Brewski retires

[frash.exe]

http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/2009/08/bruschi_makes_his_last_play.html

Thirteen seasons later, this is how Tedy Bruschi makes his last play: he walks. He leaves with pride and he leaves with dignity. He leaves behind a heart, body, and soul that he entrusted to no team but the Patriots and to no region but New England.

And so with Bruschi announcing his retirement this morning at Gillette Stadium, maybe it is time to take pause. Maybe there is still some loyalty in sports after all. Maybe a guy like Bruschi can come here, as he did in 1996, and play in six AFC Championship Games and five Super Bowls, winning three titles and appearing in one Pro Bowl. Maybe he can survive a stroke and declining skills. And maybe, at the end of it all, he can go out wearing the same uniform he wore in, an increasingly rare example of the company man who stood for principle and values more than he did the bottom line.

[Brandon]

As much as I dislike the Patriots, I have the utmost respect for this man. It's too bad that more people can't be like him.

[Jangler]

I liked his jacket, almost like he is saying "I belong in the HoF."

[Fireball77]

He was the last guy on the roster who was on the team for the 96 SB. I have a feeling this was an "encouraged" retirement. He wasn't on the field for practices until recently this year and was playing on basically the third team D (when they were in 4-3 mostly). At this point they will miss him more for his veteran presence than his play. But he was a great player for them and a big part of why their D was so good back when they were winning SBs.