" Our family has only team. For fifteen seasons. And home. There's only one player now on the team who's been here for all five Super Bowls. And of course that's Tedy Bruschi. He. Holes a franchise record for most appearances. And post season games so swimming true. But truly embodies. Everything that we want the patriot ground to stand for. Hard work. Perseverance. And virtue. Virtue movement. And selfless commitment. To team forest. He's handled every stage of his career. With great class room. -- mindful. Of the example. Here is. Meant for the young people will come in here. Last year it training camp. This Jerod Mayo I was doing. And these. -- line. And just try and emulate Teddy Bruschi. And everything he does how he handles himself on the practice field. How he handles himself watching tape and how we interacts. With people. I think says it all right this. No for me personally. I have to lasting. Images. Tennessee both. One as a player and one as a slim -- And the player image. It's in our Miami game you know through which linkages. What is he set an NFL record taking forward touchdowns. Four interceptions for touchdowns and he went on he went into the end zone on his knees. With that ugly interception. What that did is that motivated the crowd to all of a sudden throw slow walked and was just great. Iconic. Moment thankfully new England sports than it forever will last and I memory and I don't know viewers. And the other image is down and Jacksonville. When a few hours before and in time when most of the players were. Spending a lot of time that lived in places on them. Doing. Difficult things bottom line. -- it was frolic in on the -- with threats and teacher. And for those of us who have children. And you wanna share special moments with them you know that just brought it all together and also will be another one of those. Lasting images that he has given up so. Well thank you for being the consummate patriot -- patriot. A true -- origin. -- always. We will us and be part of our family I know I know that coach Belichick would like to say a few words."
" well thank you ultra. You know I've had the privilege of coach in a lot of great. Players and leaders in the National Football League and now. On just put Teddy up there. Global. Mobile. There's no player. I think. Epitomizes -- what. I believe a player should be. On field off the field. Really every situation. And it's funny because face first year here was my first year in 96. One. They'll draft another round out -- element. All time pac ten sack leader. Coming in the NFL we're gonna make linebacker we -- only -- to do of them never seen him do anything but -- successor. We didn't really think he could do that at this position in this league and so. He became a player that. Transformed. Himself. From the great great college player into a great NFL player. And was completely different. And that's that's pretty unusual is pretty rare takes a pretty special. Pretty special got to do that. Of course all along the way. He heard too small. To slow. To this to that. And just kept getting better and better and working harder and and I work in and out compete and pretty much everybody that he faced the negative -- at school was faster backs bigger lineman. Big tackles. Athletic tight ends that he he found a way to to compete and more importantly win. In those. Competitive match -- And kicking game. And in all areas of the -- as defensive responsibilities and so. I don't think I've ever seen a player. Do what he's done really to be as great of a college player as he wasn't into the center to more than two. A great professional player in so many different ways but still bring in the same qualities. It's really it's it's remarkable six truly special. And done. The words I would use described Teddy. Again the epitome of everything you want football player. The two things that. That of all of his strengths that really stand up to me were. His instinctive ness. And began his passion. It didn't matter what what Teddy did he had a great passion for it was. Lifting weights. Sprint's practice. Watching film. Always upbeat. Always positive. Always working hard. But but he brought national level to the game that. It I don't care of the rest of us even in some of those times where. Marijuana. And a step back a little bit that are maybe things aren't going away we wanted to go. Especially like in 2000 season's example he. Was always positive and instinctively. He just. I don't know how to put it other than to say. He always did the right thing. It would be serious when -- Due to be tough. They went about golf and play smart. It when -- was screened. They went to strip the ball. You're gonna make the tackle. -- halt time classic toys. There's almost never play that you. Happens the way exactly the way drove off. But the interception in Detroit. On Thanksgiving. Exactly what it was drawn up. And this -- unbelievable there's there's never played like. And -- want especially defensively. Phone. We have we've got a lot of -- tell you not gone through a lot personally and professionally and we've got a lot of it's a man on man heart to heart talks. Some good some. It's -- Not so good. It's very very professional very honest. And what you see. Publicly and what you see in the media. -- that's what we get every day that's also. That's just that's awesome. When -- First came into the league and was working his way into a role in eventually into the starting. Every down linebacker every every employer all pro player. You know he he worked harder than anybody. And he was achieving success. He worked harder than -- And -- we've all overcome. We've all had