Seau vs. Bruschi

[Fencer]

Were it not for the small matter of Bruschi having chosen to retire, who would you rather have available to be on the field -- Bruschi or Seau?

I specify "on the field" because:

• We know both gentlemen are outstanding locker room presences
• We can't know enough detail about what happens in the privacy of the locker room to choose one over the other on that basis

What happens on the field, however, is quite public. So we can judge.

To a first approximation, the choice should be Bruschi -- most recently an elite player, most recently a solid starter, etc. But did Bruschi's speed decline so far that he would loose to Seau in a footrace? Is Seau less of a liability in coverage than Bruschi, notwithstanding that Bruschi was an INT TD machine not that many years ago?

If so, perhaps Seau is actually the better player to have.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

As great a player at Bruschi was in his day, Seau was an even better one in their primes. First ballot, absolute game changing Hall of Famer. At this point, I think the combination of size and athleticism that Seau has makes him the better option, even though he is older than Teddy B. Seau has the playmaking ability that Bruschi does not at this advanced age---obviously Bru was the better Pat over the years, but right now, today, I would rather have Seau.

 

[The Dynasty]

I would probably have to go with Seau at this point in their careers. They are both very smart and know the game, but Seau is much faster than Bruschi and for that reason alone I would go with Seau. Both would be good for no more than 10-15 plays a game.

 

[Jackson 2]

Watching Tedy play his last game (pre-season vs. Washington) it was blatantly obvious even to this untrained, naked eye that he was done. Not sure how much more Junior has, but I'm guessing it's something more.

 

[Feep50]

Hands down: Seau.....

 

[Patspsycho]

Were it not for the small matter of Bruschi having chosen to retire, who would you rather have available to be on the field -- Bruschi or Seau?

I specify "on the field" because:

• We know both gentlemen are outstanding locker room presences
• We can't know enough detail about what happens in the privacy of the locker room to choose one over the other on that basis

What happens on the field, however, is quite public. So we can judge.

To a first approximation, the choice should be Bruschi -- most recently an elite player, most recently a solid starter, etc. But did Bruschi's speed decline so far that he would loose to Seau in a footrace? Is Seau less of a liability in coverage than Bruschi, notwithstanding that Bruschi was an INT TD machine not that many years ago?

If so, perhaps Seau is actually the better player to have.

I think you have to factor in the pedigree of both players. I think that is part of the equation.

Bruschi is a marquee player, he is one of the face of the franchise- he, along with Troy Brown, represents what it means to be a Patriot in the modern era. Consequently, for him to retire then unretire then retire again is not a dignified process.

But it is different for Seau- he came over in his later years, so I would think there is a bit more of a leeway in terms of him retiring, then coming out of retirement, or coming in halfway through the season.

Also, it can't be discounted that Seau is a freak of nature as far as his physical conditioning goes, and in that respect, he differs from Bruschi. To go from surfing to playing in a NFL game in just two days is just mind-boggling. He also plays the game like a kid, jumping up and down like a kid in the 2nd half when players half his age were gassed (I forgot which game this was).

From what I've read, his motivational lockerroom speeches have been known to be legendary, so that doesn't hurt either.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think you have to factor in the pedigree of both players. I think that is part of the equation.

Bruschi is a marquee player, he is one of the face of the franchise- he, along with Troy Brown, represents what it means to be a Patriot in the modern era. Consequently, for him to retire then unretire then retire again is not a dignified process.

But it is different for Seau- he came over in his later years, so I would think there is a bit more of a leeway in terms of him retiring, then coming out of retirement, or coming in halfway through the season.

Also, it can't be discounted that Seau is a freak of nature as far as his physical conditioning goes, and in that respect, he differs from Bruschi. To go from surfing to playing in a NFL game in just two days is just mind-boggling. He also plays the game like a kid, jumping up and down like a kid in the 2nd half when players half his age were gassed (I forgot which game this was).

From what I've read, his motivational lockerroom speeches have been known to be legendary, so that doesn't hurt either.

