Tedy Bruschi, Patriots LB

Let's talk some football right now with a guy who plays that just a little bit joining us on the eighteenth -- hotline AT&T your world delivered. New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi hate -- you don't. Doing well are you guys. Great out here offseason.

They're good I. It was pretty quiet and so like the past couple weeks. And then now you don't hear in the in the news about the team at all but I just been relaxed enough that a little time with the family -- usual offseason. Situation at the.

Well let's let's -- before we get to Mike Vrabel would definitely want to ask you about that guys are close on the field and off the field. Officially what is your status for the 2009 season.

I'm under contract I -- contract and then in the process of training and get ready for the offseason program -- Is coming back. Absolutely absolutely I'll be back. I've been in this facility many times already you know -- with a bunch of the guys that are there -- a few things and you know the comport with the the season.

What was your reaction on Friday when you first heard the news that Mike Vrabel had been traded to Kansas City.

Well I got -- as the Braves himself. He gave me a call on if he was. On -- Kansas City that you know what went down and told me. You know it was it was great played together we sort of had not a farewell conversation but just. Minnesota talked about how it -- and what we've accomplished in. In Iowa. -- that it is see him go but. I think raised more than anybody and he's been so -- it to be involved with the union side note about the NFL and the way it works and how. Sometimes. A club and player sometimes at the part ways that he understood that it was. And was very excited about the opportunity Kansas City and in that's professional he is he's looking forward to his new opportunity we'll know. You know pat -- he expressed to me that -- no hard feelings or anything like that so he's moving onto another chapter of his career.

Tedy has said earlier this week and unless if you agree with this I said Mike Vrabel. -- one of those people he was a class clown and he was the valedictorian. All -- one you don't find that combination would you agree that he was the guy who. Who could make you laugh but also could -- something about football.

Yeah eight he he's. Has so many hats that -- wear and you know it was unbelievable how it. He can play a coach you can make on field adjustments how he could be a leader on the field I mean he could be the one that was making the plays that. That when the game whether -- on defense -- offense when he was catching. Football catching touchdown that the -- and and then going to the locker room and and say something that was returned stretched -- also absolutely hilarious that had the whole seems sort of the ground just sort of boosted -- reasons sort of lighten the atmosphere arc. It is so many things along with the guitar player representative. Along with it on the executive committee and he can hit so many big matches throughout the for the NFL. And you know Kansas City I hope they hope they realize what they're getting because they're looking at your --

All the that's at Kansas City is getting a lot. Why couldn't wait and hold onto him yet did you ever have that thought to yourself man you know -- losing so much there's so many tangible and intangible -- Mike Vrabel. While we move on from this guy.

Yeah yeah and -- know -- you know sometimes it would be especially I mean. Especially with the Braves our relationship my personal feelings get involved. You know why well one of my it my best friend throughout my entire career why don't we needed like that you know and you know not in my own selfish way. We hung out together he would undergo my boy you know you go one up somewhere else so. I get little I get a little upset about that and then I wonder well what happened how -- he could stay here and you know. That's what bat as a -- told me how this. This is what he knew this is what he understood about how this game works from. How difficult it is to just stay with the team. When possibly you know you feel one way and then the organization does -- in in you feel that you feel like possibly. Michael walked -- to another team with the west stay here and it organization feel you know maybe we keep given that we don't you draw the question that both sides have to. Cancer you know and and the solution for both of them was -- the move on. And why. I still don't know I still don't know because we've been rated. Is it that seemed completely changes you know completely changes but we've had. Big changes before the media is one of the biggest for me as a linebacker you know -- Mike Vrabel goal but. We cope with stated before that I think that will be able overcome.

we when we talked about this early in the week when we were both confused by it as well initially. Is it possible that if if the Patriots haven't worked out this deal with Kansas City for Mike. That they might have actually just Cottam and let --

I highly doubt that I would like I would I would doubt highly doubt that I mean. And you know for effort just to let -- talking about.

