Monday, August 31, 2009
End of an era: Bruschi calls it quits
When Tedy Bruschi announces his retirement today after a career that spanned 13 seasons — all with New England — it will mark the end of an era for Patriots fans. Bruschi, who was selected in the third round of the 1996 NFL draft out of Arizona, is the last remaining player on the 1997 Super Bowl team that lost to the Green Bay Packers.
The inside linebacker went on to play in four more championship games, winning three titles, and cementing his position as one of the greatest Patriots ever to play. Bruschi was voted to just one Pro Bowl — after the 2005 season, when New England beat the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX — and he never put up gaudy numbers. But he’s was the epitome of the Bill Belichick regime, a selfless player who was more about the team than the individual. It’s the reason why he was so beloved by fans.
Although he was never among the league leaders in tackles, sacks, etc., Bruschi always seemed to come up with the big plays at the biggest times. Take, for example, his interception return for a touchdown in the freezing cold against the Dolphins in 2003. He slid into the end zone on his knees, turning Gillette Stadium into a winter wonderland as the New England faithful tossed snow high into the air.
After playing in that Pro Bowl in 2005, Bruschi suffered a stroke 10 days later. It’s safe to say his legacy with the team was already cemented, and no fan would have griped had he walked away from the game. He’d done enough. But in typical Bruschi fashion, he was back on the field nine months later, earning the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award.
In a blue-collar town, Tedy Bruschi was the quintessential blue-collar player. And although his physical skills have diminished to the point where he can no longer compete at the highest level, the years when he could will not soon be forgotten.
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6 comments:
First, let me say that Tedy Bruschi was a class act and always good for a quote. One of my first times in the Patriots locker room, before practice, Bruschi took a break from an online chess game to answer some of my questions about the defense.
And given the Patriots' penchant for unceremoniously tossing players on the scrap heap when hey've outlived their usefulness, it was good to see them do right by Bruschi.
Given the timing of his retirement, it seems pretty clear that Bruschi was about to be cut from the team. But the Patriots apparently gave him the option to leave with the dignity of a retirement instead the embarrassment of an outright release.
Josh, are you serious?....just WHO have the Patriots "unceremoniously tossed on the scrap heap"??....name some names....also, Bruschi didn't seem like a guy who was being forced out at his retirement press conference and if he was and still thought he could play he could always try to hook up with another team........It's obvious you have some kind of problem with the Patriots. Give it a rest
Very rarely, if ever, do I come to the rescue of Josh, who probably hates the Patriots more than Philip Rivers. But I will say the Patriots do just dump players who can no longer pull their weight.
Examples: Lawyer Milloy, who was released right around this time of the season. And Ty Law is another. How about Antoine Smith? It happens all the time, especially under the Bill Belichick regime.
And I agree that Tedy no longer could compete at the highest level. He was supposed to be covering Chris Cooley on that 73-yard pass play against the Redskins. Watching that play, that's when I knew he couldn't compete.
Like Troy Brown, Bruschi realized he didn't want to go anywhere else, but rather walk away with his head held high and still a Patriot. Not everyone is Brett Favre.
So I have to disagree with you, anonymous.
Yes the Patriots let players go but there are REASONS. I don't call that being, "unceremoniously tossed on the scap heap"....Milloy wanted a TOP paying contract, he wasn't worth it so they let him walk...Milloy's career after he left the Pats was average at best. Rodney Harrison was a better player, case closed......Antoine Smith??? LMFAO!....yeah they let him go and brought in Corey Dilon. Once again a MUCH BETTER PLAYER.It's called IMPROVING THE TEAM
What don't you and Josh understand? Do you really think the Pats should hold on to players on the downside just to be "nice fellas"....it's the NFL guys, not Pop Warner football.
I wish I knew what you were talking about, because your walking contradiction of a post has me all sorts of confused.
I thought the release of Lawyer Milloy a week before the start of the season was the epitome of "unceremoniously tossing a player on the scrap heap." There was no ceremony when he left, and he was no longer good enough to play the position, meaning he was "scrapped."
Antoine Smith, a two-time Super Bowl-winning running back was let do during the offseason. Again, no big press conference, no ceremony, just scrap being tossed on the heap.
I guess the bigger issue is, what point are you trying to make? I think Josh and I (and rarely do we agree) have a different view than you on what "tossing on the scrap heap" actually is.
*sigh*.....forget it....it's obvious you and Josh were brought up in the "soccer mom" days. You also probably started playing Little League when they instituted the "everybody must play" rule....Pro sports is a business, they don't throw "ceremonies" everytime they release a player.....Milloy and Smith went on to play, they didn't retire. Did you want the Pats to retire their numbers and give them a big "ceremony"?......you sir are CLUELESS
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