Dale and Michael discuss Tedy Bruschi's retirement

Even though it's not a surprise. Then that Tedy Bruschi is gonna retire because. At it the worst case scenario for you if you're big time Tedy Bruschi apologists. Hello -- but -- if -- if you if you really thought of I shouldn't -- worst case best -- best case scenario for Tedy Bruschi was this is gonna be his final year. I don't think anybody saw him playing -- beyond this season and he was starting to drop the heads and now that I look back on it. I think he was telling me. That. He was gonna retire before this season started I just didn't pick up the -- There are lots enhance. He'd already decided that he was gonna do patriots Monday this year -- which he enjoyed very much. And he decided he wasn't gonna do no explanation. I saw him here. Let you know I mean I spend my vacation at the fox borrowers or right yeah because that's everybody vacated the -- up on the hill shopped at patriot play and I'd imagine are not already well. It was kind of -- but couldn't afford the hotel on the hill so. -- of my time at the end zone nice way to -- walk and now I'm done that red wing -- red wing garnered that is so. Thank -- low shot out there but. I saw last week Andy's eyes that I don't. Know he said. Old. -- any anyone joking you know. I'm really getting old.

to have while you feelings I feel all right. But it's tough. It's tough to play at this stage dammit what happened in my news judgment. No patriots Monday the guy tells you he's feeling old the guys reflective. Last week. It in the locker room talk and everybody about his career. You put it all together. He knew he was leading up to this moment was trying to tell you -- tell me at least and.

I you know I've I've heard I heard Bob and and butch talking about this this morning about you know whether this was Tedy Bruschi decision or whether. He'd been shown handwriting on the wall by Bill Belichick and the staff that would be Belichick not staff but. And I truly do believe that if Teddy wanted to play this year. There would have been spot a locker and I -- uniform form any would have been allowed to play this year -- wanted to do I go back to Troy browns last year here. Where he put in. But one cameo appearance in the last game of the season but was on the the on the roster the entire season I think Teddy could've played another year he wanted to I don't -- wanted to.

Well you think about bill Belichick's guys -- your Bledsoe was on a Bill Belichick guy.

Put giving us some of the guys who work and who are Tedy Bruschi. Troy Brown. Willie McGinest is one of those guys Mike Vrabel is one of those guys Adam Vinatieri is one of those guys. He's never cut any -- right didn't resign Willie McGinest. But -- got paid in Cleveland -- didn't resign Adam Vinatieri did it Vinatieri got a great contract. In Indianapolis he was not gonna cut Troy Brown. It was not gonna happen. There was no way. Bill Belichick makes that decision we always sell it makes it tough decisions and all with the knowledge -- under that. -- wasn't gonna cut Tedy Bruschi there would have been a spot forum if you wanted to play this year now he may have encouraged him to retire. Or he may have said okay you'll be on this team but -- is. Is gonna be game to game basis don't expect to play twelve games this year don't expect to have 75% of the snaps or even 50% of the snaps. But it wasn't gonna let him go these are these are his players. These are the guys who have allowed him to be described as a genius these of the guys. Who have allowed us to say this little trite phrase that we have in bill we trust because the players like Tedy Bruschi -- brown -- Rodney Harrison.

I don't think -- and I'm not gonna sit here as an as the second. Tedy Bruschi apologist in the Rome I'm not gonna sit here and try to tell you he was the same player. Last year that he was five years ago or seven years ago right what he couldn't be all right and I know that he knows that you know that. But I do think. In some respects the slippage in his play has been overstated a little bit. He led the team in tackles. In 2006 and 2007. He was fourth on the team in tackles last year and even play the last four games of the year. You know he he he still have some football left in them but I don't think he had it at the level he wanted to to be. And I don't think that Chris Cooley play is the oneness that you -- there's OK that's it.

