him to help bring another kind of joy and hope to others who are facing the toughest challenges of their lives, he said.

"There was a recent stroke survivor who told me that 'my wife and I have used your book as a manual,'" he said. "This a partnership I'll have for a long time, with Spaulding, because of the commitment they gave me ... they were there for me, and I needed them."

MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com

The Sun Chronicle Online - Sports

Bruschi Keeps On Giving Back

By DAVID HEUSCHKEL | Courant Staff Writer
June 24, 2008

NORTON, Mass. - — Tedy Bruschi loves New England, and Patriots fans adore the linebacker who has worn the same uniform his entire 12-year NFL career, the ultimate sign of loyalty by a professional athlete in an era when most players equate respect with dollars.

Earlier in his career, prior to the Patriots winning three Super Bowls in four years, Bruschi had opportunities to play elsewhere when he was a free agent. But his philosophy has been, if it's broken, then help fix it.

"I just feel that being in the area for so long and of course being here on a team like the Patriots for so long, you want to bring success, you win football games for your team and your region," Bruschi said. "The more time you spend in a place, you get to have a relationship with fans and you sort of want to do something that sort of helps people and helps wonderful organizations like Spaulding."

That's what Bruschi did Monday at the TPC of Boston by hosting his fifth annual golf tournament and fundraiser for Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. All proceeds benefited the programs and research at the medical facility, the same one that helped Bruschi overcome a stroke in February 2005.

Playing for the same team for a dozen years, Bruschi has developed many relationships in the corporate community. This is one he intends on keeping long after his playing days are over.

"I had a relationship with them before I became a patient, so it was very ironic to me," Bruschi said. "I sort of helped them out with some charitable endeavors before. I became a patient and I think it's natural for the partnership to continue and help them raise money for their wonderful hospital."

The annual fundraiser hit a milestone Monday, surpassing $1million in proceeds for the five years combined.

"We raised over $385,000, which is a new one-day record for us," said Tim Sullivan, manager of communications and media relations for Spaulding.

Bruschi has received numerous letters and e-mails from stroke victims since his book "Never Give Up: My Stroke, My Recovery and My Return to the NFL" came out last August.

"There was a recent stroke survivor that actually told me, 'My wife and I have used your book as a manual,'" Bruschi said. "[My wife] Heidi and I were very open how we went through our struggles in that book and how it affected us from pre-stroke to during the stroke times and then post-stroke and coming back and trying to become who you were. ... That was a huge compliment to me. I'm glad to know that it's helped people because that's what we said we were going to do."

Bruschi, 35, never considered playing for another team in 2008. He could have with his contract set to expire Feb. 29, the start of the free agent signing period, but he signed a two-year extension reportedly worth $4.1 million the previous day.

"I think everybody knew where I was going to sign," Bruschi said. "Did you have any doubt if I'd go anywhere or take a trip anywhere? It wasn't going to happen."

The only time Bruschi seriously entertained the thought of wearing a different uniform was after the 2000 season when the Patriots missed the playoffs for the second straight year and he was a free agent for the first time. He recalled making trips to Cleveland and Green Bay and listening to what those teams, and others, had to offer. But he wanted to help establish a winning tradition with the Patriots.

Bruschi has gone on to have a positive effect in the community with the golf tournament and Tedy's Team, his charity for stroke research.

"It's always great to support a cause that your teammates are a part of and to go out and help people," quarterback Matt Cassel said.

Bruschi Keeps On Giving Back -- Courant.com

MONDAY JUNE 30, 2008 Last modified: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 2:29 AM EDT
Tedy Bruschi takes some time to chat with the media before a golf fund-raiser. (Staff photo by Drew Pillsbury)

FARINELLA: More tid-bits from Tedy

Ponderous thoughts I was pondering as the first week of summer began my personal five-week countdown toward the end of my summer, otherwise known as the beginning of the Patriots' training camp:

- One of the more mirthful comments by Patriots' linebacker Tedy Bruschi from his appearance at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital golf tournament Monday at TPC-Boston unfortunately didn't make it to the print edition on Tuesday because the story was just getting too long.

It was a small group of media members that gathered with Bruschi before the golf event - myself and Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe were the only two print reporters present when Bruschi talked, with bad weather delaying Dave Heuschkel of the Hartford Courant en route - and as a result, it was a much more comfortable and personal conversation than the sort we have during the football season, when 30 television cameras race to a player's side the second he utters his first syllable.

We had been talking about how special it has been for Bruschi to spend his entire career with the Patriots, and how he had taken a brief shot at free agency in 2000, just as Bill Belichick was assuming the coaching reins, but decided that departing would be the easy way out.

"It's easier to jump ship than to right the ship," he said. "I've had opportunities to go somewhere else during times when it wasn't during this era ... and that would have been the easy way out. Why not stick it out where you are and try to fix the problems and make it better? That's the philosophy I've stuck with my whole career. I wanted to go somewhere and establish something, and I think a lot of us in this organization have that feeling."

At that point, with the golf tourney beckoning, I threw in one last question.

"Not to rush you or to get ahead of things," I said, "but when your playing days are over, do you see yourself putting down permanent roots here?"

Bruschi, who grew up in San Francisco, paused for a second and then laughed.

"I'll cross that when I get to it," he said. "But my children are in school here and my wife is used to the winters, which is amazing ... let's just say that my wife likes it here, and what does that mean?"

It probably means that Heidi Bruschi will be calling the shots on that one.

- Also funny was Bruschi's reaction to Reiss' late arrival to the interview, also caused by the thundershowers that had cropped up all over the region Monday morning. According to the veteran linebacker, the late arrival to a meeting would have cost Reiss more than $1,300 if he had been a player showing up late at the stadium.