Just like we've seen so there's a monopoly that's the that's the rumor that's the speculation because they needed to cap space between Mike Vrabel and and Matt Cassel.

Okay that I don't know that I don't know argued it was assumed that it was my knowledge that as being a player and remembered or that organization that. And that's something that every player would say. He was very viable that the player has as a team leader and just to let somebody go like that I I would like to think that that would have happened. But the we're talking about what is that could could have been shadows and I'm sort of speculate right here myself -- that would happen but I don't think it would of and so I just I -- cancer addressed that to see how I would -- that would happen.

when you when you hear of a trade like this does that give you a sense of your own NFL mortality do you start thinking about after the initial shock of of Mike Vrabel saying I'm going to be wearing that Casey on my on my red and white helmet now. Have to get over that shock you start thinking about -- what it means for you and and how lot of -- this. Pro football game --

I think I've realized serve her -- 345 years now that he can't play football forever. And that was me going into my fourteenth year that I'm very fortunate to have made it this far and to have so much success that I had in the team. At what I've been here I realize this isn't going to last forever. You know I won't be playing football forever but I think the one thing that I I've tried to ensure that. When I stopped playing football that the last MLB where if the Patriots --

Now that the Mike Vrabel -- surprised all of us the Matt Cassel deal didn't surprise any of us. And I'm assuming the feeling with a locker room as one of happiness for a guy who worked hard paid his dues and is getting his chance now.

Yeah I figured I. I think it is about about the Matt Cassel situation that either way I think our team was going to come out ahead and also met was going to come out ahead because. Obviously when once he got the franchise tag and he got fourteen point six. He came out of hit it from from the situation he would then forbid a free agent and then make it make it a salary that was. Paled in comparison to what he was agreed to get next year so either way Matt Cassel was going to be okay. If he stayed with us. No he talked about kept cap implications of big number for having two quarterbacks like that but still we had a security blanket yes. If anything ever happened to Tom so I felt okay with that. But now that may have gone we still get something for him that'll help but be a better team hopefully this year and into the future with the second round pick. So and also Mets got his chance to finally be a starter going into the season in which. He hasn't had since high schools so I talked to captain. You know he's happy about this situation. I'm happy for him. And in the second round pick that we've gotten more I mean who don't who knows that that's that's more what aspect that we got a second round pick and we'll see that second round pick has got to --

And if you're a Patriots fan what -- told me was how confident the organization is in the health of Tom Brady and how good they feel about where he's at physically.

I -- I felt so good so good about Tom Brady physically when I was without work out since we're in the last year and it is -- last season with a with a knee injury that I was rehab and also Allen I was looking -- with. And at that point out. Tomlinson. He's even gotten better since then and I think ultimately -- the fans can really look forward to in healthy Tom Brady. Happy happy Tom Brady and but still. The really have a great season propriety one one 14 -- for comeback player of the year I'll mention.

I'll what are the things that that fans and media. Like about Jews that you're pretty -- view got up and on your mind usually say it and if he is elected -- said. Then you'll pass but let us this. How did how do you see your own performance -- where'd -- you see yourself as a football player. At this stage of your career going into I believe your fourteenth season next year.

Yeah well obviously. From where I am now 2 well what about. Three for four years ago or something that little bit -- you get to be 36 years old played inside linebacker -- you you're gonna get you're going to be a little bit different when you were playing. When US 31 or thirty or 29 or something like that but. No going into this next season that's still -- still just like last year that finally contribute to a team. -- I didn't feel like I don't have a ways to still contribute to this team on the field and invest in these sort of realized that it. That it's time to move on and possibly came about but. You know happens Iraq next to me a great linebacker also Geary -- guys that are they're they're -- comment about these great players for us. I look forward to be in to being in the game with those guys that contribute to this team I look forward to this fourteen seasons. At this season that we can make another run at a championship is. I mean that's that's all of really about now I mean I'm not on the applicants for 234. Years town road. I mean my going to be here for years probably not but you know run going to be there next year and I want to win.

just say 36. Yeah as a -- I. Okay -- if I had my dog does not realize they're hard -- not at all but. I think you've been playing football at 36 years of age amendment you were at Arizona and new album and I'm -- a -- and a one data bank. You'll be doing it 36.

