LB Tedy Bruschi's retirement Aug. 31 closed the door on a 13-year in New England that included five Super Bowl appearances, three Super Bowl rings, one Pro Bowl and an improbable return from a stroke suffered following the 2005 season. Bill Belichick coached Bruschi for all but three of the linebacker's three seasons with the Patriots, and the Hall of Fame coach was uncharacteristically emotional talking about his now former player. "I've had the privilege of coaching a lot of great players and leaders in the National Football League, and I'll just put Tedy up there with all of them and above all of them," Belichick said, getting choked up a number of times during his remarks at Bruschi's retirement press conference. "I don't know how to put it other than to say, he always did the right thing. (He) knew when to be serious, knew when to laugh, knew when to be tough, knew when to back off and play smart, knew when it was a screen, knew when to strip the ball, knew when to make the tackle. "He's helped create a tradition here that we're all proud of. The torch has been passed, and we'll try to carry it on. It's a high standard. It's a high standard. I'm proud of everything he did and the payout that he's paid for all of us going forward." 92//2009

Bruschi retired Monday after a 13-year NFL career in which he won three Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots and made a gallant return from a stroke.
08/31/2009