Bruschi wants to return if........

[Ras]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2009/01/06/bruschi_seeks_return/


Bruschi seeks return

If team wants him, LB would play a 14th season

By Christopher L. Gasper and Mike Reiss
Globe Staff / January 6, 2009


Tedy Bruschi signed a two-year contract last February, and as long as the Patriots want him back, the inside linebacker intends to honor that contract and return for a 14th season, according to a source with knowledge of Bruschi's thinking.

The 35-year-old Bruschi missed the final three games of the 2008 season with an injury to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. The source said Bruschi will not need surgery on the knee and that if the Patriots had made the playoffs and played a first-round game last week, Bruschi possibly could have suited up.

"If they played another week, he might have played," said the source. "If they played longer-term in the postseason, he would have been fine. It was never a surgical issue, just a feeling better and feeling OK issue. He has got no surgeries scheduled. He is feeling good."

With a lack of experience at inside linebacker - not counting late-season fill-in Junior Seau - it would make sense for the Patriots to bring Bruschi, who will turn 36 in June, back for another season. Bruschi will have a $1.9 million base salary next season and carry a cap charge of $2.6 million.

[3 Point Stan]

Special teams?

[Box_O_Rocks]

Tough call. More for his coaching than his play, he's worth the money. But if Cassel is Franchised, the team may need or want that cap room.

I'm expecting BB to bring in at least one rookie ILB prospect in this draft, I'd have to say that I'd prefer to have Bruschi in the offseason program and Training Camp to work alongside the youngsters to speed their development - this includes Mayo & Guyton. If the youngsters are all developing well after preseason, cut Tedy and hire him as a Defensive Quality Control assistant to allow him to continue working with the kids through the season while he sits on the shadow roster.

That's the best trade-off I can come up with being emotionally objective (now there's an oxymaroon!).

[Michigan Dave]

Pass.

[midgar8784]

Pass.

I don't want him playing anywhere else though. It still bothers me to see Mcginnist.

[Michigan Dave]

I don't want him playing anywhere else though. It still bothers me to see Mcginnist.

I'd rather not hang on to players past their prime who don't contribute as well as a possible replacement because of sentimental attachment.

[ParanoidPatriot]

As with Rodney, why not as a role player? Tedy played well last year before his injury. Guyton should get every chance to win the job, but Tedy as a backup is comforting.

[Spinal Tap]

As with Rodney, why not as a role player? Tedy played well last year before his injury. Guyton should get every chance to win the job, but Tedy as a backup is comforting.

I agree, there is nothing wrong with having a healthy Tedy Bruschi on your roster. I don't want him to start at MLB and take 80% of the snaps, but I do want him on the team, in the locker room, and playing in situational packages that suit his current level of ability.

We need guys like Tedy.

[CleatMarks]

I'd like him up in the stands cheering the team on. I can't justify paying a vet salary for him at this point.

[JD10367]

My take is the same as with Rodney:

1.) If he's willing to play cheaply,
2.) If he's willing to be a backup, and
3.) If we have no one better to keep as a backup

then I'm all for it. Let him come to camp and see how it plays out.

As we learned with Seau and Colvin, sometimes it's better to have a smart old guy who knows the system, than some other JAG who might be a few years younger and more nimble but be #$&*ing clueless (this means you, Deltha, and Monty Beisel, and the rest of the schmucks who've been here...).

[PatrietteAz]

My take is the same as with Rodney:

1.) If he's willing to play cheaply,2.) If he's willing to be a backup, and
3.) If we have no one better to keep as a backup

then I'm all for it. Let him come to camp and see how it plays out.

As we learned with Seau and Colvin, sometimes it's better to have a smart old guy who knows the system, than some other JAG who might be a few years younger and more nimble but be #$&*ing clueless (this means you, Deltha, and Monty Beisel, and the rest of the schmucks who've been here...).

BINGO

[pookie]

His knowledge of the defense is invaluable to continue to bring the young'ns along. His salary is only 1.9 mil with a cap hit of 2.6 mil. This is not a lot of money to pay for Tedy Bruschi. He'll get his snaps in the right situation and would be a tremendous role player and hopefully has intentions and ability to coach going forward.

[groganfan]

Pass.

Patrick Pass too small to play linebacker. :D

[harrisonhits]

And he should be welcomed back with open arms if he's healthy.

<<
I'm expecting BB to bring in at least one rookie ILB prospect in this draft
>>

I expect this draft to be just like last year's, almost all defensive players. At least 2 LBs and 2 DBs. Maybe a lineman too with the number of guys whose contracts are up at the end of next season.

[BostonTim]

His knowledge of the defense is invaluable to continue to bring the young'ns along. His salary is only 1.9 mil with a cap hit of 2.6 mil. This is not a lot of money to pay for Tedy Bruschi. He'll get his snaps in the right situation and would be a tremendous role player and hopefully has intentions and ability to coach going forward.I understand the issue. And as always it is value. I want Tedy. But folks smarter than me will decide if his: dimishing skills plus his "intangibles" ≥ an available back end of the roster player. But I hope he comes back.

Cheers, BostonTim

[Costanza]

My take is the same as with Rodney:

1.) If he's willing to play cheaply,
2.) If he's willing to be a backup, and
3.) If we have no one better to keep as a backup

then I'm all for it. Let him come to camp and see how it plays out.

As we learned with Seau and Colvin, sometimes it's better to have a smart old guy who knows the system, than some other JAG who might be a few years younger and more nimble but be #$&*ing clueless (this means you, Deltha, and Monty Beisel, and the rest of the schmucks who've been here...).

I agree.