Do not I I wanna discourage you I am an apologist but I don't think the slippage in this play has been overstated. Is isn't is never been about numbers for Tedy Bruschi that's why only has one Pro Bowl. In his career because sometimes maybe the numbers don't match up with the other guys. Or Horry doesn't have as as many. It didn't have as many tech as many tackle as say hey Ray Lewis or somebody like that -- about the numbers when you think about Tedy Bruschi. Middle linebacker or linebacker. What do you think you think big place you think playmaker. I Tedy Bruschi has made so many big plays in his career whether it's stripping the ball from Dominic Rhodes. And that snowy game against Indianapolis. Then divisional playoff game when they hold the colts to three point whether it's picking off. Jay Fiedler. To clinch AFC championship and then we hear. -- roll part two in the snow goes and you wear an easy and he's doing his little dance in the end zone. Whether it's an interception return for a touchdown. Against the raiders. And against. The lions in the 2002 regular season they're right we Teddy -- do you think he always is in there making a playmate of of great play. And that raiders divisional playoff game 2001. Where they have to pick up the key third down third one he comes in any bust up the place so.

We'll make it really didn't make he didn't make. Those plays the last three or four year and making your point even further how many people realize he's the only player in the history of the National Football League. To return four consecutive interceptions for touchdowns. I mean that it you know your right he was a playmaker he was a difference maker. And I think he felt that he wasn't as much of a difference maker. I think he's got a lot of pride in is game he's always had a lot of pride in his game justifiably so. I will say forever that his return from stroke. To be not only a viable but a good player in the National Football League is one of the the greatest stories in the history of this late I mean it is he is a two time winner of the Ed block courage award -- You know he won the comeback player of the year for obvious reasons coming back from stroke. His legacy and he is his. His rap sheet here is on tarnished he has been he has been a remarkable player for this --

You know he's been a remarkable player for his organization and a remarkable represented -- and let me just be. Careful how I say this because I don't think. With all respect to Tedy Bruschi and end Troy Brown and all the other humble hardworking patriots. And and professional athletes in this -- yup I don't think any of these guys. Our normal. Finally -- normal they're -- they're not normal everyday guys you can try to be but once -- in the public guy. It and once you have you know 68000. People rooting for you what you have people wearing your Jersey. What once you make. The type of money that. 95%. Of the population can't relate to. You ceased being normal even if you tried at the back -- trying to be normal mean John all rich are not right but. As best as he could. Tedy Bruschi was as down to earth as you're gonna find anybody. Playing professional sports. I think all of them are on something different but he was different then the majority of professional athletes -- never. He he he was never he wasn't war anymore but he never forgot what it was up to be port his mother. And his dad. -- He didn't have nice clothes he didn't go he didn't live in the best neighborhoods. It's so. He decided out of at a young age if he ever came upon any money. You've got to be very smart with it. And he was gonna hoarded his teammates. Say that he's got a mattress velocity dollars in money that is hidden in a mattress somewhere when he. When he was drafted in the third round by the patriots. The one thing he wanted to do was to secure house you want to buy a house. And you didn't wanna have -- house that was beyond his means. He felt like if I get a house and I I take care of that. I can work at a gas station final make in the National Football League I can make -- can work at a gas station I can pay the taxes on this house and I'll be fine. As he as he said many times I wanna be in a position. Whereas say here's a check my get out of my face at a at a it he is the guy who doesn't. He just he's not interested in having three or four different cars he's not interest in having four or five different houses. Now he's got a nice house in North Attleboro -- Not outrageous. There are there are. Things in the house you we say are our most so bad now you don't say -- brought us is oh my god I've I've never seen this before he he gets pretty much what he needs. And it goes from there up a pretty interesting guy if some of you out there listening have met him before and you can attest to what I'm saying -- You mean you meet Tedy Bruschi. And you feel pretty good because you say to yourself well there are professional athletes out there. Who do get it and he got for the bulk of his career.

I wonder what's in the in the future for Teddy because he you know he's there he's right he's very articulate. He's extremely well spoken. You see opium Julius on TV last night one of his teammates who is also bright and articulate and well spoken. If Bruschi wants the media and event I would think there'd be up a door open to him somewhere -- be great that.

