Tedy Bruschi

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The "D" word has been mentioned early and often by the media throng the last two weeks. But the Patriots, ever mindful of the task at hand, refused to comment on talk of themselves as a dynasty. There was a Super Bowl to win and no one on the club was going to make the mistake of looking past a worthy opponent -- the Philadelphia Eagles. But after last night's 24-21 victory at Alltel Stadium, linebacker Tedy Bruschi said his team deserved the lofty title.

By Chad Finn, Boston.com Staff He will forever be associated with the San Diego Chargers for reasons both triumphant and tragic. But the coda to Junior Seau 's brilliant 20-year NFL career came here in New England, where he spent 38 regular-season games over four seasons proving how a player of such individual distinction could become a wonderfully enthusiastic role player and teammate. Seau, who died Wednesday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 43, was a favorite of the coach, Bill Belichick, who once coached Lawrence Taylor with the Giants and has an obvious...

Rob Gronkowski is demonstrating the versatility for which the New England Patriots are so justly famed. The star tight end is taking on a new position this season --- pitchman for Dunkin' Donuts. The Canton-based coffee-and-baked-goods chain said Gronkowski has signed a two-year sponsorship deal to plump its products. Say what you will about the virtues of Dunkin's hand-held cuisine, but the chain could field a pretty good New England football team. Patriots and Patriot alums who have previously endorsed Dunkin' include Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Tedy Bruschi, and Adam Vintateri.

Rob Gronkowski is demonstrating the versatility for which the New England Patriots are so justly famed. The star tight end is taking on a new position this season --- pitchman for Dunkin' Donuts. The Canton-based coffee-and-baked-goods chain said Gronkowski has signed a two-year sponsorship deal to plump its products. Say what you will about the virtues of Dunkin's hand-held cuisine, but the chain could field a pretty good New England football team. Patriots and Patriot alums who have previously endorsed Dunkin' include Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Tedy Bruschi, and Adam Vintateri.

Patriots Pro Bowl linebacker Tedy Bruschi was hospitalized yesterday afternoon and kept overnight to determine the cause of headaches. "After suffering from headaches earlier today, Tedy Bruschi was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston," the Patriots said in a statement. "He is in good condition and will be held for further evaluations. The Bruschi family appreciates everyone's concern, but requests that you respect their privacy at this time. " According to a team source, Bruschi was taken by ambulance from his North Attleborough home.

Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler belted out the national anthem before the Pats-Ravens game yesterday and hung around with team boss Bob Kraft. Drew Bledsoe, Ty Law, Troy Brown, and Tedy Bruschi - the game's honorary captains - were also in the owner's box. Senator Scott Brown was seen in the club section. . . . According to the Wall Street Journal, Tyler's new home in Maui (which we told you about earlier this month), was purchased for $4.8 million from Fred Constant, owner of Napa Valley's Constant Diamond Mountain Vineyard.

FOXBOROUGH -- Today certainly is not the first Thanksgiving for Tedy Bruschi, 32. It is not the first Thanksgiving for Tedy Bruschi, Heidi's husband, or Tedy Bruschi, father of Tedy Jr., Rex, and Dante. Nor is it the first Thanksgiving for Tedy Bruschi, 10-year veteran linebacker of the New England Patriots. But today is the first Thanksgiving for Tedy Bruschi, stroke survivor. "First and foremost, I'm thankful to be alive," Bruschi said yesterday, at times fighting his emotions as he stood in front of his locker at Gillette Stadium pondering the...

This week, Tedy Bruschi will exercise his right to risk his personal future for football glory. As a clear-thinking adult, he's entitled to do so. Just don't blame Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, or the Patriots if something goes sadly wrong. Bruschi has carefully orchestrated a media assault on Kraft and the Patriots, skillfully backing them into a corner by leaking just enough about his improving physical condition and desire to return to the field to leave Kraft with few options but to go along.

NORTH ATTLEBORO -- He is two men. At game time, New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi is the lunatic who prowls the football field and hunts down anyone who dares to advance the football. One hour later, he is the doting father who takes newborn son Dante in his arms and serenades him with gentle strokes and sweet whispers. Bruschi's journey to separate one man from the other has been challenging, heart-wrenching, and immensely satisfying. It has meant learning how to keep all of his football energy confined to the field.

Fourth in a collection of eight memorable Patriots-Giants games Sept. 26, 1999, at Foxborough > Patriots 16 Giants 14 Two similar teams were just a few weeks into what would be disappointing seasons for both (the 8-8 Patriots and 7-9 Giants each averaged 18.7 points per game). The Patriots likely figured on something different after their third win in a 4-0 start, holding the Giants to 188 total yards and 7 points after nearly 57 minutes. Kent Graham's 1-yard touchdown pass to Tiki Barber with 1:14 remaining provided a 2-point margin, but Ben Coates corralled the onside kick to...

