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Time with Tedy
NORTON -- Listening to Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi as he came off the 18th green at the Spaulding Golf Tournament Monday at the TPC Boston, one thing became clear. He has a great appreciation for the role the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital has played in his life.
“My relationship with Spaulding is a little bit ironic,” he said. “I was a spokesman for them before I had my stroke. Then after I had my stroke, I became a patient.
“I had a definite history with them and I know the rehabilitation therapists very well and I know the people there very well. They do great work and get people back on their feet, to give them another opportunity in their lives, to resume living their lives. It’s something I’m proud to be associated with.”
Proceeds from Monday’s golf tournament went towards the “Tedy Bruschi Therapeutic Gymnasium” in the new Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital being built in the Charlestown Navy Yard.
“It’s going to be a first-class facility,” said Bruschi, who also continues to be an active spokesman for the American Stroke Association. “All the patients who come into Spaulding have a different type of adversity to overcome. Knowing they will be rehabilitating themselves in a gym with my name on it is an extreme honor for me.”
Bruschi turned 33 on June 9. Entering his 11th NFL season, he’s feeling in tip-top shape.
“I’ve had a great offseason,” he said. “I just feel like I’ve put in a lot of work this offseason that I wasn’t able to put in last season. I know during the season last year, I got back to playing good football, but I believe in the process -- minicamps and offseason programs and training camps. I think participating in all that will make me a better player this year.”
Assessing the Patriots at this point, Bruschi believes there is plenty of work to be done.
“We weren’t as clean as we wanted to be in minicamps,” he said. “It’s understandable. We’re getting the system down again and just getting used to playing football again. I think once training camp starts, everyone will have done their physical work with the offseason program. In training camp, you have to work on becoming a good football team.”
The Patriots’ offseason program ends July 7. Players will report back to Gillette Stadium a few weeks later.
Bruschi has no special plans before gearing up for the 2006 season.
“The only thing I do is spend time with my family, because once football season starts I’m around the team and the guys more than my wife and kids."
