swflyers25
7-20-05, 5:12 PM
JIMMY GOLEN / Associated Press
Posted: 2 minutes ago
New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi will sit out this season because of a stroke he suffered two weeks after helping the Patriots win their third Super Bowl in four years.
"Tedy ... has declared his intentions to forgo the 2005 campaign," Patriots spokesman Stacey James said in a statement. "The Bruschi family wanted to express their heartfelt appreciation for the tremendous outpouring of support they have received from fans throughout New England and others around the country."
Bruschi suffered a mild stroke on Feb. 16, 10 days after New England beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in the Super Bowl. He has attended team meetings and worked out in the Patriots' weight room but didn't practice during the team's June minicamp.
"All offseason, we have seen and felt Tedy's strong and upbeat presence," coach Bill Belichick said. "As usual, we will keep the focus on the short term and address the future in due course. We are pleased Tedy continues to be part of the team and he has our complete support."
Linebacker Chad Brown, who signed as a free agent this offseason, said Bruschi has helped him learn the defense.
Bruschi not only was a star player for the Patriots, but he was an inspirational leader on the team, an overachiever who was an example to the players around him.
A 250-pound defensive lineman at Arizona who was converted to linebacker as a rookie in 1996, he was almost always around the ball, making numerous game-turning plays on a unit known for them.
Bruschi had said it was possible that he could sit out the 2005 season and return in 2006.
"Football to me, it's something I love and it's something I'll always want to do," the Patriots linebacker said last month at a party to pass out the latest Super Bowl rings. "But I've got to think about my wife and my sons and just make sure things are right."
Fox (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3775148)
Posted: 2 minutes ago
New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi will sit out this season because of a stroke he suffered two weeks after helping the Patriots win their third Super Bowl in four years.
"Tedy ... has declared his intentions to forgo the 2005 campaign," Patriots spokesman Stacey James said in a statement. "The Bruschi family wanted to express their heartfelt appreciation for the tremendous outpouring of support they have received from fans throughout New England and others around the country."
Bruschi suffered a mild stroke on Feb. 16, 10 days after New England beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in the Super Bowl. He has attended team meetings and worked out in the Patriots' weight room but didn't practice during the team's June minicamp.
"All offseason, we have seen and felt Tedy's strong and upbeat presence," coach Bill Belichick said. "As usual, we will keep the focus on the short term and address the future in due course. We are pleased Tedy continues to be part of the team and he has our complete support."
Linebacker Chad Brown, who signed as a free agent this offseason, said Bruschi has helped him learn the defense.
Bruschi not only was a star player for the Patriots, but he was an inspirational leader on the team, an overachiever who was an example to the players around him.
A 250-pound defensive lineman at Arizona who was converted to linebacker as a rookie in 1996, he was almost always around the ball, making numerous game-turning plays on a unit known for them.
Bruschi had said it was possible that he could sit out the 2005 season and return in 2006.
"Football to me, it's something I love and it's something I'll always want to do," the Patriots linebacker said last month at a party to pass out the latest Super Bowl rings. "But I've got to think about my wife and my sons and just make sure things are right."
Fox (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3775148)