The handwriting was on the wall not long ago, amid reports that Pats linebacker Tedy Bruschi was having trouble finding a role for himself in the 2009 Patriots defense.
And so, while Bruschi has said that he plans to take his NFL future one year at a time, is calling it quits.
Al Michaels of NBC announced at the outset of the second half of Sunday night’s game between the Bears and the Broncos that Bruschi will announce his retirement on Monday.
There’s a good chance that Bruschi opted to pack it in at the suggestion of the team. Coach Bill Belichick surely didn’t want to have to cut Bruschi, and Belichick undoubtedly would have given Bruschi the courtesy of an opportunity to walk away.
As we wrote in August 17: “We doubt that the Patriots would cut Bruschi, but circumstances might nudge him to choose to make his exit. Whether it’s that vague sense that things have changed or a more acute fear that if he doesn’t take the initiative to call it quits he might not get to make that decision, we won’t be shocked in hindsight if at some point between now and Labor Day we all learn that the 36-year-old’s year-to-year decision-making process has pointed to the conclusion that this year is the year to call it quits.”
UPDATE: The Patriots have called a press conference for Monday morning at 10:45 a.m. ET, to make an “important announcement.” We assume the announcement will be the Bruschi retirement. Unless the third Golden Ticket has been found.