to overcome something along the way. And let it be minor or or major. He always stepped up. That place and headed out of the park. The matter what challenge was what he had to do we have to cover who was trying to walk -- used to accompany that. And there's so many great moments from saint mall all of on the film there's probably 800 plays that could choose from on that tape and editors 1520 and whatever there are they're just. You can go on and on him I think the church play against Oakland interception Super Bowl. The Miami game the Detroit game. And and all the other players the players and nobody sees the kickoff returns the punt coverages. You know that sharks on the line of scrimmage. Instinctively on the field and and its thankfully all the field. There's just no way for greatest problem in the say he he always did the right thing. Whatever it was the right thing about moment. Seem like always -- I don't have. And ultimately. When we -- which. Fortunately we've done a little bit of that. At the end of the game. So you got the great presence to. Pull that team together. And there's only there's only you could do some -- everybody's feelings at that moment. How I feel light went on Monday night. How we feel about when and on the road. I would feel like about -- and the bye week with a big victory. How we feel about. Where we weren't that moment. And he always captured it perfectly. So. Yes. -- made some. I don't feel about papers in five seconds. It's perfect player. It's perfectly. He's he's helped create a tradition here. That. -- and -- And try to carry on. So our standard. So high standard. Probably everything he did. And felt that he's pay for all of us going forward. So were missing for -- is gonna be here and who's going to be around. I was always part of us."
" We'll still missing. Quote."
" I'm gonna try my best when it's from my best right now to describe to you. The way I'm feeling today. After thirteen years of football thirteen years NFL football. Thirteen years patriot football I'm retiring. That's."
" As difficult to say and it's it's difficult to do. -- appear before you say that. But. Over my career. I worked so hard. To have his day more of like a celebration. More like -- celebration because this would be so much harder for me. If there was more that I wanted to accomplish. If there was any more goals that were left on the table. I think of everything I ever wanted to achieve in this game. And I was able to achieve those goals now. If you want to talk about the one the one -- I did not achieve and that was that was when the fourth championship. I think that's a pretty good -- the -- to achieve. The mine after previous -- so I think we'll let that go. We've got guys in the locker room now that'll that'll carry that horse like coach said and hopefully get that can. All the girls I ever had I accomplished whether it was turned myself into a linebacker from the defensive lineman. We're winning championships."
" Every every hurt every player's career. Every player that's in the locker rooms career is gonna have a beginning middle and an end. And today's my hand. Today is my hand I can say that today."
" And you look back -- your career you just hope that you hope -- you have what you hope you have one moment a lot of people would have just one moment to sort of grasp and hold on to win. And say this was it this this was the one this was the one that I'll always remember. I'm very fortunate to have more than one I'm very fortunate to have multiple moments like that. I've had so many of those moments. Where -- winning championships there. I mean having a good time on the road with the guys you know having memories that you always forget -- and always that you won't forget things that are said experience is better shared."
" I spoke with. And I spoke with a lot of my teammates yesterday individually on the phone to let them know what was happening today and and to know where I was in my career into the one word that I use I found myself using this word. With with all of my teammates pretty much is for -- Fulfilled that fill with my career. Filled with all of the moments that I had. A feeling a feeling that. That man I did everything I set out to do it's a good feeling. To me this is this is a celebration today for my wife for myself. For my family. For my son's right now we're at home that rather of stayed home and play with their transformers can come and sit in the front row. It's a celebration. A minute I'm in a great place and a great place I feel great today I've told bill this October to craft this my wife knows this. But in the end where do you really start to really start to say thank you thank you for all -- probably help and support that. That you received over your career. And I thought well that's that's pretty easy where I start and I start with Heidi my wife. My wife -- here in front row that's that's that's been there for me ever since the beginning and it would it would have been a lot easier if I had your average everyday ordinary career but I didn't. There there are the highest of highs and or the lowest -- lows I didn't just. I think just coming here in and get drafted as a rookie play a little bit to do well -- okay today's your day. I had had a different career at a different career with that I. I think that's I had moments that in my life that we're shared in in front of these cameras and on that field. Where this with my kids are coming at a Massachusetts General Hospital that. I'll always remember for the rest of my life and and all -- new England and the fans -- remember for the rest of my life and Heidi was with me through all those moments."