FOXBOROUGH — While many in Patriot Nation were still reeling yesterday from Sunday night's crushing 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI, a crowd of more than 200 fans who welcomed the team home to Gillette Stadium found plenty to cheer about. Vicki Smith, 44, of North Attleborough and her son, Robert Smith-Englehart, 17, said they arrived at the stadium parking lot at about 3 a.m. yesterday to show their support. "We didn't know what time they'd get here," said Smith, who wore a Tom Brady jersey and held a sign bearing several messages, including, "Welcome Home New...

FOXBOROUGH - Larry Izzo didn't see it. The former Patriots special teams captain didn't understand how anyone could characterize last night's Super Bowl as a rematch from four years ago in Glendale, Ariz. "It's not a rematch, to be honest with you," said Izzo. "Because I don't see Rodney Harrison. I don't see Tedy Bruschi. I don't see Mike Vrabel. I'm not playing in the game. So there's a lot of change since the last time the two teams played each other in the Super Bowl. "It's different teams.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Legacy Place isn't just a nifty shopping center in Dedham. More than 900 miles away it's at the center of what Super Bowl XLVI means for Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. This is a game of Wilforkian proportions for everyone associated with the Patriots. But for Brady and Belichick, hoisting that elusive fourth Lombardi Trophy would be a postscript to their greatest failure -- Super Bowl XLII -- and a capstone to their remarkable collective curriculum vitae.

The last time his team played the Patriots, assistant coach Larry Izzo was a loser even though the Giants came away winners. Despite New York's win over New England in late November, the first-year special teams assistant was nailed by the Giants' kangaroo court for violating the hugging rule — a $20 fine per hug for greeting his former Patriot teammates before the game. Izzo, a special teams player for the Patriots who won three Super Bowls and lost another to the Giants in 2008, won't say how much money he handed over that day, but he'd gladly pay...

Fourth in a collection of eight memorable Patriots-Giants games Sept. 26, 1999, at Foxborough > Patriots 16 Giants 14 Two similar teams were just a few weeks into what would be disappointing seasons for both (the 8-8 Patriots and 7-9 Giants each averaged 18.7 points per game). The Patriots likely figured on something different after their third win in a 4-0 start, holding the Giants to 188 total yards and 7 points after nearly 57 minutes. Kent Graham's 1-yard touchdown pass to Tiki Barber with 1:14 remaining provided a 2-point margin, but Ben Coates corralled...

FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots are 3-0 and the Jets are 0-3. Who would have thought it? "I did," said New England receiver Shawn Jefferson. "I knew we were capable of 3-0; I don't know about their team. That's not my concern, but we have so much talent in here that I knew we could beat these teams. Tonight we won the game a different way. We knew they would be tough, but we just took what the defense gave us. " And the Giants defense didn't give too much. Not nearly as much as it gave the Washington offense last week when it allowed 50 points, but enough for the Patriots to take a...

By Chad Finn, Boston.com Staff He will forever be associated with the San Diego Chargers for reasons both triumphant and tragic. But the coda to Junior Seau 's brilliant 20-year NFL career came here in New England, where he spent 38 regular-season games over four seasons proving how a player of such individual distinction could become a wonderfully enthusiastic role player and teammate. Seau, who died Wednesday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 43, was a favorite of the coach, Bill Belichick, who once coached Lawrence Taylor with the Giants and has an obvious...

FOXBOROUGH - Tedy Bruschi thanked his wife, his owner, his coach, his teammates, his agent, his trainer, his brother, and his fans. He got it wrong. We all should be thanking him. In a way that athletes seldom really do, he gets it. He had it when he walked in here 13 years ago and he refined it to the point where yesterday’s farewell is now the gold standard of gracious goodbyes. He’s had it on the field, he’s had it in the locker room, and he’s got it off the field.

Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler belted out the national anthem before the Pats-Ravens game yesterday and hung around with team boss Bob Kraft. Drew Bledsoe, Ty Law, Troy Brown, and Tedy Bruschi - the game's honorary captains - were also in the owner's box. Senator Scott Brown was seen in the club section. . . . According to the Wall Street Journal, Tyler's new home in Maui (which we told you about earlier this month), was purchased for $4.8 million from Fred Constant, owner of Napa Valley's Constant Diamond Mountain Vineyard.

A Super Sequel. Four years after New York stunned previously undefeated New England in the Arizona desert, the Patriots and Giants are going at it again at the Super Bowl — this time in Indianapolis. Brady and Belichick. Eli and Coughlin. Both teams rolling through the playoffs. Yep, here we go again. New England, which lost to New York 24-20 in early November, opened as a 3-point favorite for the Feb. 5 game. The Patriots have won 10 straight, with their last loss being to — you guessed it — the Giants.