Posted on 08/31/2009 5:12:29 AM PDT by mainepatsfan
Reports: Bruschi to retire
ESPN.com news services
BOSTON -- Tedy Bruschi is retiring after a 13-year career marked by an inspiring return to the New England Patriots as a starting linebacker eight months after a stroke.
A person familiar with his decision told The Associated Press that the 36-year-old Bruschi will announce his retirement at a news conference at 10:45 a.m. ET on Monday morning at Gillette Stadium. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. The team declined to comment Sunday night.
The decision was first reported by Al Michaels during NBC's Sunday night Bears-Broncos telecast.
Bruschi played on all three Super Bowl-winning Patriots teams. The last championship game was on Feb. 6, 2005, against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ten days later he was hospitalized after experiencing numbness in his left arm and left leg and blurry vision and was diagnosed with a mild stroke.
Bruschi's play declined last season and he missed much of this year's training camp for undisclosed reasons.
A third-round draft choice out of Arizona in 1996, Bruschi worked his way up from a part-time player and member of special teams units to full-time starter in 1999.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
IMHO, he should have retired after his stroke. To put his life on the line after that was plain dumb..
He went to several doctors after his stroke and everyone of them told him the exact same thing...playing football would not increase his chance of having another stroke. If there was even the slightest risk he would have retired then and there.
Saves the embarrassment of being cut or having to cut a fan favorite..
I know, but still..
Go Pats! 
The docs cleared him, but he’s been a liability for the team for a couple of seasons. I love the guy, but he hung around too long.
It won’t be the same with out Brewski!!!
2 years ago should have been it.
2 years ago sounds right. But no one can ever question his drive and determination to play the game.
I wouldn’t doubt he had to sign some sort of waiver that would have barred him from suing the team if God forbid something bad had happened again...
Just saw this on ESPN news. Too bad.
The good news is he’ll probably stay retired.
bttt
No real surprise here.
Thanks for the memories, Tedy, and for your drive, your passion for the game, your perseverance ... all the qualities that made you a fan favorite. May you have a long, enjoyable retirement.
No, Tedy, it is just the beginning of another chapter.
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