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2002 Season
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Versatile Bruschi is making noise
08/01/2002 BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer
SMITHFIELD -- He's traded his brass knuckles for a briefcase, turned in his lead
pipe and picked up his saxophone. Tedy Bruschi, the one-time project, is now the
projected starter at middle linebacker for the world champion New England
Patriots.
His six-year makeover is complete. And yet, Bruschi is the same. Which is to
say, he's still very different
.
How different? First off, he's a 6-foot-1, 245-pound middle linebacker, which
makes him like a muskrat in a room full of mastodons.
Second, this is a guy who works as his own agent. Not unheard of, but still
pretty unusual. (And he's done a reasonably good job at it so far, evidenced by
his three-year, $4.6 million contract that he worked out last fall.)
And can you name another NFL player who's played alto sax at Symphony Hall in
Boston as Bruschi did this offseason? OK, stop thinking. You can't. He loves
special teams, doesn't suffer fools gladly and still plays with the same
maniacal edge he always has (an edge that spawned the memorable pro-Bruschi
banner, "Full tilt. Full time.").
"When I first met Tedy, I thought he was a little wacky myself," fellow middle
linebacker Ted Johnson said. "But he's not always like that. That's just how he
is on the field."
These days, the 29-year-old Bruschi's importance to the Patriots is rarely
undersold. People may not know the specifics, like the fact that Bruschi's first
start at middle linebacker came against New Orleans and the team won every
single game the rest of the way, but they know he played damn well.
But as he settles in as a mainstay, the road he rode to get here shouldn't be
overlooked.
Bill Belichick was coaching the secondary for the Patriots when Bruschi was
drafted by Bill Parcells in 1996.
"(Bruschi's development) probably has surprised me a little bit because Tedy
(always played defensive line) at Arizona and . . . we drafted him as a
linebacker," Belichick said yesterday. "He led the Pac-10 in sacks, but he was a
defensive tackle. The thing about Tedy that's enabled him to be so successful is
that he is just a smart football player. Doesn't matter whether it's punt
return, punt protection, middle linebacker, goal line, whatever the situation
is, he picks it up quickly. He understands what to do, what the scheme of the
defense is, and then he reads and reacts pretty quickly as well. That's what
enabled him (to make the change)."
That and good vision.
"I see how big those offensive tackles and guards," Bruschi laughed. "Actually,
it's been the toughest thing I had to do was making the transition from putting
my hand down in the dirt in college, then coming here and learning linebacker.
"But I was a realist. I came here and saw the Willie McGinests and Chris Slades
-- their size, their length, the body type you need to be an edge rusher -- and
I saw (his own more compact body type) so I knew I had to change myself as a
player."
It came in fits and starts. There were weeks Bruschi made big plays. There were
others he clubbed guys out of bounds or after the whistle. But it all fell
together.
And what Bruschi has done is rare. Belichick mentioned former Giants standout
Harry Carson as a player who made a switch similar to the one Bruschi made, but
said there aren't many other examples.
"To be able to read and react as quickly as he does is a little bit unusual,"
Belichick said of Bruschi. "You don't see many guys who can make the conversion.
He is not a defensive lineman playing linebacker. He's a linebacker."
And one who was reared on the importance of versatility.
"My mom did a good job with me," said Bruschi, a Sacramento-area native. "She
got me into things that weren't normal for a person like me. I was always an
aggressive guy and she threw me in the choir, she threw me in the band. She
said, 'Tedy, I wanted to make sure you're well-rounded.'
Well-rounded enough that, this spring, Bruschi was asked to play "Fizzwater" on
alto sax at a Symphony Hall benefit concert this past spring.
"I like that I can say football is not all I am," he said proudly.
He has a wife and two young sons. He's his own agent, his own man and he tries
not to let himself forget that things have gone very well so far.
"I (thank God) every night," he said. "I don't talk about (his faith) a lot but
I've got a beautiful family, the career's gone well, I'm on a team that I'm
happy with, one that has a great bunch of guys on it."
As Belichick said yesterday, "You would like to have 53 Tedy Bruschi's, but it's
just unrealistic."
Unrealistic, because there is no assembly line where they churn out these kinds
of guys. Even if he was 5-7, 145 pounds, Tedy Bruschi would still stand out.
"He's a quiet normal guy, with a couple kids and a great wife," said Johnson.
"But he definitely sees the world a little differently than the rest of us.
Mostly, he's just having fun."
Football; Hole in the middle; Bruschi's injury
leaves void
MICHAEL FELGER
Boston Herald
Sunday, August 25, 2002
FOXBORO -- Tedy Bruschi came to the rescue of the Patriots defense last season.
Now it could be Ted Johnson's turn.
Bruschi suffered a sprained right knee ligament during Friday's 23-3 preseason
victory over Carolina. Full results of an MRI were not revealed yesterday, so
it's not known exactly how long the Pats starting middle linebacker will be out,
although it figures to be at least two weeks and perhaps more.
If Bruschi suffered a low-grade sprain of his MCL, then he could be back in time
for the Pats' season-opener against Pittsburgh on Sept. 9. If it's an MCL tear,
or if there's damage to his ACL, then the diagnosis becomes more dire.
For now, Bruschi's absence leaves a big hole in the middle of the Pats' 4-3
defense, one that will be filled by Johnson.
While Johnson missed the last two exhibitions as he continues to recover from a
concussion suffered two weeks ago, he'll be in the lineup for the Pats' final
exhibition game Thursday at Washington.
"We were just being cautious," said Johnson. "It looks like I'll be getting in
some good time this week."
It was an unfortunate turn of events for the hard-working and popular Bruschi,
who suffered the injury after crashing into Tebucky Jones on a first-quarter
pass play.
Last season, after injuries to Johnson and Bryan Cox, Bruschi moved to middle
linebacker from his weak-side spot and solidified the Pats' 4-3 defense. Bruschi
played so well during the Super Bowl run that he retained the job over Johnson
this summer.
Now Bruschi will have to fight his way back after going down in a preseason
game. Bruschi was asked if it was frustrating getting injured in a game that
meant nothing.
"I'd be a lot more upset if it were the fourth preseason game than the third
preseason game," he said. "With one more week left maybe I can get myself ready
for the opener. But I've just got to sit tight. I haven't really tested it, so I
don't know. But I feel I'll be all right."
Johnson knows all about fighting back into the lineup. Injuries to both his
biceps, his hip and knee have caused him to miss 21 games since 1998. Johnson
knows all too well that what happened to Bruschi is part of NFL life.
"It's always a mental battle," said Johnson. "And I've made peace with it.
However it unfolds is what happens. You just learn to go with it. Whatever. But
I'm sure he'll be ready for the opener."
While Bruschi and Johnson have both been productive over their careers, they are
totally different types of linebackers. Bruschi (a bit undersized at 6-foot-1,
245 pounds) uses his quickness and instincts to snuff out plays, but he won't do
much damage taking on blockers. Johnson, on the other hand, is a classic
run-snuffer who can dominate at the point of attack.