- We were also easily reminded that these guys live in another tax bracket when we saw backup quarterback Matt Cassel emerging from the TPC-Boston pro shop with two brand new intermediate-range fairway woods costing more than $200 apiece.

- Latest word is that training camp will start at Gillette Stadium on July 25. Practices are open to the public, but be sure to check the Patriots' Web site (www.patriots.com) for practice-time updates, because they are subject to rapid and short-noticed change.
 

The Sun Chronicle Online - Sports

Patriots.com News Blitz - 6/24/20008 By Erik Scalavino
Bruschi and Cassel stop to talk, and could a big-name running back be stopping in New England? Read all about it in today's Patriots.com News Blitz.


It's rare for NFL players to make public appearances this time of year, so when they do, it's usually newsworthy.

Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi took to the links in Norton, Mass. Monday to help raise money for Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. The medical facility is the same one that helped him recover from his stroke in February of 2005.

"I had a relationship with them before I became a patient, so it was very ironic to me," Bruschi said in today's Hartford Courant story. "I sort of helped them out with some charitable endeavors before. I became a patient and I think it's natural for the partnership to continue and help them raise money for their wonderful hospital."

Bruschi went on to talk about how he never really wanted to play anywhere else but in New England.

Also at the event was Pats QB Matt Cassel, who stopped to chat with The Boston Globe about a number of topics. Here's what he had to say about this being the final season of his current contract with the Pats.

“You try to approach every year the same. For me, I try not to worry about whether it’s a contract year, or my fourth year. The one thing I will say is that you start to learn things as you move on, and being my fourth year, I feel very comfortable in the system.

"I look forward to working with Tom [Brady] again and learning as much as I can and being ready to go. It’s just one of those things where you go out and compete, and you get going, just like you [media folks] do, competing against each other for the best stories. I have to go out and compete with the other guys and try to put my best efforts out there each and every day to come out and show the coaches and everybody else that I’m ready to go.”

On the field, meantime, there's talk that former Detroit Lions RB Kevin Jones is ready to sign with a new team, and that New England could be on the long list of potential suitors.
He recently had a workout as part of his rehab from knee surgery, and proclaimed himself ready for action.

"I honestly feel like I'm ready to play right now," he insisted in a story you can read in The Providence Journal. "I think I'll get signed in the next couple of weeks," he said. "But it really doesn't matter when it is - as long as it's before the season."

Patriots.com News Blitz - 6/24/20008

Fire still burns in Patriots’ Bruschi

01:00 AM EDT on Friday, June 27, 2008

BY ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO — The desire to compete still burns in Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

That’s why the 35-year-old 12-year NFL veteran signed a two-year contract, reportedly worth $4.1 million, with the Patriots less than a month after New England had lost to the New York Giants, 17-14, in Super Bowl XLII.

“I feel great and football is still fun for me,” Bruschi said yesterday at the first Savings Bank Life Insurance and Tedy Bruschi Football Camp for youngsters 8-12 at Gillette Stadium. “It’s a lot of fun, and to go through the offseason programs, I know there is a certain sort of protocol I go through to get myself ready.”

That process includes talking to his family and listening to his body, both physically and mentally.

“Do I feel good? Yes,” Bruschi said. “Do I still have the fire? Of course I do. The offseason program, the training, is my body responding? Yes it is. I feel great.”

Bruschi says the Patriots are not looking back to last season, when the Giants spoiled their bid for a perfect season. The Patriots are looking ahead to this season and focusing on winning games this year.

“You win [Super Bowls], you put them behind you. You lose them, you put them behind you,” Bruschi said. “No matter what it is, you have to move on and worry about the new challenges you have on your team. ... We have a lot of work to do for this season. Last season, all the other seasons, the Super Bowl victories and losses, those are all in the books.”

Bruschi said his offseason workout program has kept him in good shape, but like most NFL players, he is not looking forward to training camp. The Patriots’ camp is slated to open on July 27.

“You never look forward to training camp,” Bruschi said. “It’s the toughest month of the job, but once you get through that and you get to the regular-season week schedules, then it’s time to go.”

What Bruschi was looking forward to yesterday was putting smiles on the faces of the 54 children from Maine to Pennsylvania who got to experience what it is like to be a New England Patriot at the SBLI and Tedy Bruschi Football Camp.

After the children changed into shorts and a No. 54 Bruschi jersey in the Patriots’ visitors’ locker room, they were each individually introduced over the PA system at Gillette Stadium by Bruschi. When Bruschi called their names, they ran through the big blowup Patriots helmet and onto the field.

After stretching, they were taught the fundamentals of football through various drills by Bruschi, quarterback Matt Cassel, kicker Stephen Gostkowski, wide receiver Ray Ventrone and defensive lineman Mike Wright.

Bobby Green, an 8-year-old quarterback from North Kingstown, was one of the 54 children chosen in a random online drawing. There were more than 1,000 entrants, according to SBLI president Robert Sheridan.

“I’m really excited,” Green said before the event. “We are going to get to run out underneath the helmet and hear our name announced and learn from Tedy Bruschi.”

“It’s great that [Bruschi] does stuff like this,” Mike Green, Bobby’s father, said. Mike heard about the contest on the radio.

Bruschi was excited to partner with SBLI.

“When I want to partner myself with someone, I want to think of families,” Bruschi said. “I want to think of something fun for kids, and SBLI has been a great partnership for me in terms of what they’ve done with me. They’ve helped me put together a football camp where a lot of kids can come and play on our field. That doesn’t happen a lot.”

Sheridan and deputy team leader Saverio Mancini, who was one of the organizers of the event, said they couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out for the three-hour event.

roblee@projo.com\

Fire still burns in Patriots’ Bruschi | New England Patriots | projo.com | The Providence Journal#