August 13, 2007
Tedy time
By Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
FOXBOROUGH –- Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi answered questions from the media this afternoon, covering a variety of topics.
Bruschi said he feels better this year than last year.
“I think the big difference with me is just being a little more freer with my hands,” he said. “The wrist is feeling a lot better. It was something I had to deal with last year. I’m feeling great out there and I think I’ve seen improvement from myself since the start of camp, which is what all of us want to see, and which Coach really preaches, about getting better every day. In terms of last year, I think the big difference is having a little more strength in my right hand. It’s been nice to have."
Bruschi also touched on why he sought out Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott after Friday night’s preseason opener.
“I was watching TV the night before the game, and had seen all the news reports on his situation, how he had re-injured his neck, and was put on IR for the rest of the year,” Bruschi said. “I just wanted to seek him out and tell him that whatever he decided –- his future, he said he didn’t know what he wanted to do –- I wished him well and that I said a little prayer for him.
“I think I can relate more to situations like that from what happened to me back in 2005. I understand what some of the feelings you go through, some of the thought processes, so I could definitely understand where he was coming from.”
Bruschi also touched on what he hoped to get out of writing a book on his recovery from a stroke.
“The first thing I wanted to accomplish was raise stroke awareness,” he said. “The big thing with me when I had my stroke is that I didn’t realize I was having a stroke when I was going through it at the moment. I would hope that this would open some eyes to particularly people in my age group that it can happen.
“And also, I got thousands of letters, thousands of emails, they all wrote me saying ‘this is my story, these are the situations I’m going through, the emotions I’m feeling, and I followed your progress from your stroke to your return, how did you do it?’
"I couldn’t personally answer every one of those letters, so what I wanted to do was write the book and say ‘if you want to know my answer, this is my answer, this is what I went through, this is who I am, this is how I was able to come back and stand in front of you right now.’”