Johnson may be the Pats' best pure linebacker. He just hasn't been on the field
enough over the past three years to prove it.
Coach Bill Belichick has tinkered with 3-4 and 4-3 alignments since he arrived
in New England two years ago, although the past two weeks have seen the Pats
stick primarily with a base 4-3 alignment. Johnson hopes it stays that way.
The Pats also have been without veteran outside linebacker Roman Phifer the past
two games, although his leg injury is not considered serious.
The presence of veteran safety Victor Green also has altered the look of the
defense, allowing strong safety Lawyer Milloy to play up near the line of
scrimmage like a linebacker. The look was effective Friday night, as Milloy
finished with six tackles and a sack.
"With Victor we can do some things and we can tinker with some things," said
Bruschi. "For the third preseason game, that looked pretty good."
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
Bruschi hopeful on knee status
By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff, 8/25/2002
FOXBOROUGH - Tedy Bruschi, who was scheduled for an MRI yesterday, said he had a
feeling that the right knee he banged up late in the first quarter of Friday's
23-3 win over the Carolina Panthers was only bruised or sprained.
The fact that he was up and about, walking, though with a limp, seemed to be a
good sign. He had a rubber brace around the knee.
''I feel like it's going to be all right,'' said Bruschi. ''I keep telling
myself that. The doctor wants to see the pictures first. Once I can confirm that
with him, I can give you more info.'
Even if there is something wrong, he believes he has enough time before the
opener (Sept. 9 against Pittsburgh) to heal.
''I'd feel more frustrated if it was the fourth preseason game,'' said Bruschi.
''This will get it better. It gives me time for Pittsburgh.''
The veteran said he can tell whether he's seriously injured.
''I think when you've had certain injuries, you have your little leg tests, you
try certain things,'' he said. ''You pretty much know when you're going to be
all right or when you're not going to be all right. I think with this one, I'm
going to be all right.''
Injury not likely to bring Bruschi to his knees
08/25/2002
BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer
FOXBORO -- Linebacker Tedy Bruschi should be OK before too long after getting
the inside of his right knee whipped by teammate Tebucky Jones Friday night.
Bruschi, who was down for a couple of minutes but left the field under his own
power, said yesterday, "You have your little leg test that you do to see if
you'll be all right or not be all right. I think I'm going to be all right."
Bruschi was scheduled to have an MRI yesterday afternoon. Nothing is certain
until the imaging is done, but Bruschi already seemed to be gearing up for the
September 9 opener. "This would have been frustrating if it happened in the
fourth preseason game," he said.
Arizona Daily Star 08/25/02
SUNDAY SPECIAL: TEDY BRUSCHI
'Full tilt, full time'
By Greg Hansen
FOXBORO, Mass. - It is approaching 12:15 a.m. in the New England Patriots' vast
dressing room at Gillette Stadium. The cubicle immediately next to the entryway
has been empty since the game ended 45 minutes earlier. Nonetheless, about 10
reporters stand idly by a chair labeled No. 54.
All but one of the Patriots have showered, dressed and gone to "The Bubble," the
team's indoor practice facility that doubles as a post-game party retreat.
The vigil continues until 12:25 when Tedy Bruschi emerges from the medical
treatment center. He is hobbling on his right leg. He is not happy.
"All I can tell you guys," he says to the assembled media, "is that they're
going to take an MRI (Saturday), and I hope to be ready for the opener."
This is a rare Bruschi pose. Grimness. He is the most valued quote in the
Patriots locker room, the most candid and the most accessible. But in the early
minutes of Saturday morning, he can't be sure if he'll need surgery or aspirin.
He continues to dress, surrounded by voices who want more information. He turns
his back to the crowd and looks at the photograph of his two young sons, Rex and
Tedy Jr., and pulls a red sweatshirt over his head. The questions persist.
What's your gut feeling? How did it happen? What time will you take the MRI?
Tedy Bruschi is news here.
"Fellas," he says, "my mind-set is to stay healthy, and that's it."
He has already phoned his wife, Heidi, a former UA and Sahuaro High School
volleyball standout, in an attempt to assure her that what she saw in the first
quarter of a 23-3 victory over Carolina is not as bad as it looked.
But there is great concern, anyway.
When did the irrepressible Tedy Bruschi last lie motionless on the turf, his
face covered with pain? The prospect of losing their starting middle linebacker
has the Super Bowl champion Patriots nervous. "Gotta have that Energizer bunny,"
says running back Antowain Smith. "They won't get him out of (the lineup) that
easily."
Tedy Bruschi has a fan club here, complete with its Web site. Another group
brews a special beer in his honor each season. This year's batch: Bruschi Brew
VII, a tribute to his seven seasons as a Patriot. The august Boston Globe on
Saturday used the adjective "popular" before his name. The only banner hanging
from the stands at Gillette Stadium on Friday said: 54: FULL TILT. FULL TIME.
The banner is a tribute to his much-publicized quote, carried in all of the New
England dailies. The only way he plays football is "full tilt, full time."
Bruschi calls defensive signals for the Patriots, plays superbly on kickoff,
punt and field goal units, plays a saxophone at Symphony Hall in Boston, and is
in the first of a three-year, $4.6 million contract. This happy place has no
room for a bum knee. Bruschi is in his prime. This is no time for him to sustain
the first serious injury of his football career.
The Patriots' dour coach, Bill Belichick becomes immediately dourless when asked
about the man more responsible for Arizona's Desert Swarm defense than anyone
else. "You would like to have 53 Tedy Bruschis," he says, "but it's just
unrealistic."
There is some karma involved. Bruschi's first of nine starts in the 2001 season
came at midseason. Thereafter, the Patriots went 9-0 and won the Super Bowl. He
is no longer strictly a hustle-guy, an undersized linebacker with the body of a
college pass-rusher. He is on the edge of stardom.
"The thing about Tedy that's enabled him to be so successful is that he is just
a smart football player," Belichick told reporters a week ago. "Doesn't matter
whether it's punt return, punt protection, middle linebacker, goal line,
whatever the situation, he picks it up quickly. He understands and he reacts
quickly."
The Patriots have seen the same things in Bruschi that former UA coach Dick
Tomey saw at Camp Cochise in August 1991.
"The first day of practice, Tedy impressed me more than any first-year player I
ever saw," Tomey said then. "It was his quickness and his youthful exuberance
and his fire and temperament. He has adjusted to college football quicker than
any player I have ever seen. He's going to be a beauty."
Indeed, Bruschi has become a beaut.
He's 29 now, with homes in North Attleboro, Mass., and Tucson. He continues to
share the NCAA career sack record he tied at Arizona in 1995 (no one has since
reached 50), and he keeps an Arizona cap on a shelf above his Patriots uniform.
If he can avoid serious injuries, he could play in the NFL for another six to
eight years. He could make $10 million to $20 million more.
