NFL Stroke survivor Tedy Bruschi to retire today.

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Editor’s Pick

AUGUST 31, 2009 8:39AM

Rate: 12 Flag

You may not need to be a die hard football fan to appreciate the career of one its most consistent players. Tedy Bruschi will retire after 13 seasons with the New England Patriots today.

So what you say? Bruschi actually played with the same team for his whole career. Rather than have an agent for most of his career, he actually negotiated his contract directly with the team's owner.

In early 2005, Bruschi suffered a stroke. The stroke was related to a heart abnormality and not his football career. This kept Bruschi on the sidelines and many questioned whether he would ever step on the field again. Why would he have to? He won 3 super bowl rings and could have just stepped aside and taken care of himself and his family.

When he did get cleared by his doctors, he returned to the game and was the NFL's comeback player of the year.

His on field attitude was always full tilt and he was a leader in the locker room. After his stroke he was a motivational speaker off the field and an advocate for stroke awareness and rehabilitation.

Like many NFL players, his skills have diminished as he has aged, not uncommon for 36 year linebacker.

Always respectful and always humble, he was a class act and I'll miss watching him on Sundays. I'm sure football fans everywhere have respect for the man and the player. Best wishes Tedy.

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new england patriots, victims of stroke, 3 times world champions.

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Comments

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He is a world class individual on and off the field.
Hats off Tedy
RATED

Kind of Blue

August 31, 2009 09:23 AM

A true role model for kids to emulate. Not to mention how much fun it was to watch Tedy play!

Michael Rodgers

August 31, 2009 10:21 AM

This coming Saturday I'm going up to Foxboro and I'll visit the Patriot Hall of Fame, a place I'm sure he'll be honored in. rAted!

Chuck A. Stetson

August 31, 2009 10:42 AM

Greg -- I will always remember the video of Tedy running around the field with his three sons on the morning of the Super Bowl.

Michael -- He is always respectful and unlike so many sports "superstars", is someone who hasn't forgotten where he comes from.

Chuck -- I hope you;re going to the game. Please take some photos, and share with us.

OEsheepdog

August 31, 2009 11:12 AM

You don't have to be a Patriots fan -- I'm from Buffalo -- to appreciate an old-school athlete like Bruschi. The quintessence of class.

Jeremiah Horrigan

August 31, 2009 12:15 PM

Bruschi's the type of guy every player wants as a teammate and every fan wants to root for. Best wishes to him.

Stim

August 31, 2009 12:21 PM

Sunday won't be the same without Tedy, OES. Thanks for the timely story.

CoyoteOldStyle

August 31, 2009 12:25 PM

A sport (a world) so in need of those with humility and class, we were fortunate to have Tedy Bruschi. Somehow, even though I'm in 49er country (and am indeed a fan), I started following the Patriots about 12 years ago, so the name Bruschi means something to me. I'm certain he will continue to find ways to being his honor to the sport and to his community. Sincere thanks for the post, OE.

Outside Myself

August 31, 2009 12:28 PM

Jeremiah -- I couldn't agree more with everything you said.

Stim -- Agree and apparently coaches love to coach. Evidently, Belichick got emotional during the press conference. Tedy is a genuine human being.

COS -- I have a lot memories of watching him play. After a Miami game that the Patriots won he was so enthused by the fans who showed up in a blizzard to to watch the game.

Outside myself -- I believe he played high school ball near Sacramento. Thanks for your comment.

OEsheepdog

August 31, 2009 12:42 PM

I hope he goes into coaching/management. The game needs his outlook.

GeeBee

August 31, 2009 01:40 PM

Thanks, OE. I really admired this guy. Not only that but he's a really strong "family man". When he came back from his stroke, he was as aggressive as he had always been. He's a linebacker in the Mike Singletary mode who was intense and exciting and played the game like it should be played.
Rated

Walter Blevins

August 31, 2009 02:24 PM

Bruschi is one of the great comeback stories of all time. He wont be soon forgotten. And in any case, I hope Belichick got some good film of him while he was there. (nudge-nudge, wink-wink. say no more)

Bill Beck

August 31, 2009 07:46 PM

GeeBee -- Tedy will be successful wherever he goes. I admire his wife for standing by him when he made his comeback.

Walt -- I looked up the word classy in the dictionary and Tedy's photo was next to the definition.

Bill -- Chuckle, chuckle. When Belichick acknowledged Bruschi was "a perfect player" Bruschi said. "that something you'd never hear while I was still playing."

OEsheepdog

August 31, 2009 07:55 PM

He is and inspiration. Took a below market deal to stay here that had the union in fits of apoplexy. Converted from D-End to Linebacker. Had stroke and came back, and was always a class act. I loved him from his first year here. Yeah, he had slowed, but he still had intensity. A class act all the way around.

Loved the scene of him before the superbowl playing and rolling around on the field with his kids. He had that stroke just weeks later. I thought it crazy for him to come back from that, but that is the inner drive athletes have that mere weekend warriors do not.

If you ever played the sport, you can't NOT love the guy.

Gwool

August 31, 2009 11:44 PM

Wow. What a role model. Sports can teach us something, underneath all the hoopla and money. Sportsmanship can be an amazing, transferable quality - such as this case.