Tag: Tedy Bruschi

Ty Law shares hilarious story of Tedy Bruschi helping him skip huddles

Ty Law credits Patriots legend Tedy Bruschi for his Hall of Fame journey

The New England Patriots’ defensive units in the 2000s were some of the best in the organization’s history.

Several players made that defense unstoppable, including the likes of Hall of Fame cornerback Ty Law and linebacker Tedy Bruschi. Law told a funny anecdote about Bruschi in an episode of Julian Edelman’s “Games with Names” podcast.

Law was a tremendous corner for the Patriots throughout the course of his career, tallying 36 interceptions in 10 seasons with the team. Bruschi was a stout linebacker in his own right, as he was able to record 1,074 tackles over a 13-year career.

Perhaps more than their statistical accolades, the ability of Bruschi and Law to play off each other was impressive. Law told the story of how Bruschi made his life a bit easier in terms of coverage. The linebacker would often call Cover 2 plays to benefit Law, who was winded from lockdown coverage.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today as a Hall of Famer without that damn Tedy Bruschi,” said Law. “Know why? I didn’t know what in the hell was going on. I’m like, ‘Who I got? Give me him.’ Bruschi would be like, ‘Hey Ty, you got him’ or ‘We’re doing this.’ Because I would never come into the huddle. If you watch the old films, you would never see me go in the huddle when everybody run back to it. Dammit, I’m too tired. I just ran nine routes because people would always just run you off.”

The synchronicity of the two is certainly impressive, and it evidently worked on the field. Those Law and Bruschi-led defenses are a big reason why the Patriots won their first three Super Bowls.

Tedy Bruschi questions Patriots’ future with Bill Belichick at helm

Tedy Bruschi thinks Patriots owner Robert Kraft has to start considering the possibility of moving on from Bill Belichick.

Former New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi believes time might be up for Bill Belichick as Patriots coach.

Bruschi was a part of the better years for New England, winning Super Bowls in 2002, 2004 and 2005. He enjoyed a stellar career with the team, recording 1,065 total tackles and 30.5 sacks in his career. His best season came in 2003, when he recorded 131 tackles on the year.

Simply put, he knows what it takes to win in the NFL. Lately, Belichick and the Patriots have not done much of that. They currently sit at 1-5 and rank near the bottom of the NFL.

Bruschi appeared on ESPN’s “Get Up” on Monday morning and made his case for Belichick to retire.

“I think Bill Belichick is considering it, and I think Robert Kraft is the one who has to start to consider—is it time to move on?” asked Bruschi. “Because right now, if they get a top-five pick, Mr. Kraft has to decide if Bill is the right one to take one of those three, four quarterbacks, whatever it may be that you can possibly get, and if he wants to start over with Bill. That’s Mr. Kraft’s decision.”

These are certainly strong statements, given that Bruschi has been a supporter of the Patriots during his career as an analyst.

Nevertheless, it could very well be time for a change, as New England continues to lose football games. Things won’t get any easier with the Buffalo Bills coming to town for a visit in Week 7.

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54 days till Patriots season opener: Every player to wear No. 54 for New England

Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 54 jersey number

There are 54 days before the New England Patriots kick off their regular season opener. So we’re continuing our countdown series by listing every Patriots player that has ever worn the No. 54 jersey.

The two names that jump out in relation to that number are Patriots Hall of Famer Tedy Bruschi and a surefire future inductee, Dont’a Hightower. Both legendary linebackers spent their entire careers with the Patriots organization and won three Super Bowls each.

They’ve also both had at least one All-Pro nod.

More importantly, they have forever endeared themselves to Patriots fans by coming up with some of the biggest plays in franchise history. Who could ever forget Hightower’s strip sack on Matt Ryan to help New England complete the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history at Super Bowl LI?

And what about the epic stadium snow celebration, following Tedy Bruschi’s game-cinching interception against the Miami Dolphins in 2003?

The No. 54 holds some truly great memories in the Patriots’ organization. Here’s every player that has worn the number throughout franchise history (via Pro Football Reference):

Tedy Bruschi sees a change in Bill Belichick, and not the good kind

Tedy Bruschi was completely shocked by Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s latest comments.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick caught people by surprise with his latest comments at the NFL annual meeting on Monday, including ESPN analyst and former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

When fielding questions from media members, he pointed to the last 25 years as a reason Patriots fans should feel optimistic about the future. It was a rare flex from the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach.

This wasn’t the “on to Cincinnati” version of Belichick fans had grown accustomed to seeing. That remark came from a coach that seemed annoyed at the way his legacy was being picked apart and questioned by outsiders.

And yet, the fact remains that Belichick and the Patriots haven’t won a playoff game since Tom Brady was under center at quarterback. They’ve also missed the playoffs in two of their last three seasons.