"I'm glad I've been as flexible as I've been a lot of times," he says before
leaving the locker room early Saturday morning. "One of my biggest strengths is
my intelligence and that's why I've gotten this far. I've got the best of both
worlds here. I can play the game I love, and in the off-season, I can spend time
at the little place we have in Tucson, where Heidi's family lives, and with my
family in Las Vegas."
Saturday afternoon, Belichick announced that Bruschi's knee injury was "nothing
dramatic." The Patriots' star linebacker is apt to skip the final preseason game
Thursday and be on the field for the season opener Sept. 8. Bruschi was all
smiles again.
Maybe it's not the Red Sox beating the hated Yankees, but in New England , when
Tedy Bruschi is smiling, the Patriots are, too.
Bruschi
blocks talk on knee injury
Patriots Notebook/by Kevin Mannix
Tuesday, August 27, 2002
FOXBORO -
Tedy Bruschi looked fine as he
walked through the Patriots' locker room yesterday. No crutches, no support
sleeves on his ``bruised'' right knee, no limp.
No information either.
``All I can really tell you is that I'm doing
treatment three times a day to get back on the field,'' said the veteran
Patriots linebacker whose knee was injured during a collision with teammate
Tebucky Jones early in a 23-3 exhibition victory over the Carolina Panthers on
Friday night.
How about the MRI test he took to determine if there was any structural
damage to the knee?
``I can't read those things,''
Bruschi replied.
Well, did the doctors who can read them give him any indication about the
severity of the injury?
``All I can say,''
Bruschi
said with a smile, ``is that the doctors are reading it. You know the way we do
things around here. All I can say is that I'm getting three treatments a day.''
Well , then, are you optimistic that you'll be in the starting lineup against
Pittsburgh on Sept. 9?
After hesitating a second,
Bruschi responded: ``I don't know. I can't answer that. If I do, it means I
have a little more knowledge about my knee than I have.''
His inability to project himself into the opening game lineup is not a good
thing. Ted Johnson missed the last two games because of a concussion. Ryan
Phillips was waived. Larry Izzo has been a kicking game specialist. That leaves
the frequently cut Ula Tuitele as the likely starter for the final preseason
game Thursday in Washington.
But from
Bruschi's
vantage point, that's not a bad thing.
``Out of all the linebackers, he's had the best camp,''
Bruschi said. ``He's
really improved.''
After taking over for
Bruschi early in the first quarter, the 6-foot-1, 255-pound Colorado State
product played through the third quarter and finished with a team-high 11
tackles.
Though there were times when Tuitele looked like a kindergarten teacher
during a fire drill, waving his arms wildly and jumping around,
Bruschi pointed out that
his teammate was just doing what he was supposed to do.
``He was communicating with the outside linebackers,''
Bruschi said. ``We had a
couple of busts on assignments and alignments, and Ula was trying to fix them.'' Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who has released Tuitele six times in the last
two years, only to sign him seven times, has seen a big improvement in Tuitele's
play
.
``He's been productive,'' Belichick said. ``He's gotten some oportunities and
he's really taken advantage of them.''
Bruschi among minor injury
concerns
Patriots Notebook/by
Michael Felger
Sunday, September 1, 2002
FOXBORO - One of the most remarkable elements of the
Patriots' Super Bowl run last season was the overall health of the team
down the stretch. For much of December and into January, the team's injury list
was virtually barren.
It remains to be seen if the Pats will enter 2002
the way they ended 2001.
While
there are no major injuries afflicting the roster, there are a few issues to
keep an eye on as the Patriots prepare for
their season-opener Sept. 9 against Pittsburgh at Gillette Stadium.
Foremost among them is the status of starting middle linebacker Tedy
Bruschi, who suffered a sprained right knee
ligament in the Pats' preseason game against Carolina on Aug. 23.
The injury was expected to keep Bruschi out at
least two weeks, which gave him a chance to return for the Steelers game if he
recovered well. Bruschi did not practice last
week before sitting out the preseason finale at Washington. However,
Bruschi did continue to run and work out. If
Bruschi isn't ready for the Steelers, he
doesn't figure to be out too much longer.
Guard/center Damien Woody also missed the last two preseason games with a
shoulder injury, although it's not thought to be serious. He dressed for the
Redskins game but didn't play.
Tight
end Cam Cleeland experienced tightness in his leg muscles last week and didn't
travel to Washington. Coach Bill Belichick expressed optimism that he would be
back on the field next week.
Hitting
The High Notes
BRUSCHI
PLAYS A TUNE ON THE OPPOSITION
September 4, 2002
By ALAN GREENBERG, Courant Staff
Writer
FOXBORO, Mass. - Whether singing in
the chorus, playing percussion on the football field, or saxophone, trombone,
trumpet or clarinet in the school band, Tedy
Bruschi's body has always been his instrument.
But the low note came at his first NFL camp six years ago, when he realized his
mission, and he'd better decide to accept it, was something he never wanted to
be - an NFL linebacker.
He wanted to be a down lineman, a pass-rusher, as he was at the University of
Arizona, where he tied Derrick Thomas' NCAA record with 52 career sacks. But
hey, Al Gore wanted to be president. Some things, you have to get over.
"It's been the toughest thing I've ever had to do,"
Bruschi said, "making the transition from putting my hand down in the
dirt in college and then coming here in '96 and learning linebacker. But I was a
realist. I come here and see the Willie McGinests [6 feet 5, 275 pounds] and the
Chris Slades (6-4, 250) ... and I see the body type you need to be an edge
rusher in this league."
Bruschi saw guys who could use their long arms
to keep blockers away. He saw guys with sprinter's speed and rippling muscles.
Then he looked at his rather squat 6-1, 242-pound frame.
"I look at myself and I look more like a Todd Collins, a Ted Johnson-type,"
Bruschi said. "So I knew I had to change
myself as a player."
Few NFL players have made such a drastic change so successfully. Patriots coach
Bill Belichick, who has been coaching in the league 29 years, says former Giants
linebacker Harry Carson is the only one he can recall who made a similarly
successful transition to linebacker after being strictly a down lineman in
college.
"Tedy never played on his feet [at Arizona],
and that was the projection when we drafted him [in the third round] at
linebacker," said Belichick, who had just joined Bill Parcells' staff as a
Patriots assistant as they were scouting the 1996 draft. "When you take a player
who is a down lineman, and you put him on his feet as a linebacker, particularly
inside linebacker, it's tough. To be able to read and react as quickly as he
does is a little bit unusual. You don't see many guys who can make that
conversion.
"The thing about Tedy that has enabled him to
be so successful is that he is just a smart football player. Doesn't matter
whether it's a punt return, punt protection, middle linebacker, goal line.
Whatever the situation is, he instinctively picks things up quickly."
Of course, instinct only carries a man so far if he has no idea what his coach
is talking about. While Bruschi and his
saxophone once wowed his high school band director with a song he had just heard
for the first time on the radio, his initial ear for football parlance was tin.
During Bruschi's first NFL camp,
then-linebackers coach Al Groh was explaining
Bruschi's assignment.
