Background: The great ‘TB12’ Tom Brady spent 20 years in New England, won six Super Bowls with the Patriots, and there’s a statue in his likeness outside Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, but apparently that’s not enough for him to root for the Pats to beat the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
The former Patriots quarterback made the controversial comment during the “Let’s Go!” Sirius XM podcast on Monday, and it hasn’t settled well with former and current Patriots players, as well as fans.
What did Tom Brady say that has New England locals fired up?
Brady had a lot to say on the Week 23 podcast, but the particular comment that people have latched onto was about who he wants to see win when New England and Seattle face off in this weekends Super Bowl LX.
“Listen, I don’t have a dog in the fight in this one,” he said. “May the best team win.”-Brady
Now Enter Tedy Bruschi (TB54)
For those that may not know, Tedy Bruschi is revered as a New England Patriots legend, embodying the heart, soul, and tenacity of the early-2000s dynasty that won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) in four years.
TB54 was a tenacious linebacker and spent his entire 13-year career in New England, serving as a seven-time team captain and becoming a quintessential “perfect player” under Bill Belichick. Beyond his on-field leadership and production, which included 1,110 tackles, Tedy had keen nose for the football and ability to return interceptions for scores. In addition, Bruschi solidified his status as an icon through his courageous 2005 comeback from a stroke, later winning the 2005 Comeback Player of the Year award and establishing Tedy’s Team for stroke awareness for which I and my family have been a part of for years. Tedy, like Brady, is also a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.
Now Let’s Compare Tedy and Tom’s Answers
Tedy Bruschi was on Radio Row in San Francisco earlier this week, and caught up with the guys from WEEI, a local favorite Boston sports radio station. He was spot on and distinguished his position on the upcoming matchup clearly and undeniable by declaring that, unlike others, he has a personal stake in the outcome due to his deep connection with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. Watch the video included in this post below!
While the interviewers noted that Tom Brady recently stated he “doesn’t have a dog in the fight,” Bruschi immediately countered that sentiment, asserting,
“I got a big ass dog in the race I’m telling you that right now“. -Bruschi
He made it clear that his loyalty lies with the Patriots because of his relationship with Vrabel, whom he referred to as “my boy right there” and an “8-year teammate”.
Regarding the bond between them, Bruschi described Vrabel as being “like a brother of mine“. Bruschi emphasized this brotherly loyalty by stating, “my dog is big and I’m cheering for him,” and noting “you don’t let a brother down,” and “there’s no other way I’m going” than supporting a former teammate.
[Personal Sidebar] “It’s refreshing when a brother steps up and does the right thing. When it is time to ‘take the test’ you know who your real team mates are by how they answer the question.
Thank you Tedy for speaking to your heart, and well, to Tom I guess you are leveraging your position in the media to only serve yourself.”
-David Dansereau
Abbott HeartMates Spotlight
In the video below, Bruschi also spotlighted his pride in his work with Abbott, showing the interviewers the medical device implanted in his heart after his stroke in 2005. Tedy was promoting the Abbott HeartMates program, which he describes as a community for heart and stroke survivors to “come and just like we have huddles in football... talk about and share our experiences”.
He expressed that this program provides the kind of peer support he wishes he had during his own recovery, allowing survivors to connect with someone who has “had this before”.
The cool thing about the timing of this video at the end when he had to go, Tedy jumped on a video call with the HeartMates teammates he now helps support with Abbott as a team captain.
I happened to be part of that HeartMates meeting and heard Tedy proudly share the moment he mentioned in the video. It was great to hear him share the knowledge about his device, the same PFO/septal occluder we bot have in our hearts and how proud he is to be able to share his story and knowledge to help others. That’s all I’ll share other than to add my own comments at the end here and in the video I included with this post about what PFO closure meant to me in survivorship.
It was equally as great meeting Damar Hamlin for the first time another HeartMates Captain.
WEEI Speaks With Tedy Bruschi on ‘Radio Row” - A Must Watch!
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National Stroke Support Organization Survey