Neither I think I think some guys. I didn't I I I looked at the NFL and can't influence on these guys that work -- in the league -- ahead of me in the you know Bruce Armstrong was -- is that -- I was -- Ben Coates was prevention was Syria. Keep buyers also had a year with -- so he had those guys that this they yell when they are going to beat them. That's something I really didn't think I really only he'd -- a rookie in trying to stay on the scene. I think that's helped me having the year keep your approach just sort of looking forward to the next year and that's helped me even now later in my. Rear where I'm -- now just looking fourteen -- fourteen applicants to 1516. Just popularized. Popular prepare myself the best I can't help out the team you're fourteen.

thankfully the number of seasons that you've been participating in the have not ended in playoffs are few and far between. But even Bill Belichick said after the season. This team might need -- rest I'm you guys played a lot of football games most years and last year you played a lot of on the year before this one. Was this one of those good news bad news here's for the Patriots in that regard at least.

As you look at it as a whole I think it -- I mean. Record wise we -- eleven inside but I don't care what you say you always want to be in the tournament at the end of the year want to have a chance to win it but. I thought we thought we had it well I felt we -- it well and it with the shut out Buffalo player. Playing great he effectively. And in the development Matt Cassell Cassell I thought we were hot. I thought we are hot you know possibly. Going into the playoffs now looking forward to -- it make the play out like we come back and play. You know help -- make another run but that you look at it and I mean count up all the playoff games he's had in the in the last two years you can ovals you could almost at another season. Under some of our era on the some of our careers 60s40. Playoff games of the quote it's that they're pretty high so. Working now with some guys in the in the offseason right now to him in the weight room -- like man the Super Bowl was even over and we were we are feeling pretty rested. You know and I think we're all is that it gives us get this chomping at the bit a little bit to come back for the offseason programs start here a few weeks. And to have that rested for guys to to rest those victims ate those bumps and bruises that you come back 100% it's. It's something you feel good about that to have this much time off but. You know -- it is it is very very straight.

Now what do you think Tedy got somebody knocking on your dynasty door here you guys that three titles and 21 century the Steelers have to. Are they getting closer who do we have a competition here for team of the decade.

What they've they've had they've had two successful these. -- won two championships and that whole organization. The Rooney family and ever since inception in though they've been even great example. Should be in the I have six I think it's six Super Bowl championships and that's. At the testament to their release and their organization but I think in terms of the last decade I don't think. That there you know they're there they're close but -- I think we've had we've had success that that still can't be touched you know the Steelers. Man it's for debacle vocal out there when the championship last year it was was a great accomplishment but I still think that. We can make another run this year that it worked great football teams still wouldn't come back even stronger. And you know coach Belichick -- done in terms of free agency entered the draft and he usually has even been when training camp starts in terms of bringing guys in. Things were -- win. And I think that of this decade not just this -- but the teenage years just going to be another example of what we can do it.

Today I gotta tell you this I wasn't invited to Tom Brady's wedding where you.

The dollars for I was -- I thought I had a ticket. You know I got that -- get them -- congratulatory text it and -- she shot back sat out Beckett is so I'm happy or unhappy more than. Knows what because I was in the airport I was coming back from an engagement in it was right around the time combat Mary's. You know of course what is there but it was very incidents for his family for his family so one guy in the airport sort of -- themselves like -- He come back from Brady's -- that -- sort of give him a look and said you know what yes.

I yeah. And it with a beautiful -- excellent -- the.

it's always fun to catch up with you again enjoy what's left of your offseason and we'll talk against him.

Talk against you guys that.

Take -- thanks Tedy Bruschi joining us on the eighteenth -- hotline AT and see your world delivered.