"If you see pass," he told the rookie, "drop back and pick up the hook."
"Coach, what's the hook?" Bruschi asked.
Groh closed his eyes and shook his head.
"OK," he said, "I see we're going to have to start from scratch."
And they did. Initially regarded as a good special teams player who could
occasionally play linebacker, Bruschi has
developed as a great special teams player and a starting linebacker. When he
became a full-time starter at outside linebacker under Pete Carroll in 1999, the
consensus was Bruschi had to play outside
because of his comparatively small size, and that he would wear down by season's
end if not given some breathers.
That wasn't the case, although Bruschi was
also playing on most of the Patriots special teams. He destroyed another
misconception last season when he took over at middle linebacker in Week 11
because of injuries to Bryan Cox and Ted Johnson. While
Bruschi gave kudos to rookie defensive tackle
Richard Seymour for making his job easier, Belichick gave kudos to
Bruschi for making the switch so seamlessly.
Finding Time For Football
Bruschi, who grew up in San Francisco, is
accustomed to abrupt transitions. His parents divorced when he was 5. His
mother, concerned that San Francisco and its cheap mass transit was making it
far too easy for young Tedy and his friends to
get into trouble, moved the family to Roseville, a quiet middle-class town 110
miles northeast of San Francisco, near Sacramento, before
Tedy entered high school.
Although Tedy played street football with his
San Francisco buddies, and although his father was a football coach and his
stepfather a tennis pro, his mother had pushed him toward music rather than
sports.
"I think my Mom did a good job," Bruschi said.
"She got me into things that were not usual for guys like me. She threw me into
the band. She threw me into the chorus. I remember 6 a.m. band practices,
practicing for marching band walking around the parking lot. I think I was a
band geek before I was a football player."
But in Roseville, where the streets were empty and diversions few,
Bruschi decided to go out for football. At his
first practice, the coach told the players to group themselves according to
position.
"Where do I go?" Bruschi asked.
The coach looked over the 5-10, 205-pound 14-year old.
"You're a lineman," the coach said.
And he turned out to be good enough to have recently been voted the best high
school football player in Sacramento history.
"Football is part of who I am, but there's a lot of things I can share,"
Bruschi said.
With Belichick's blessing, assistant coach Brad Seely makes sure
Bruschi continues to share himself on special
teams. The Patriots' penchant for using starters on special teams, something
many veterans on other teams prefer to avoid, is picking up steam around the
league because of the Patriots' success. But even in college,
Bruschi's coaches didn't let his skills to go
to waste.
"I was a three-time All-American," Bruschi
said, "and in my fifth year of college, I was on the punt team. I'm used to it.
Besides, coach Seeley won't let me go. If it's anything I'm secure about, it's
my position on the punt team. Me and [Roman Phifer] and [Mike] Vrabel on that
left side, we'll be pretty tough to supplant."
Bruschi doesn't seem to be looking for a
lighter workload elsewhere. Rather than hire an agent, he has twice represented
himself in contract negotiations with the Patriots. A month before the Super
Bowl, he signed a three-year, $4.6 million deal that included a $2 million
signing bonus.
Some wondered if he shortchanged himself by representing himself and not
becoming an unrestricted free agent.
When he signed, Bruschi said, "The Patriots
were very fair. I believe in loyalty. I want to be known as a Patriot. I don't
want to be one of those guys jumping around the league."
Although Bruschi had only two sacks last
season, rushing the passer is still a favorite part of the game.
"We blitz a lot here, so I still get my taste," he said.
Bruschi will have a new blitz target this
season. A guy named Drew Bledsoe. Would the hyper-competitive
Bruschi dare let up if he had the new Bills
quarterback in his crosshairs?
"I talk to Drew a little bit. We're friends," Bruschi
said. "I said, `If it comes down to me and you, just slide.'"
Slide is something Tedy Bruschi would never
do.
Patriots Notebook:
Bruschi: Steelers showed no class at end
09/11/2002
BY KEVIN
McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer
FOXBORO
-- Several of the Patriots were not happy with Pittsburgh clawing and scratching
to get into the end zone in the game's final minute.
Tedy Bruschi was restrained on
the field after one goal-line play, and didn't hold back his disdain for the
Steelers after the game.
Bruschi, who has seen players
hurt late in games when the outcome already has been decided, said he "lost
respect" for Pittsburgh because it chose to play hard until the final gun and
not accept a 30-7 defeat. Bruschi said he worried about injuries because some
players might not be running at full speed.
"I did have some respect for that
team, but after what they pulled on that last drive, it's totally lost now,"
Bruschi said. "You're getting beat . . . just accept it with class. I know we
would have if the tables were turned. But they're out there calling timeouts,
trying to get extra yards, padding their stats. I don't know. Let's just end the
game and get out of there healthy. They're putting both teams at risk."
Pittsburgh actually called two
timeouts (at 50 and 39 seconds) to try to score. Kordell Stewart eventually
capped an 11-play drive with a 1-yard plunge with four ticks left.
Bruschi said former teammate
Marty Moore tore his Achilles tendon during garbage time of a game against
Indianapolis last season, and he says he feared someone else could go down.
"I couldn't believe it. What's
the difference between 30-7 and 30-14? I don't know what the difference is," he
said.
Lawyer Milloy called the
late-game fluff "stupid."
One for all . . .
Asked if the Steelers knew how
physical the Patriots can be, Milloy said, "They better. They'll keep getting
hit in the mouths. When in doubt, we hit. We have each other's backs [covered]
Tedy bears
responsibility
by Rich Thompson
Monday, October 28, 2002
FOXBORO -
According to Patriots middle linebacker Tedy Bruschi, the job of turning around
the Pats defense begins with him.
Despite having two weeks to prepare for
yesterday's encounter at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots defense got steamrolled
by quarterback Brian Griese and the Denver Broncos in a 24-16 loss before a
capacity crowd of 68,436.
The hellish streak of 100-yard rushers
that began with the Chiefs' Priest Holmes on Sept. 22 was extended to five
games, tying a dubious franchise record set in 1990. Clinton Portis ripped
through the Patriots for 111 yards on 26 carries (4.3 per rush) with a pair of
touchdowns. The threat of Portis allowed Griese to play-action pass his way to
229 yards and a touchdown.
Because he stands at the focal point of
the Patriots defense, Bruschi personally took the fall for allowing the Broncos
to roll up 351 net yards and convert 8-of-13 times (62 percent) on third down.
``I take responsibility on myself and I
now have to play better,'' Bruschi said. ``We have to play better as players.
Let's look at it as that starting with me.
``I look at it for what it is. We've lost
four in a row, and we've got to do what we've got to do to get better. I'm going
to keep on doing the things I've been doing and try to do more to turn the team
around.
``I think if we all collectively have that
attitude, we'll be all right.''
Bruschi had no business placing the Pats'
woes on defense at his doorstep. He finished with seven tackles and made two
crucial fourth-quarter plays deep in Patriots territory that kept the team's
hopes alive.