" To mr. Kraft and the organization. I developed a relationship -- mister Kraft early on him."
" Career and I thought yeah this this guy's. He's a great owner he's he's he's great boss to have and I think at around 0505. Is when I really started considering him a member of my family. Good moments that we would have in his office and speak about you know decisions that should be made how things should be handled -- your life at this particular moment in time. And in -- that you know he always gave me a long time for a long time before coming back was measured nine times and cut once and this decision I've probably mentioned 900 times. And and today I'm using scissors so. Mr. Kraft. And he organization them active expresses sincere thank you. My coach my coach Bill Belichick and I swear that's where offered him my coach. My coach because. I feel like I feel like I'm nineteen -- and sometimes and I hear him speak. And I swear it's the same thing that I would say. It's the same thing that I would say I would I would come into certain meetings and I would think we're certain weeks that. This is a week where we need to do this this is a week where this -- babysitters certain certain emphasis points need to be made I always try to. Anticipate what bill's gonna save before he says I mean. Just sort of being prepared him. We hold a stick my head back there beak back in in in the back of the room because he's saying in the same sort of things that I I've already thought about going into that week's opponent. He's. He turned me into a champion he turned me into a champion -- how to play linebacker. And I knew how to play I mean Parcells came in Carroll came into it. I didn't know how to win. Until bill came here. He taught me how to win. He taught everybody in the locker -- how to win matches not to just go out there and play well. You can go out there and really coming out there and even though it has a patriot logo on you think they're gonna lay down. And you still got to play. Is still got to play and he taught us that coach."
" Thank you for."
" He talked about 800 plays that you could put up there for for what's. For what my career encapsulated they're a hundred things like talk about it thank you for for what you've taught me. Thank you so much for being who you war I hope I hope that I hope the people in New England realizing and it will realize what they have here. Who they have and head coach it's. I consider myself a football historian I like to read -- I like to see -- this game came from. You can you know and SM special that when I when I walk into this facility that office is on the left. I know that I better come ready to work in this in this guy is this guy's gonna have this team ready to win because he's. I mean he's out there he's up there item. I hope you realize that you have until I have stated that. He's angry and I really felt that a privilege to it to burn under him for all of these years. My teammates. My teammates I talked to a lot of them are talked to a lot of individual like I was sane and meant. Co workers teammates. And fellow coaches whatever you this the moment you have with neither. There -- analysts journalists and -- well I'll never forget them and I don't -- job the last few years and because I never was that I never was scared just look at somebody and say how I felt about. How if I didn't like you I tell you I felt about from a genitalia loves. It wasn't it wasn't that hard for me so I don't feel like I have a lot of lot of good byes to say because they don't know how I feel about them. But I think something very important that I suppose is about the fans in new England and what they've done for me. Like I was saying earlier I feel like my career was just different. Then a lot of other players and it's also different with my relationship with the fans. They saw me here come in as an underdog in and so many things I had to do to become successful to be a player first by. Vernon what -- drop was played linebacker I mean I had never taken a drop in my life and and said that after that talk about cover two was new to me I think even know where to go so. From start and there all the way to to become who I was in a contributor. And then a major contributor and a champion. The fans took that journey with me. They took that journey with me and and having a stroke in 2005. And and in my mind being retired. And then having -- come back they experience that with me too. And I could name I could name fans it's names to read that I have relationships now it. Whether he was eleven years old in my rookie training camp and I saw him three weeks ago he's Tony for a 25 year old man now. You know that. The fans that I that. That I had such relationship with that we'll still send me an email now and then I have I have personal relationships with a with a lot of them the support that they gave me is. Is if I can. -- every one of you individually I would that thank you for for the support that you gave me and and in times of good in the highest highs no lows to even their forming -- helped. It helped get me back it helped keep me up. And it helps the oppression or an appreciation that you had for me really helped me consider. Continuing to play in the year 10111213. Being a patriot my entire career I'm very proud. Fair account. I was my girlfriend he -- six we weren't married yet. And I got drafted patriots. And I looked her in her little apartment and I said he liked to stay with this team -- entire career. -- I was tired of player movement I was tired of coaches movement that was I was I was just tired of -- I couldn't keep track of my favorite teams anymore. I wanna be when it stays -- the entire time -- it what it encapsulates what what I have to do. I'm very proud to say that that. I think that the last thing I want to say is. Well. If I could just a couple a couple of us a couple of think he's I don't wanna forget."