Seau is a freak of nature. You don't play LB in the NFL at 40 years old. You just don't. However, assuming he worked out for the Pats on Tue and will at some point sign a contract, from a physical standpoint, BB must think he has more to offer than Bru.

I do wonder if the signing means that the team does need a little more emotional/motivational/spiritual mojo in the locker room and BB sees it as neccessary for a long season. Not saying it means more Ws, but may help morale during the times where things are going rough (see BAL 2007 game.) and the team needs an emotional pick me up. You need guys like that. Veterans that the young players can go to. Pats lost a lot of leadership and veteran presence. Seau helps in a big way in that regard.

My .02$

 

[SeauOUCH]

I thought Seau came in & played well for us last year. Teddy looked like toast out their against the Redskins in preseason.

 

[eagle eye]

What we are missing at LB right now is a top level play caller. Seau brings that if Mayo is out for a while longer. Then when Jerod gets back, wrap Seau up in cotton wool and unleash him at the business end of the season.

 

[ALP]

Seau

easy choice really too for all the above stated reasons

 

[signbabybrady]

What a lot of people are leaving out of this discussion when they bring up the redskin game is why he was getting torched. He admitted or someone close to him admitted that he had offseason knee surgery and that it didn't respond well and that is why he retired.

That kind of ends the discussion. It would have to be Seau at this point because Bru's knees just wouldn't let him play anymore.

If we go back two years though I take Bru.

 

[satz]

Bru seems to have lost a bit of speed after knee surgery and seau for most part has been healthy the last few years.

Guyton has played 70 of 70 snaps after mayo went down so not good. I want him to cut his snaps a bit down. He is playing at the LOS and even our
DL and NT do not play all the snaps due to the physical aspect of it.

With seau and mayo it opens the posibilty of using AD as a pure pass rusher in the 3rd down or seau can rush the passer too.

In 3rd down we need to create a little more presure and AD is our best pass rusher in the LB position.but he is playing behind the line with guyton now.

satz

 

[WhiZa]

Makes you wonder if they even asked Bruschi or just assumed he was settled in his new job.

I think they are probably the same player mentally. Seau may have a little more fire. He just looks angry on the field.

 

[Fencer]

However, assuming he worked out for the Pats on Tue and will at some point sign a contract, from a physical standpoint, BB must think he has more to offer than Bru.

I started this thread to ask just that question. It's certainly conceivable that Bruschi would retire with greater skills than Seau wants to keep playing with. After all, he has a few more rings than Seau, as well as having had bigger health scares.

But did he?

 

[Fencer]

vHe admitted or someone close to him admitted that he had offseason knee surgery and that it didn't respond well and that is why he retired.

Your view certainly seems to be the consensus in this thread.

 

[Jackson 2]

What a lot of people are leaving out of this discussion when they bring up the redskin game is why he was getting torched. He admitted or someone close to him admitted that he had offseason knee surgery and that it didn't respond well and that is why he retired.

That kind of ends the discussion. It would have to be Seau at this point because Bru's knees just wouldn't let him play anymore.

If we go back two years though I take Bru.

I didn't mean to leave it out of the discussion or in my post above, because I assumed (incorrectly?) that everyone knew that the knee was part of the equation.

 

[letekro]

Bruschi's been ineffective since the stroke. Seau was a legit force 2006-2007. Seau hands down.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Bruschi's been ineffective since the stroke.QUOTE]

A classic uninformed statement. Ineffective is Money Beisel.

If you want to say he was in gradual decline, I agree.

 

[captain stone]

Junior out-played Tedy last season, so this season would just be more of the same, exc. the difference would be greater.

I'm still a little surprised & disappointed that Matt Wilhelm has not been brought to Foxborough for a workout/interview.

What the FO should've done, really, is sign Andra Davis during the off-season. And Sean Jones instead of lil' Jimmy Sanders, while I'm at it.

 

[BTTA]

It's about situational defense; BB and company have something in mind regarding where they plug Seau in. My guess is its short yardage situations, and some first down. He gets the nod of Bruschi for that.