The Broncos were on the verge of icing the
game when Bruschi made the stop of the game. The Broncos were third-and-goal
from the 1 when Griese handed the ball off to fullback Mike Anderson.
Bruschi fended off a block, strung
Anderson to the left side of the line and made the solo tackle for no gain. The
Broncos had to settle for a 19-yard Jason Elam field goal that made it an
eight-point game with 9:45 to play.
``That was one of the things we worked on
(in practice) because our goal-line efficiency had been poor. We haven't been
able to keep teams out of the end zone,'' Bruschi said. ``We hold them to three
instead of seven to keep us in the game. We were still alive, we still had life,
and defensively that's what we want to do.''
The Broncos threatened again with a
first-and-10 from the Patriots 22 with 6:21 to play, but Bruschi busted through
the line and sacked Griese for a 7-yard loss. The Broncos managed only 1 yard on
the next two plays, and Elam missed a 39-yard field goal attempt.
From Kevin Mannix's Patriots Report Card
11/12/02
LINEBACKERS C+: There must be some weird mathematical
formula to establish playing time. Bruschi was a force in the final Bears drive
and he had a sack and a deflection early in the game. But all too often, The
Playmaker could be found on the sidelines waiting for a chance to play.
This defense isn't that
good that it can function regularly with Bruschi out of action. Johnson's steady
improvement is certainly a factor. He was credited with only five tackles by the
Bears stat crew, but he wasn't mentioned on the two big stops on Thomas in the
fourth quarter even though he figured in both.
McGinest came from the
left end to make the stop on Thomas on second-and-1 and finished with a
team-high six tackles and a deflection.
Bruschi INT on review
by Karen
Guregian
Monday, November 18, 2002
OAKLAND, Calif. - It
wouldn't seem like a game with the Raiders - or any Patriots game for that
matter - without some kind of wacky play causing the fans' jaws to drop.
On the scorecard, Pats linebacker Tedy Bruschi's
48-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the third quarter of last
night's 27-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders doesn't seem abnormal. There was,
however, nothing normal about the interception.
Raiders quarterback Rich
Gannon's pass, intended for wide receiver Jerry Porter, ricocheted off Patriots
safety Lawyer Milloy's foot and popped up into the waiting arms of Bruschi. Off
the linebacker went, untouched, into the end zone to draw the Patriots within 11
points at 24-13.
But wait, it was time for
a replay. The Raiders challenged the pick, saying the ball hit the ground before
hitting Milloy's foot. Referee Ed Hochuli, however, couldn't find enough
evidence to overturn the call.
Touchdown.
``I was hoping that way
was going to be a momentum changer,'' Bruschi said. ``But they posed some
problems for us on both offense and defense. I think that team was hitting on
all cylinders.''
While it seemed like the
ball might have hit the ground before clunking Milloy's boot, Bruschi made a
salient point which supported the call.
``When the ball hits the
ground, it doesn't bounce like that. It skids,'' said Bruschi, who led the team
with seven tackles and three assists to go along with the interception return.
``When it bounced
up, I knew I could make a play.''
He did make a play, only
it wasn't quite enough. The Pats offense sputtered all night, while the defense
just couldn't contain Gannon and Co.
So it's back to even for
the Pats.
``Five-and-five is
five-and-five,'' Bruschi said regarding the club's record. ``I'm a bottom-line
guy. We have six weeks left at making a run toward being one of the better teams
in the playoffs.''
Pat Patriot returns for one day
Patriots Notebook/by Mark Murphy
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
FOXBORO - Call it love at first
sight.
When the Patriots, who will dress in the original franchise colors of
red and white when they play their Thanksgiving game against Detroit this week,
reported for duty yesterday, a bright, shiny Pat Patriot helmet hung next to
each locker. Tedy Bruschi loved the image of the snarling cartoon Minuteman in
his three-point stance.
``I
love the throwback look, but I guess that's because I consider myself kind of a
throwback player,'' he said. ``I've been waiting seven years to play in this
uniform, so I'm excited.''
Asked
who would win the battle - Pat Patriot or the more current Flying Elvis -
Bruschi diplomatically called the matchup ``a draw.'' Others weren't so sure.
``I'm
not sure I'd want to come across him in a dark alley,'' Matt Light said.
Otis
Smith admitted he was warming up to the idea after watching it from afar on
television or, as teammate Grey Ruegamer referred to it, ``on sports classic
television.''
``It
looks a lot better in person,'' Smith said, echoing the thoughts of one of the
newest Patriots, Christian Fauria.
``Well, it's OK for one game,'' Fauria said. ``That's cool. Hopefully we get to
keep them and pass them down to our young ones. I'm finicky about my helmets. I
like my old one, but this will work for one game. This guy's an intimidator.''
Bruschi shows what perfect
execution is all about
The New England
linebacker fakes a blitz, drops back, and makes a key interception early in the
game.
11/29/2002
By TOM E. CURRAN Journal Sports Writer
DETROIT
-- Second quarter. Second-and-10. Detroit's first possession of the game. The
Lions already trail 3-0 and rookie quarterback Joey Harrington is under center.
On this play, he's operating with an empty backfield.
Reading this formation, the defensive call
goes out for linebackers Roman Phifer and Tedy Bruschi to blitz from the left
and right, respectively.
The ball's snapped. The offensive line
slides to the right and lurches back into pass protection. Phifer has an alley
off the left edge. Bruschi, who's looping inside to blitz from the middle, sees
the line slide and the mass of humanity that's building. He breaks off his blitz
and drops into coverage looking for a receiver running either a slant or a
cross.
Harrington sees Phifer. He also sees his
"hot" receiver on the blitz, Larry Foster. He doesn't see Bruschi. As Harrington
releases the ball, Bruschi stretches out his arms. The ball finds his hands.
Bruschi stumbles briefly, then rights himself and lumbers 27 yards into the end
zone to make it 10-0 Patriots.
Neither Harrington nor the Lions really ever
recovers from that start. The Patriots win, 20-12.
"We've been working on that play since the
first day of training camp," Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick said of the
intricate blitz. "We've messed it up a few times along the way, but it worked
perfectly that particular time. Tedy made a great job of coming across, getting
in front of the slant pattern. Very well-executed play defensively on his part.
Just the way we practice it. We don't know what the pattern will be, but the way
the line slid to Bruschi, he never would have gotten to the quarterback. They
had him picked up so he recognized that and slid out."
"A lot of things have to go right," Bruschi
said in the locker room after the game. Despite injuring his right knee and
missing the rest of the game after getting cut block by Lions' guard Tony Semple
on another blitz late in the first, Bruschi stood upright and looked OK.
"One, it was an adjustment to the empty
backfield set," he explained. "Two, you've got to get the gaps right [the
defensive lineman and linebackers have to fill the right spaces in the offensive
line]. You have to get everybody in the right gap. Three, you have to have the
right read from the offensive line and then drop back in coverage and start
reading cross or slant. And if the right route comes your way, you have to make
the play."