" My brother Tony my brother Tony who. Giving you always give me those pushes when I needed him in and were very similar in people he knew when I was down in new and he knew anything particular but so. You know Tony thanks man. Guys and Bradley did a great job for me. And also someone who doesn't think -- I think a lot that's in this organization but it really does. Countless hours of work it. And that keeps us on the field this is Jim -- in his training staff. I know how could of the job he -- have to keep me on the field for for thirteen years in one piece. --"
" When you come in this facility. There's a sigh. There's sign. And the only thing the most important part of that sign. I read and I really don't golf but there's one part of it that I really think it's important and and billed as a great job always emphasizing this and you've heard him say it but it. It says do your job. Assistant job."
" I did my job for thirteen years. Now my job is done. My job is done. I'm looking forward to live in the rest of my life really. Thanks that you guys have any questions I'd I'd -- answer them right. --"
" I've had a lot of conversations with bill but you know certain certain things are only when he said in certain situations and and that's something you'll never hear during your career. In Africa so it's nice it's it's a tremendous compliment because that's always that's always what we wouldn't. That's what we achieved during the week when he gives us articles on office and goes on deepens goes on special teams the schools aren't always met aren't always -- but we still win. No we may lose the turnover battle and still win we may have fifty yards in penalties and stay away and so. You know that we're perfect is. It's something that's really achieved on the football fields for so perhaps in saying that means is probably the best company here in forgetting. Yes."
" The reality."
" Well. My goal initially come in with nicotine. And and having that background of of coming from nothing you know and and having the odds up against me coming at a third row after rounds of good -- are ridiculous. Bones school you know. Don't know that we're coming in here and still not known what to do you still have a doubt of MI gonna make this team. And that was always my goal so I can -- every year. I kept echo every year it just it just reminded me of where I came from a word came from and where you should always be. -- we -- in arcane means I was producing means -- it because I just referred to them because. And write down what this man says -- listened to everything this man says and we talk about -- We talk about. You know being a player he and he says -- certain things sometimes issue that you know -- for younger players you know that you know about a bomb making the team about finding a role on the team but."
" Throughout my career I always thought that apply to me. Everything you always that I applied to myself no matter what situation I was in. No starter every down he's talking about making the teams talk about final -- you had to redo that every year in that was my goal and so. Exceeding my expectations from where. -- the teens are continuing to be a part thirteen teams. It is it's is it's like I said you know goals achieved in and career for failed. Yeah what's next. Throughout this morning I woke up and put up the trash."
" So if I'm not real life real life on radio live life you know I'm I'm I think that's just who I am you know I I just. I'm just regular. I'm just regular whatever comes. Listen to it if I like it I -- if I don't know and I think that's just way you have to handle things but in the meantime I'm. I'm 36 year old father of three and I'm looking forward to plan that new role in my life. --"
" It's it's it's been that in my mind and I think it's it's just what's helped me realize this decision is just that I woke up and I in a little secret I can tell you guys that it. 36 years old. You realize you're getting older little bits and you know your body doesn't heal as quickly as it does you know you've heard all this before about guys and -- in your career you have to. You have to maintain a little bit harder a little bit longer to do a little bit more they usually have to do. You start to feel a little bit thin and like I said. It be it be tougher for meat to demystify it I didn't have so much that I've accomplished if I wanted to hang on and go get that championship I wanna hang on I want to get someone do that. Well I made sure during my my years went. I was feeling great now wasn't you know early thirties late twenties early to earth early twenty's I was I was given at all then. So right now at this moment I could feel good about us. And I feel great about -- We work all week for one day you know it's it's it's not baseball. It's basketball you know we have all those games so Sunday as Trulia a culmination of all the work. All the work that you put in during the week. And that was just sort of an explosion of passion for me to tell -- that to let that out and have that release and two. To be a part of of an effort amongst. A lot of men to go out there and achieve one goal I think I think that's that's what I miss most about Sunday's."