[anderson]

a tremendous role player
http://i40.tinypic.com/2vbju6v.jpg

[Hawg73]

Bruschi finished 4th on the team with 71 total tackles in less than a complete season and held his position well, imo. That is twice as many as AD and a few more than Mike Vrabel. I do not believe he was targeted in any way by opposing game plans.

He isn't great in coverage any more (if he ever was) makes fewer big plays and has a lot of wear and tear, but I think he played effectively this season and could still be effective with fewer snaps and hope he is back.

Granted, we will likely be looking for more help inside, but he should be back for another year before he finally gets his image on the stadium wall at Gillette.

One more year? Sure.

[PSC_Pats_Fan]

At the very least, he would be a more-then-capable back-up.

His coaching skills and locker room attitude would only help the team as well.

The other players could also dedicate this season to bruschi, as this will likely be his last season.. Especially if he gets hurt again. ( God forbid. *Knocking on wood*)

I say, welcome him back! :thumb:

[Wandering Athol]

I think the emergence of Guyton gives the Patriots some leverage in working Bruschi's cap charge down before the season starts. I'd love to see the captain back, but I'm thinking the Pats will view his $1.9MM salary as a bit too high (although a lot of that will depend on their offseason plans and what actually transpires with the position during FA and the draft I suppose). Then again, maybe Kraft will step in and cut Bruschi some slack for playing under-market when he was in his prime. :shrug:

[Grumpy_Bottom]

My take is the same as with Rodney:

1.) If he's willing to play cheaply,
2.) If he's willing to be a backup, and
3.) If we have no one better to keep as a backup

then I'm all for it. Let him come to camp and see how it plays out.

As we learned with Seau and Colvin, sometimes it's better to have a smart old guy who knows the system, than some other JAG who might be a few years younger and more nimble but be #$&*ing clueless (this means you, Deltha, and Monty Beisel, and the rest of the schmucks who've been here...).
+1 I hope Rosie feels the same way after his brief stint "everywhere else" too

[Steve1]

I'm biased toward wanting Bruschi as a player on the Patriots next season. Now the Patriots are doing better at the linebacker position, than say in 2007, I'd say. The are some good youthful players with Mayo and Guyton; Vrabel is still good, and Adalious Thomas is in his prime (injury aside).

They didn't put him on injured reserve. That tells me that if they reached the playoffs, he may have (probably would have?) played. So the Patriots 'brass' and coach wanted him on the team, I think.

And while on the one hand, I don't remember more than one or two "Bruschi made a fine play" plays in '08, he was fourth on the team in tackles, even after missing what, 4 or 5 games (as previously mentioned)?

As I say, I'm extra biased toward Tedy Bruschi. If it's a close call, I say keep him.

The Patriots are slowly gradually losing some of the heart of those previous great teams. I don't want it lost altogether next season.

[TommyD420]

Pass.
Yup.

[TommyD420]

I don't want him playing anywhere else though. It still bothers me to see Mcginnist.

:confused:

What exactly has McGinest done since leaving? What kind of Free Agent Market do you think there will be for Bruschi?

Like MD said, Pass.

[Absurdly Metro]

I'd rather not hang on to players past their prime who don't contribute as well as a possible replacement because of sentimental attachment.

I don't think we have to worry about that as long as BB is coaching this team. If #54 is on the roster next year it will be because BB believes he represents the best value available for the money.

[king of kings]

I love Tedy but he did show his age this year. BB has a history of knowing when to let veterans GO. The Only way I see HIM coming back is as a Backup. At the Veterans Minimum.

[PatsFan00]

I agree, there is nothing wrong with having a healthy Tedy Bruschi on your roster. I don't want him to start at MLB and take 80% of the snaps, but I do want him on the team, in the locker room, and playing in situational packages that suit his current level of ability.

We need guys like Tedy.
Agreed. I think having guys like him on the team is a very underrated thing. As he's gotten older he hasn't been quite the same on the field, but he is still a Pro Bowler in the locker room.

He is the symbol of "The Patriot Way" IMO. A BB type of guy.

Is there a bit of a sentimental attatchment here? For me, yes. But don't underrate the importance of guys like Tedy in the lockeroom.

[DarrylStingley]

Tedy made some tackles this past year. But can anyone think of any BIG STOPS Tedy made? Can you think of any vintage Bruschi tackles for a loss at a key time? Can you think of when he tipped away a sure TD? Or even a sure first down?

The fact that he was 4th on the team in tackles doesn't obscure the fact that he is no longer a difference maker, is often a matador and the team seemed to play better on D with Seau in there instead of him.

Tedy, I love you, but please know when it's time to go.

[king of kings]

Tedy made some tackles this past year. But can anyone think of any BIG STOPS Tedy made? Can you think of any vintage Bruschi tackles for a loss at a key time? Can you think of when he tipped away a sure TD? Or even a sure first down?

The fact that he was 4th on the team in tackles doesn't obscure the fact that he is no longer a difference maker, is often a matador and the team seemed to play better on D with Seau in there instead of him.

Tedy, I love you, but please know when it's time to go.

Yep that said it all. I have to agree the Pats played a lot better with Tedy out of the lineup.

[TGIASM]

:confused:

What exactly has McGinest done since leaving? What kind of Free Agent Market do you think there will be for Bruschi?

Like MD said, Pass.

Ask Worthlessbooger that one. Maybe he won't remember though...

aside from that, not much.

[newsleepyjean]

As with Rodney, why not as a role player? Tedy played well last year before his injury. Guyton should get every chance to win the job, but Tedy as a backup is comforting.
I agree, too. Keep him if only to demonstrate his work ethic, determination and playing experience to the younger players. AND I believe he still has enough gas to make good plays when needed.

[newsleepyjean]

I don't want him playing anywhere else though. It still bothers me to see Mcginnist.As you can see from my sig, I miss Willie, too. :)