This is not the New England team of old, and some cracks are starting to show from arguably the greatest coach of all time.

“Right now, Coach Belichick is off-message,” said Bruschi, when appearing on “Get Up” on Tuesday. “That is something that his players shouldn’t hear — that he is basing some optimism to fans on ‘what I’ve done in the past 25 years.’ I don’t know if I’ve ever heard Bill mention something like that in terms of his whole body of work.

“It was surprising to me. I don’t know what’s going on in that locker room now, but players can hold coaches accountable. I’ve done it with Bill before when he said things postgame or during the week that I did not like, and we had discussions in captains meetings or after games or whatever. But I’m not in that locker room anymore. I’m hearing it, and I’m just surprised because that is not the Bill Belichick that I know.”

Despite all of the struggles in 2022, Belichick has operated like it’s a business as usual approach. If you didn’t know any better, by the way he conducts his media conferences, you’d think it was 2018 and the Patriots were still a perennial Super Bowl contender.

That might have worked when the Patriots were winning football games, but losing changes everything.

Even owner Robert Kraft sent out a letter to season ticketholders promising changes moving forward. As great as Belichick has been as a coach, he still has yet to prove he can make a run without Brady.

It’s hard to lean on the last 25 years of work if the general consensus is that the quarterback was in the driver’s seat and Belichick was riding shotgun all along.

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Tedy Bruschi implores Patriots to make trade for this playmaking WR

Tedy Bruschi wants the Patriots to go after this rising star receiver.

Former New England Patriots linebacker and current ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi is lobbying for the organization to make a trade for a star receiver.

Bruschi wants to see Tee Higgins in New England.

Higgins is coming off a third NFL season that saw him record 74 catches for 1,029 yards and seven touchdowns. The yardage numbers were slightly down from a 2021 season which saw him record 1,091 yards and six touchdowns. Higgins helped form a dynamic duo with Ja’Marr Chase in Cincinnati, as the Bengals made it to the AFC Championship Game for the second year in a row.

Higgins had over four games with 100-plus receiving yards in 2022, as he was able to stretch the field for the Bengals.

Bruschi emphatically believes the Patriots should make a move for him, per CLNS Media’s Mike Kadlick.

Higgins would immediately provide an upgrade to a Patriots wide receiver room desperately searching for a No. 1 wideout. It could be a game-changer to see him work in a new Patriots offense led by Bill O’Brien.

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Tedy Bruschi: Giants’ Nick Gates deserves Comeback Player of the Year

Tedy Bruschi, who knows something about making miraculous comebacks, thinks Giants OL Nick Gates deserves Comeback Player of the Year.

New York Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates beat impossible odds to play again this season after he shattered his leg last year in what many felt was a career-ending injury.

Gates has gotten little attention when it comes to the Comeback Player of the Year, however. As the season has gone on, that has changed a bit.

There is a sudden groundswell of support for Gates as the Giants are once again in the playoffs and his story is becoming more well-known.

You can add ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi — the former New England Patriots linebacker who himself won the award back in 2005 — as another heavyweight in Gates’ corner.

Bruschi suffered a stroke early in 2005 but battled back to play midway through the season. His endorsement alone holds a lot of weight but it may not put Gates over the top for the award.

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Tedy Bruschi calls out former teammate for Bill Belichick comments

Tedy Bruschi thinks his former teammate’s dig at Bill Belichick was “ridiculous”

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has faced plenty of criticism for his handling of the team—some warranted and some that seems to go a bit too far off the deep end.

Former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel’s recent comments fall in the latter category.

Following the Patriots’ embarrassing blowout loss at home to the Chicago Bears, Samuel called Belichick an “average coach” without Tom Brady on social media. It was a harsh jab at a coach coming off a season where he took the team to the playoffs with a rookie quarterback under center.

Former longtime Patriot Tedy Bruschi chimed in and laughed off Samuel’s comments as “absolutely ridiculous.”

An argument could be had regarding the person most responsible for the success the Patriots had for nearly two decades with the greatest quarterback and greatest coach of all time paired together in the same place.

But it’s obvious neither man would have had the same level of success without the other. It was the perfect storm that should be celebrated as a whole and not attacked separately.

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ESPN analyst, former NFL great talks ‘underrated’ Renfrow

Former Clemson star Hunter Renfrow is getting ready to play in a big primetime game on Sunday night when the Las Vegas Raiders (9-7) battle the Los Angeles Chargers (9-7) in Las Vegas. On ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, the analysts discussed the …

Former Clemson star Hunter Renfrow is getting ready to play in a big primetime game on Sunday night when the Las Vegas Raiders (9-7) battle the Los Angeles Chargers (9-7) in Las Vegas.

On ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, the analysts discussed the Raiders-Chargers matchup (8:20 p.m., NBC) that carries playoff implications and marks the final game of the NFL regular season.

