Bruschi Retiring?!

Al Michaels just announced that Bruschi is retiring tomorrow. That is a disappointment after his harrowing return to the NFL after his stroke.

Vrabel traded, Harrison retiring, and now Bruschi. :(

<snip>

"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 Monday morning. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. The team declined to comment Sunday night.

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."

more

I wish him well

Mike Vrabel
Asante Samuel
Roosevelt Colvin
Ellis Hobbs
Rodney Harrison
Ted Bruschi

All gone.

Some solid players there, but the secondary is suspect until proven otherwise. They gave up something like 8,000 plays of 40+ yards last year. It can't get worse, but it may not get a lot better either. Or they could play fine. Who knows?

All those listed were well past their best playing days, except for Samuel. Hobbs isn't that good, so no loss there.

is past his best playing days. At least the Skins think so and they've got a decent defense.

But it's still a step up, and he can still make plays. The secondary was real ugly last year. Everyone thought Cassels would be the death of the Pats last year but he played great. It was the D, mainly the secondary, that killed them. How they managed an 11-5 record with that backfield is beyond me.

The team needed new blood anyways, and the D was getting up there in age.

Thanks, Teddy! :toast:

for the fact that he was becoming a massive liability against both the pass and the run.

He'll be missed, though--I hope he comes back and coaches.

:toast:

<snip>

"Though the specific term for characterizing his departure has yet to be determined, linebacker Zach Thomas is expected to end his NFL career this week.

The news comes from Adam Schefter of ESPN, who explains that Thomas will retire or accept an injury settlement from the Chiefs or be cut.

Per Schefter, Thomas is done "barring the unforeseen" -- a phrase that should be attached to pretty much every NFL player who retires, thanks to a quarterback with a partially torn rotator cuff and a cracked rib.

Thomas spent 12 years in Miami and last season with the Cowboys, where he appeared in 16 games and started 14 of them.

UPDATE: Agent Drew Rosenhaus says that Thomas won't be retiring."

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/31/report-zach-thomas-to-retire/