I think he'll do it the only thing holding him back from -- the media if he wants to do. Football analysis and studio work is the same thing holding back all. Professional athletes when -- first stop can you make that transition can you. Be critical and be honest about what you see. And and still go into a locker room -- like. You know an an an until I do have a relationship with these guys because of what what you is some some guys are very. Very touchy about this from professional athlete. You criticize them that's it. Your -- theory -- you're supposed to be one of us how could you go to the other side. What those bombs yeah -- say something negative about me but sometimes. It just it don't have to be negative all the time. But in situations come up everybody at home sees that something is. Something is wrong and that you're holding back it's obvious I think to Tedy Bruschi puts his mind to a he says this is what I'm gonna -- He could be he could be a great analyst. It Padilla he he had no idea. The amount of preparation. He put into football you put the same preparation into broadcasting to be up the charts. We all know that these guys down here watched a lot of film right you -- else Tedy Bruschi did. He used to. Started preparation on Monday. He go on the Internet. And he would find either that transcript. Of the opposing head coach -- press conference. Or a video. Of the opposing head -- just press conference because its velocity was they always give something away you know. So that a lot of these go to dollar Belichick. He said so I can tell by the way they they answer questions. You know what they're thinking or maybe they'll just give -- deal. Then choose this as part of his preparation and many go any breed opposing newspapers. Is see if they'd give away anything else and then he would get into the film study. So he was really. It was all the time hit the most of his time and most of his thoughts and his energy. Were directed to getting ready for that game and it's it's no coincidence is that we were just talking about it during a break. That some of the won loss records. For the patriots players. In this era and this three title error. Are off the charts Tom Brady is once 78% of his games to act as a as a patriots starting quarterback Tedy Bruschi. Has a 144. Wins.

during his career he's played in 211 games regular season and playoffs. The patriots are a 144. And 67. That's a 682. Winning percentage. And if you think that's good his playoff record. Is sixteen and six. Lifetime. He's played in five Super Bowl sports they've won three Super Bowls. It's a remarkable record here. And and I'll be curious to see how the how the organization talks about it but we we gotta talk a very early this morning were on the phone together and and I wondered. -- Bill Belichick be there today will Bob Kraft be there today and I and I have no idea.

This is definitely about crafts day this is a Bill Belichick there wouldn't be surprised if if a lot of his teammates are there as well. As as we look at this thing. What are off season it's been for the patriots. They've lost in one offseason. Rodney Harrison. Tedy Bruschi. And Mike Vrabel. That's a lot of leadership going out the door in one don't give these all these guys were here last year -- and they weren't all on the field right all of these guys are patriots last year. And now going into the 2009 season none of will be here but with the retirement of these guys I think we've we've got. We've gotten a lesson in in what it takes. To have a championship team like Tom Brady is it is a superstar.

Running Harrison may go to the Hall of Fame but for the bulk of his career he was not in his mind at least. He was not described as a superstar Tedy Bruschi was not a superstar outside of New England. And Mike Vrabel wasn't either. These guys came until league. To not not necessarily through the backdoor but through the side door yeah. You know Mike Vrabel in the second round Tedy Bruschi in the third round Rodney Harrison there's no later than that. All would be considered over achiever I was just gonna say. And it is silly. Now it it it isn't silly the way we -- we talk about the draft today I -- diaper. On draft day -- this guy's a bigtime talent he's this he's there is a playmaker. If if Tedy Bruschi were coming out today we don't know if we don't know. What we know now we go back to 1996 he's coming out today is a guy -- undersized. He can help you as a role player I don't think you'll ever be a full time player. If if Mike Vrabel is coming out now this guy is a bit of between her I don't know I have a position in the league. Rodney Harrison played at a small school western Illinois what he really got to contribute. In all these guys -- championship players you needed them to win championships.