" But baseball story. And what they -- now we ended."
" My initial thoughts on the franchise was to tell you that's who I was grateful to have an opportunity. I think here with the stadium look like and -- what the field was providing care to a silver bleachers this was football I didn't need."
" I need patriot place back then all I need with the field that's all I need you know and it's funny that's my development as a player has sort of coincided this development as an organization. And how it's grown with the with the new stadium. And women who reports. -- now stadiums built and another one went in more and and with that my ability of a plane also progressed up that way you know so. The growth of this organization how to see it out there on route one is I I I correlated with the growth that I had as a player you know it's it's it it it just. It makes me feel that much more connected to the logo on the side of -- You."
" And my dad. Or the please please the base make things happen. Where did you find that it's."
" I I literally. Had a progression for myself coming into the league early on learn how to play linebacker know how to play linebacker now okay. Play every down linebacker okay now it's you know how to play every down linebacker be a big play every -- be a big play linebacker and make plays that changed games I've started to do that and then my next progression in my final progression in my mind was okay. A linebacker that played every down that made the biggest plays in the biggest games. Those were goals of -- that I set out to really make that progression as a player. And I early on in my career I want a really wasn't meant I was making plays but. As I learned and and you know main goals for myself and sort of you know projected those for myself that's what I really started started to think about those things are I know how to play now."
" I know what this what this defense calls for I know it inside and out now how can I make that for me. We're gonna get -- get that for me to be the best opportunity I can possibly have to make a big play and then make those big plays and that in the most important times in the biggest games. Yeah it. Sure sure I think."
" As as good as I'm going to be. Without them they're going to be just as good without me. There Jerod Mayo is a great player he's going to be a great leader. I I I talked to him yesterday and just so privileged to be around him for a year and a half and a no he's. He himself has the desire just to be good you know just to be good and that's that's great that's great that. From from the first meeting now all the questions that he would ask me you know how he would be next to me on the practice field and sort of -- my brain -- this was a kid that it had really meant a lot to. So. Gary Guyton. And these guys these guys friends of mine too I mean I got to form -- relationship to him Gary Guyton -- was the -- Thomas. Eric Alexander all of these guys there are ready they're ready to play there are excited about this season I think they're -- they're --"
" What about -- but. This case anyway that's what I would."
" Well you don't go and I had this conversation -- that you know. -- do and I had a great conversation yesterday and I don't know in my -- of that list was don't call me. -- that. I think back I think I think them if I was in a different situation there will be a different answer to that if if there was more that I wanted to achieve. You know to come back in and into more. That it vowed I would welcome that but. I made like I was saying I made sure during my career during my career when I was on the team when I did have at that that opportunity when I was they're playing every day. That's -- I made sure I wouldn't take my particular take advantage of my opportunity now. I'm not gonna I'm not gonna wish when I'm done that I did more."