That play is a case study in why Bruschi,
despite being somewhat undersized, is one of the most valuable players to the
Patriots. He's smart, decisive, confident, well-schooled and physically able to
execute what his mind tells him to do.
That's why, if he's lost for any extended
period, the Patriots are looking at a December that just got a whole lot
tougher.
The knee he injured is the same one he hurt
in preseason when his leg whipped around Tebucky Jones while trying to make a
play. On both plays he was going full tilt. That's been his nature.
If Bruschi's out for an extended period --
and that's not clear since he'll have an MRI this week and the Pats will be
characteristically tight-lipped about his standing -- other players will have to
fill the void.
Veteran linebacker Ted Johnson played well
for Bruschi yesterday and looked outstanding in pass coverage, an area not
usually seen as his strong suit. And special-teams maven Larry Izzo was in there
as well and he had an impact late in the game, causing some Lions' receivers to
think twice about going over the middle.
But even though he and Bruschi split time,
Johnson scoffed at the notion the team would be just fine if Bruschi is slow to
mend.
"I want him back 100 percent and ready to go
as soon as possible," he said.
If you're a Patriots fan, you likely feel
the same way.
Pats take double
dip: Bruschi, Seymour injured
Patriots Notebook/by Michael Felger
Friday, November 29, 2002
DETROIT - The
Patriots suffered two potentially disastrous injuries in yesterday's 20-12
victory over the Lions, but Tedy Bruschi and Richard Seymour both set their
sights on returning to action next Sunday against Buffalo at Gillette Stadium.
Of
the two, Bruschi's status is more uncertain. The linebacker re-injured his right
knee on a first-quarter blitz when Lions guard Tony Semple blocked him low,
straightening out his knee as he flew in the air. Bruschi had to be carted off
the field just before half, although he was walking under his own power after
the game. Bruschi will have an MRI this weekend to determine the full damage.
The play was similar to one that occurred in
the Pats' preseason game against Carolina on Aug. 23 when Bruschi sprained a
ligament in the same knee. He was out two weeks after that hit but came back in
time for the Pats' season-opener against Pittsburgh on Sept. 9.
``To say it's similar, I don't know yet. I
think they can give me more information after the MRI and we'll go from there,''
said Bruschi, who shot down the notion that the injury could be season-ending.
``For the year? I pride myself on being a quick healer. So that's the last thing
from my mind. Fortunately we have a long week and I've got a few extra days to
get right. Who knows? Maybe I'll be out there for Buffalo.''
Earlier, Bruschi made the play of the game
when he stepped in front of a Joey Harrington pass, kept his balance and then
went 27 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown. Coach Bill Belichick said it
was a defensive play the team had been working on all season and finally got
right in a game.
``That was the plan,'' Bruschi said. ``If
you can get (Harrington) to get it out before he wants to, that's when you
create mistakes. And that's what happened.''
As for Seymour, he left the game in the
second quarter with what he called a bruised thigh. He didn't return, but
Seymour said he surely will be ready for Buffalo.
``That's the game plan,'' he said. ``Ice,
treatment and be ready to go next Sunday.''
Don't expect Belichick to offer any help on
the injured players. When asked about the two injuries, Belichick described them
as ``sore legs.''
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
After return, injury forces Bruschi to leave
By
Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff, 11/29/2002
DETROIT - Tedy Bruschi,
who made a key play in yesterday's 20-12 win over Detroit - a 27-yard
interception return for a touchdown - reinjured his right knee in the game and
will know the extent of damage when he get test results today.
The
Patriots' middle linebacker said it was the same injury he had in the exhibition
game against Carolina in August, and it is unclear whether he will miss any
time. The Patriots don't play again until Dec. 8.
''I
took a shot on it,'' said Bruschi. ''I believe an
offensive lineman went low on me and got a helmet or a shoulder pad on my knee,
and I wasn't able to return to the game, and I'll just have to wait for some
test results and go from there.''
Bruschi took
the hit late in the first quarter and never returned. He was replaced primarily
by Larry Izzo, who played very well.
''We
have some time to rest, for myself to rest before we play our next game,'' said
Bruschi, whose touchdown return was his second this
season.
Also
hurt in the first half, and not able to return, was defensive tackle Richard
Seymour, who suffered an injury to his left quadriceps/thigh area. As he
waited to board the team bus, Seymour said he expected to be OK and that because
of the 10-day layoff, he may not miss any action .
Seymour, Bruschi, nursing ''sore
legs''
By Jimmy Golen, Associated Press, 11/29/2002
14:32
FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) The only good thing about the injuries to
Richard Seymour and Tedy Bruschi is that they have 10 days to recover before the
New England Patriots' next game.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Friday both players had
''sore legs'' and were expected at the stadium for treatment. Otherwise, the
players earned the day off with the win and won't be back at practice until
Monday, when they'll begin preparing for the Dec. 8 game against the Buffalo
Bills.
No other information about the injuries would be available,
Patriots spokesman Stacey James said.
Bruschi, who returned an interception 27 yards for the
Patriots' first touchdown, hurt his right knee with 2:05 left in the first
quarter when he tried to leap over a Lions blocker and smacked it against a
helmet. He did not return to the game.
Bruschi said it was the same injury he had in an exhibition
game against Carolina; he missed the final preseason game but was ready for the
regular season opener. He is expected to have an MRI to determine the extent of
the damage.
''I'll just have to wait for some test results and go from
there,'' he said Thursday. ''We have some time to rest, for myself to rest
before the next game.''
Seymour hurt his left thigh later in the first half and did
not return. He said Thursday he might not miss any time, thanks to the 10-day
layoff after the Thanksgiving Day game.
Despite the injury early in the game, Bruschi made his
presence felt. On the Lions' first possession, he slid across the middle to grab
Joey Harrington's pass and then took it 27 yards for a touchdown to give New
England a 10-0 lead.
Seymour had also been productive statistically, at least
after a slow stretch that coincided with the team's slump. He had 10 tackles in
five games before combining for 11 with two sacks and a fumble recovery against
the Raiders (Nov. 17) and Vikings (Nov. 24).
Because of the week off, New England will be able to watch
Sunday's games on television with special interest on the game between AFC East
rivals Buffalo and Miami instead of getting their first look at the game tapes.
But that doesn't mean the Patriots will be taking it easy.
''Well, this isn't really the time of the year for watching.
We've got a job to do and we're just trying to win games,'' Belichick said.
''We'll watch the game because we have a vested interest in the game. If I watch
the Army-Navy game, I'll watch that for pleasure. I'll root for Navy and that'll
be pleasure.''
Eagle
Tribune
Friday,
November 29, 2002
Holiday cheer with a price
By Hector Longo
Staff Writer
The news: Tedy Bruschi suffered a knee injury in the first half yesterday,
leaving the game and not returning. Bruschi will have the knee looked at today
when the Pats return to Foxboro before getting a few, well-deserved days off.
