Patriots' Bruschi to announce retirement after 13 seasons

[Tenshot13]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d812455f9&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true

Guess the poor man's Zach Thomas decided to call it quits.

[Pats2006]

Dam.. one of my fav pats players.   



vs. miami (Bruschi takes a pick in to the end zone for a TD)

[SportsChick]

I'm one very sad Pats fan today. The season will begin without my two favorite players - Tedy and Vrabel.

Tedy was a pro who played 110% on every play. Enjoy retirement Tedy.

[Defense54]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d812455f9&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true

Guess the poor man's Zach Thomas decided to call it quits.

I agree, but at least Ted retired a Patriot.   Say what you want about Bill Belichick, even after the stroke scare he didn't can him.  I DO NOT like the way Thomas was treated here . I wish Bruschi the best. Hell of a competitior.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I agree, but at least Ted retired a Patriot.   Say what you want about Bill Belichick, even after the stroke scare he didn't can him.  I DO NOT like the way Thomas was treated here . I wish Bruschi the best. Hell of a competitior.

Actually Thomas did it to himself.  Although Parcells released him, he's the one who insinuated it by pulling up his parking sign when he came to clean out his locker.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

He is the anti- Favre.

Favre retires and then delays unretiring to avoid training camp.

Bruschi gives it a 100% in training camp and then retires. 

[Defense54]

He is the anti- Favre.

Favre retires and then delays unretiring to avoid training camp.

Bruschi gives it a 100% in training camp and then retires. 

Good point. I guess after training camp he just felt he didn't have 100% to give anymore.
Thats gotta be a tough thing to handle.

[Defense54]

Actually Thomas did it to himself.  Although Parcells released him, he's the one who insinuated it by pulling up his parking sign when he came to clean out his locker.

Thats got shit to do with it. Channing crowder was wayyyyy more insinuating going into the off season and he stayed. 

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Thats got shit to do with it. Channing crowder was wayyyyy more insinuating going into the off season and he stayed. 

What did he do going into that offseason that would've drawn the ire of the coaches? 

I know a lot of players lost respect for Coach Cameron and acted out in an unprofessional manner.  I'm sure interviews with all the players were held before they decided who to release.

[jtex316]

Poor Man's Zach Thomas my ass.

Thomas made big plays in meaningless games. Bruschi made the biggest plays in the biggest games. Bruschi > Blockhead.

[Brian Fein]

We were discussing the possibility that this was a "forced" retirement.  Like:

"Hey, Tedy, you just don't have it anymore, I got 3 or 4 guys playing better football than you.  Since people love you, ya might wanna bow out gracefully before we cut your ass..."

Retiring the day before roster cuts makes me think that it wasn't really his choice.

I could be wrong, though...

[Defense54]

Either way he goes out in class. Good for him.

Zack made a lot of people happy every Sunday when we had NOTHING to be happy about. I still hope when its over for him he comes back for a day and retires a Dolphin.

[JVides]

Man, I couldn't stand this guy.  Killed us constantly and seemed like such a good person, too.  What an awful combination, because I couldn't stand him, but felt kinda bad for hating his guts...

[Defense54]

 

author=Tommy link=topic=15106.msg174711#msg174711 date=1251737813]
What did he do going into that offseason that would've drawn the ire of the coaches? 
 

You kidding? Everyone was surprised Miami even resigned him.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/12/31/1231crowder.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=46

We were all wondering who was going to take up his slack and many thought he wasn't that great anyway.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

We were discussing the possibility that this was a "forced" retirement.  Like:

"Hey, Tedy, you just don't have it anymore, I got 3 or 4 guys playing better football than you.  Since people love you, ya might wanna bow out gracefully before we cut your ass..."

Retiring the day before roster cuts makes me think that it wasn't really his choice.

I could be wrong, though...

Both Bruschi and Belichick claim it was entirely Tedy's choice.  But we will never know for sure.

Either way it was a classy exit.  If it wasn't his choice, then BB did the right thing by giving him the option to retire and go out honorably instead of cutting him.  And Tedy isn't running to Rex looking for a job to prove BB wrong.