" Yes I am SI am I think I think what makes this day a little bit more easy for me is that experience that I had in 2005. I think after that bad experience. Haven't -- it -- 05 after after the Pro Bowl was I was retired. I was retired I didn't think he was possible -- didn't the thought of of professional football after experiencing stroke I mean is that a statement here every day. It's not. It's not so that's something that I didn't think I didn't think was possible so to come back and and play four seasons after that. And to do to do things that I'd never done before even before the stroke I think prior to my stroke I had never I never led the team in tackles. It was I think four -- five times a second sentence in comparison court order but. I -- I did it twice I did it twice after that so those are those are small victories for me that really really told myself man I did accomplish maybe coming back in and playing good football for the team again. Yeah. Oh yeah. One other one of the play is -- that. That didn't have as much celebration as as the Miami play but to me. To me was. In terms of moments I mean how can you beat them moment you know for the Miami game from the AFC east if the if CC title of the division but. Then that play for me was indicative of where have I had come as a player because it was it was a blitz in I was rushing in which is what I always didn't college. But as -- as a Russian had to recognize the pass protection. And if you recognize that pass protection as it's coming to you you drop back and pass coverage which is what I've learned since being here. And so. As you recognize a good when and when you're driving back and ask congress look and read the route and see if there's a hot route that that that's going to be that's going to be thrown because you know the blitz is coming from the other side. Reading while you're in pass coverage. Another thing had to learn. So you see the hot now you -- look back you gotta look back and see if the ball's comin' because we think the quarterback's gonna to a because he has to because -- from the other side. This is -- the thought process that goes that goes on on that one play. I'd like to have said it's it's if you drawn up which you ever think it's gonna happen but maybe parts of bitter three out of four parts so. And that was the ball. And so when there's my moment of of making the plays that change games there was the final moment my final progression as a player. Reach -- catch it run for a touchdown."
" He says. The bills are you gonna become a champion what is oh isn't that what they teach you that other coaches --"
" All coaches believe they they know how to prepare. You know that's the word it yet here in -- is press conferences on the time we got to prepare me prepare your home and we just gotta look ahead and and there are words that are easy to say. But they're easy to implement your team. There there are ways of presenting presenting them your team their ways here. It different there the different ways players learn it either visually or on the field what type of -- that they learn it. Every aspect discovered here. And the way that. He prepares us to to win and that only. Be prepared for the opponent but how to conduct yourself while you're doing it. And how not to become a distraction to your teammates that a distraction to the organization to. Just focus on the one thing that's your job and preparing how to do it into it well. And when the situation presents itself and when there's two minutes in the game to do with them under pressure situations. We cover -- practice to so everything is covered here in ways that. Conducive to teaching a player how to win and we in the beginning."
" I think this is. My favorite and I'm so happy that I can answer this question this way the answer is no. The answer is no there is no one moment. I'm so glad there wasn't just one moment. There was multiple there was multiple and for me Ted Ted Ted and Ted talk about one. Which -- in the others because they go from. Those moments that are special to me. For the people that know me it goes all the way from the greatest that everyone thinks you're the greatest it to the littlest ones you know that. I by bill was talking these were prisoner of the plays that people don't know about whether -- the guard inmate tackled or something like that it. And I thought that was a great play and only the coaching staff and I thought you know no one knew what -- that was. -- pretty good -- It Ochoa. That's no the answer is no there isn't one moment on ever have just one moment them I'm very fortunate to have so many."
" Went -- I was a free agent and once I was a free -- one point one or two points but I have actually taken. Taken trips and I took trips to Seattle and Cleveland into Green -- Premium to me and I walked in there and so that's a -- from -- to sit next sixth I know wasn't on there. Let's. So that decision is easy but. It came down and you know I think people wanna move to. Change -- because they wanna they wanna fix their problems and easy way. You know it's either. -- discotheque in this situation like the way -- they they used to me -- and I think it's going to be better somewhere else I'm gonna try this place. When."
" I and I learned that I'd rather stay in one place and fix the problem that was there. Myself and it would it would feel more gratifying. I'd rather write this ship and jump ship. And that's that's something that I always tell myself that. To stay the course and yes there are problems in their relationships that you may have to deal with with certain people that maybe don't get -- fix. Fix it do something to make your situation in the place that you wanna be in better rather than running going somewhere else. -- more. --"
" Yes I do. I do. I've been here thirteen fourteen years in his it's it's the longest time that I've sort of been in one place living so. I talked to a lot of fellows I told I told bill mister Kraft. Be down the street. A -- down superior need to give me a call text me up here wanna get together fellas and the reaction I got where where were mixed were mixed. I have. You retired them. It's good it's a great day for me it's I'm -- a great place and a when I get congratulations from people it's I'm happy about that because. Today you know a lot of times receive congratulations on things and as far as -- thinks -- who won the game -- To receive congratulations today is is different you know I I really feel like this is this is the day that. We Heidi and I celebrate and for all the people that have said congratulations to me and -- wishing it forming I think you."
" Thank you right."
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