Our slant: Pray, pray and pray some more. Bruschi, at linebacker, and
cornerback Ty Law have game in and game out been the two, true standouts on the
defense this year. Bruschi's interception return for a touchdown might be one of
the greatest plays in Patriots history. It truly was one man squeezing every
ounce of athletic ability from his 5-11, 240-pound frame into one incredible
play, swooping from a fake blitz to pull in a Joey Harrington dump pass and race
to the end zone, diving in.
Every play without Bruschi is trouble for the Pats' defense.
Holiday
cheer with a price
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
Injury update: Zilch
Mum's the word on
Bruschi, Seymour
By Bob Ryan, Globe
Staff, 11/30/2002
FOXBOROUGH - How are Tedy Bruschi and Richard Seymour?
Is that your question?
Coach Bill
Belichick would rather have been caught singing ''On, Brave Old Army Team''
than divulge any real info concerning the two defensive stalwarts, each of whom
was injured during Thursday's 20-12 conquest of the Detroit Lions. ''There's
nothing to report,'' he said at yesterday morning's briefing. ''They have leg
injuries.''
Bruschi took a helmet
to his right knee from Tony Semple in the first quarter, two series after
his interception return for a touchdown, and later was carted off the field.
Bruschi (19 tackles the previous two games) likely underwent tests yesterday.
The best anyone could pull out of Belichick was that, for all he knew, the
injured duo was undergoing treatment even as he spoke.
Larry Izzo
replaced Bruschi alongside Ted Johnson in New England's 3-4 alignment and
made a nice open-field tackle in the fourth quarter to hold fullback Stephen
Trejo to a 5-yard reception. If Bruschi is not ready to go against Buffalo a
week from tomorrow, the Patriots could go with a 4-3 alignment with Johnson in
the middle or turn to Matt Chatham for inside linebacker help. Roman
Phifer and Mike Vrabel are also versatile enough to play inside.
Seymour, who suffered
a thigh injury, should benefit from the extra rest. The break also gives free
safety Tebucky Jones's leg injury more time to heal. He's missed the last
two games.
Patriots Notebook/by Michael Felger
Tuesday, December 3, 2002
Bruschi likely out
Linebacker Tedy Bruschi (knee) is expected to sit out
Sunday's game against Buffalo, something that directly affects the regular
defense and also trickles down to special teams. To help fill the void in the
kicking game, the Pats resigned veteran safety Chris Hayes yesterday.
Nearly all of the Pats' linebackers play on special teams,
but the coaches may want to limit that work over the next few weeks as players
such as Ted Johnson, Mike Vrabel and Roman Phifer probably will be seeing extra
snaps on defense. . . .
Players will report to Foxboro today for meetings and
practice after being off since Thursday night. Tuesdays are off days for the
players around the NFL, but the players happily agreed to the schedule switch.
They will practice in Foxboro through the remainder of the week.
Linebacker's role expands with Bruschi injury
By
Howard Ulman, Associated Press, 12/4/2002 19:38
FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) Ted Johnson played one of his best games of the
season the last time fellow inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi missed a game.
Bruschi is expected
to miss the New England Patriots' game Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, and
Johnson expects increased duties.
''I will have a more
expanded role, but it's not going to be to the point (of) what Tedy does,''
Johnson said Wednesday. ''God didn't grant me with that kind of ability. I do
what I do and that's what I do.''
Johnson is considered
more of a run stopper. Bruschi plays a bigger role in the pass defense and had
two interception returns for touchdowns in his last three games.
Bruschi is doubtful
because of a knee injury sustained early in New England's 20-12 win over Detroit
on Thanksgiving.
''He's so much fun to
play with. His spirit is contagious,'' said Johnson, Bruschi's teammate for
seven seasons. ''I don't know how long this is going to be, but we'll do the
best we can.''
Johnson is the
Patriots fifth leading tackler, while Bruschi is third.
''On a personal
level, I feel bad for'' Bruschi, said Drew Bledsoe, anticipating his first game
in Foxboro since his offseason trade. ''But on a professional level, I'd be
really happy to see him standing over there in street clothes because he is very
tough to play against.''
There are two good
signs for Johnson.
In the only game
Bruschi missed this season, game three against the Kansas City Chiefs, Johnson
led the Patriots with 13 tackles. And in their first game this year against
Buffalo, Johnson had six tackles and combined with Willie McGinest for a
third-down sack of Bledsoe on the Bills' opening drive of the Patriots' 38-7
win.
New England and Miami
are tied for the AFC East lead at 7-5. Buffalo and the New York Jets are 6-6.
And Bledsoe is fifth in the NFL in quarterback rating, one spot ahead of the
Patriots' Tom Brady.
''The way they played
Miami last week was impressive,'' Johnson said.
In that 38-21 win,
Bledsoe threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson is coming off a decent
performance with five tackles against Detroit, most after Bruschi was hurt.
Without Bruschi, the
Patriots are likely to play more 4-3 defenses with Johnson as the middle
linebacker.
Johnson, who has
spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the Patriots, started only five of the
12 games he played last year.
This year, he left
the team seven days before the season opener against Pittsburgh amid indications
he wouldn't be activated for that game. He returned three days later and was not
active for it.
Before the first
Buffalo game, he said there are no hard feelings. He's started seven of the 10
games he's played and Patriots coach Bill Belichick has been impressed.
''Ted's just playing
good football all the way around,'' Belichick said.
Sunday's opposing
coach, Gregg Williams, has noticed.
''I've always admired
Ted Johnson's and Tedy Bruschi's play,'' he said. ''They always have some of the
top linebackers in the league.''
The healthy ones
Johnson, Roman Phifer and Mike Vrabel must contend with their former teammate,
Bledsoe.
''He's given them
some confidence in the future of that franchise, and, obviously, this year,''
Johnson said. ''He's one of the best quarterbacks in this league and his
leadership is unmatched.''
And his friendship
with Johnson and other Patriots endures.
''If we decide to go
out to dinner, this one's on me,'' Johnson said.
''Ted said dinner's
on him?'' Bledsoe responded. ''That'd be a first.'
Nick
Cafardo Mailbag 12/06/02
The more you watch Tedy Bruschi, the more you
realize how important he is to the Patriots defense. In the Kansas City game
that he missed, the Chiefs were able to score at will and part of the reason is
because the Patriots were lacking Bruschi's fire in the middle of the field.
Bruschi was scheduled to be out of this weekend's Buffalo game, and this is a
huge loss for the Patriots. Bruschi makes up in pure desire and adrenaline what
he lacks in physical size. That adrenaline is contagious to the rest of his
defensive teammates. It will be interesting to see whether the Patriots defense
struggles without that presence in the middle.
Injuries could make road tougher
By Paul Perillo (Patriots Football Weekly)
The 2001 Patriots had more than their share of injuries and
misfortune to deal with during the course of their magical Super Bowl season.
Most of their adversity came early on, lowlighted of course by Drew Bledsoe’s
chest injury suffered in the second game of year.