ESPN NFL analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion Tedy Bruschi was asked if the Raiders’ game plan should be to stick to the run game and then try to hit tight end Darren Waller.

“He’s going to help out a lot,” the longtime New England Patriots linebacker and Patriots Hall of Famer said. “But there’s one guy that you can’t forget about — and a lot of people do — and that’s Hunter Renfrow.”

Bruschi then broke down tape of Renfrow and talked about the receiver’s uncanny ability to get open, especially on third downs when the chains need to be moved.

“I mean, the saying, it’s ‘Third-and-Renfrow.’ This guy gets it going,” Bruschi said. “I’ve got a couple plays here to show you of him on third down and why he’s so difficult. You see him in the bunch formation. (Raiders quarterback Derek) Carr isn’t even looking his way, but he feels and he always knows where to be. He senses the trouble, boom, takes off. Carr now sees him, jump pass to him here, and he finds a way to get open for his quarterback, especially on third down like that third-down conversion right here.”

Renfrow has had a career year in his third NFL season. In 16 games heading into Sunday night’s clash with the Chargers, the 2019 fifth-round draft pick has racked up 99 catches on 123 targets for 1,025 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions, all career highs.

Still, Bruschi believes Renfrow is underrated considering what he brings to the table as a playmaking slot receiver with his route running and craftiness to pick up yards after the catch.

“I don’t know how you play man coverage on him,” Bruschi said. “Stop, go, stop, boom — wide open, third-and-short. Oh yeah, by the way, you need me to come off my coverage, try to make a tackle. No, you can’t do that either. This guy is slippery, this guy is underrated… Waller is going to help, yes. Third-and-Renfrow, you’ve got to stop him.”

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Tedy Bruschi has sensible theory about Tom Brady’s Patriots departure

Tedy Bruschi has an interesting theory about Tom Brady’s departure from the Patriots.

With Tom Brady’s highly-anticipated return just days away, it has renewed speculation as to why Brady left the New England Patriots organization. Former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi has a theory of his own.

Spending 13 seasons in the Patriots organization, Bruschi got to know the tendencies of both Brady and Belichick quite well. He would go on to record 1,110 tackles 30.5 sacks and 12 interceptions in 189 games played.

Bruschi knows the value Belichick places on his players, and has an idea of when Belichick believes it is time for both parties to move on. Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 on a two-year, $50 million deal. He won a Super Bolw in his first season with the team.

Here’s Bruschi’s perspective on the situation:

“I think he (Belichick) had this feeling of what happens to a quarterback when he’s 43, 44, 45,” Bruschi said Wednesday on NBC Sports Boston’s “Early Edition.” “Could anybody project what they could have seen from Tom Brady’s season last year when he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a  Super Bowl? It would have been extremely hard to do.”

Bruschi added: “I would like to have seen maybe Tom still being here, but the formula that is Bill Belichick, he projects. His formula was moving on from Tom Brady. You’re talking about a man that doesn’t change his ways. There’s a formula that he believes in and he will stick to.”

With Tom Brady winning a Super Bowl and his first season with Tampa Bay, it goes to show that Belichick’s formula is a bold one.

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Bill Belichick appreciates having Tedy Bruschi at practice: ‘I’ve learned a lot from him’

Bill Belichick enjoys insight from Tedy Bruschi.

With training camp in full swing, several for the New England Patriots, players have been present for some of the practices. Count Tedy Bruschi among those who have visited. Tuesday, risk he was spotted at Patriots practice.

In speaking to the media on Tuesday, head coach Bill Belichick indicated that he liked having former players at `practices. As Belichick noted, Bruschi was an important part of the New England Patriots linebackers group for several years. Last week, linebackers coach Jerod Mayo talked about how much the veteran impacted his career.

As for Belichick, he always enjoys listening to Bruschi  talk about the game.

“Look, we’re happy to have all players come back. We welcome them back,” Belichick said on a video conference call. “We’ve had several and I’m sure we’ll have more. So we’re always happy to see those guys. Tedy especially obviously had a great career here. Was a very, not only good player, but inspirational player and had a lot of leadership. I know that our players — both our veteran players and our younger players — have enjoyed talking to him. As the coaches, Tedy brings a great perspective on his playing career, a new generation of players and other things that he’s experienced.

“So I always enjoy talking to Tedy. I’ve learned a lot from him. Our conversations this year — and we talk at other points during the season as well from time to time — but his insight is always valuable and he has a great perspective and a lot of insight that I appreciate.”

Bruschi played for the Patriots for 13 seasons, hanging at the cleats in the summer of 2009. Recording 1,074 total tackles, he established himself as an integral part of the New England defense for many seasons. Now, he is passing on what he knows.

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