But down the stretch when the Patriots established themselves as playoff
contenders there was very little standing in their way. The injury list that had
been littered with key names like Bledsoe, Terry Glenn, Ted Johnson and Bryan
Cox was suddenly barren. In fact, in the final two weeks, New England listed a
grand total of zero players on its weekly reports to the league.
The 2002 version is shaping up a bit differently. While this crew similarly went
through its share of early-season turmoil — the four-game losing streak in
October at the top of the list — early indications are that the stretch run
might require some contributions from reserves.
December began with just two names on the team’s injury list — Tebucky Jones and
Tedy Bruschi — but both are key starters and their absences could be key. Jones
was listed as questionable with a leg injury heading into the Buffalo game after
missing the previous two outings. He was originally hurt playing special teams
against Oakland on Nov. 17 and has been working to get back in the lineup ever
since.
Without Jones, Bill Belichick was forced to start Victor Green alongside Lawyer
Milloy while using Antwan Harris as the third safety in the team’s big nickel
package. Their play has been solid but Jones obviously adds an athletic
dimension to the secondary.
Bruschi’s knee injury, suffered in the first quarter of the win over the Lions
on Thanksgiving, may prove to be more serious — both in severity and for the
defense. Bruschi took a helmet on the right knee while blitzing up the middle
and was listed as doubtful for the Bills game.
“On a personal level,” Bledsoe said before arriving for Sunday’s game, “I feel
bad for him. But on a professional level, I’d be really happy to see him
standing over there in street clothes because he is very tough to play against.”
In the first half when Detroit’s offense remained balanced, Ted Johnson ably
filled his shoes. But later on when the Lions went to a mostly aerial attack,
special teams ace Larry Izzo was forced into action for a rare appearance on
defense. His mobility made him a better alternative in pass defense than Johnson
but obviously he’s not capable of performing the many roles Bruschi handles.
“We have some pretty big shoes to fill there,” Roman Phifer said of his fellow
linebacker. “He’s made some big plays the past few weeks to help this team. We
have some guys that have to step up and we’ll be mixing up some defenses to try
to overcome that, but Tedy will definitely be missed.”
As perhaps the Patriots most versatile and athletic linebacker, Phifer will
almost certainly be asked to perform in pass coverage with Bruschi out. Izzo
also could be further pressed into service on passing downs to help in that
department.
With the stakes naturally on the rise at this time of year, it would be
unfortunate for the Patriots to have to play at less than full capacity. But the
players know the grind of the NFL season takes its toll and they feel their
situation is no different from most other’s around the league.
“The injury reports around the league are long at this time of year,” linebacker
Mike Vrabel said. “Mental toughness is very important at this time of year. Guys
are hurt and banged up and you just have to play through it. You have to have
guys that are willing to play and play well when they’re not 100 percent. You
have to have guys that can step in when players are down and not have a dropoff.
Regardless of who’s out there we have good football players who can help this
team.”
While Bruschi’s injury could have a negative impact on the defense, the offense
has enjoyed Troy Brown’s slow restoration in recent weeks. Brown battled a knee
injury that forced him to miss two games and left him at less than full strength
for several others. But based on his 10-catch, 111-yard performance against the
Lions he appears to be close to 100 percent.
“I feel about as good as I’m probably going to get at this point in the season,”
Brown said with a smile. “Guys don’t suddenly start feeling refreshed after 12
games. But I’m feeling better and trying to fight through it.”
A healthy Brown will certainly give the offense a boost as the Patriots fight
for every advantage they can get in the final month. Last season, good health
was only part of the team’s good fortune in December. New England was originally
scheduled to have its bye at the end of the season and the postponement of the
Week Two game at Carolina gave them an extra week off to rest while everyone
else fought for playoff position.
When the Patriots somehow captured the AFC East title and the No. 2 seed, they
got another week off during the wild card round and rested their weary bones.
“[Being healthy late in the season] is definitely important,” Brown said. “We
don’t have the bye week that we had last year at the end of the season. We were
pretty healthy in December and we have a lot of must-win games right now just
like then. This part of the year, if you’re still in the playoff hunt, it’s very
important that you have all of your players ready to go.”
The 2001 Patriots showed they could have success with a full complement of
players ready for the stretch drive. This year they may need to do it the hard
way.
12/13/02 Boston Globe Patriots Notebook
Tireless worker
If
Tedy Bruschi does not return for the remainder of the regular season because
of his severe knee sprain, it won't be for lack of effort. Bruschi is spending
countless hours rehabbing. He's still listed as doubtful ...
12/24/02 from Bill Belichick's Press
conference:
Q: Where's [Tedy] Bruschi on that?
BB: Day-to-day. Definitely
getting better, definitely improving, he was able to do some running this week,
ahead of what he did last week. We'll throw him out there today and see whether
that's …
Q: He didn't practice at all last
week?
BB: No, but in his running and working with the strength coach, with Mike [Woicik]
and with the trainers, that he's definitely making progress.
Q: Is he somebody that falls into
that category that it's conceivable that he can tell you that he feels like he's
ready to play?
BB: I think
that'll be a tough one because he hasn't played in almost a month now. I'm
talking about a situation more like Joe Andruzzi. Who's basically played pretty
much every week, there've been a couple weeks where he really hasn't been able
to practice, but by the end of the week he feels okay. And you watch him run
maybe on Saturday or Sunday before the game, and feel like, 'okay, he's
physically okay, he just hasn't been able to take the reps in practice during
the week,' but he's been playing every week. I think that's a lot different from
guy who hasn't played in a month, and then all of a sudden say, 'Coach, I'm
ready to go now,' that's a tough one.....
12/27/02 Globe Patriots Notebook
Bruschi doubtful
Tedy Bruschi was the only
Patriot on the injured list who did not take part in practice yesterday at
Boston College. The chances of Bruschi playing Sunday are slim, but Belichick
said the linebacker is making great strides. Whether that means Bruschi could be
a late add to the active roster remains to be seen.
Ask Nick Mailbag 12/27/02
Tedy Bruschi has done unbelievable work in trying to get back to form so he
can play Sunday against Miami. The linebacker has spent hours rehabbing his
damaged right knee. He didn't practice on Thursday, but Bruschi hasn't ruled out
the possibility of facing the Dolphins on Sunday. Given his energy and the
enthusiasm he brings to the team, his return would be huge for the Patriots
defense.
Patriots Notebook/by Michael Felger
Monday, December 30, 2002
Hurtin' for certain
Now that the season is over the Pats no longer need
to carry on the charade of Tedy Bruschi's injury being a ``day-to-day'' issue.
Bruschi suffered a severe MCL tear on Thanksgiving in Detroit, an injury that
figured to land Bruschi on injured reserve. The Pats were apparently holding out
hope that Bruschi would be able to return if the Pats went on a deep playoff
run. . . .
From Patriots Notebook
Nick Cafardo 12/31/02
... In addition to Brown, Tedy Bruschi(knee), Joe
Andruzzi(knee), and Mike Vrabel(shoulder) could have surgery, though
coach Bill Belichick said it was ''optional'' in some cases.
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