Sportbook had New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi retiring on Monday. Offshore sportsbook information tells us that Bruschi was one of six remaining Patriots players to be a part of all three Super Bowl wins. Bruschi was having difficulty this preseason adjusting to the 4-3 defense instead of the 3-4 which had been his mainstay for many years.
Sportbook odds on the Patriots have them listed as the 3-1 online betting favorite to win the Super Bowl this season. The Patriots are home on Thursday in their final preseason game as sportbook scheduling indicates. New England opens the sportbook regular season in two weeks on Monday Night Football as they host the Buffalo Bills. New England is a 10.5 point NFL betting favorite at the offshore sportsbook in that matchup.
Bruschi was the heart of New England’s defense for many years and was a Pro Bowl player in 2004. He played in 189 regular season games for the Patriots as sportbook stats tell us and was in five Super Bowls. He came back eight months after suffering a stroke and was a starter again. “I’ve had the privilege of coaching a lot of great players and a lot of great leaders in the National Football League, and I’ll just put Tedy up there with all of them,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said to the Boston Herald. “Above all of them. There is no player that epitomizes more of what I believe a player should be, on the field and off the field, in every situation.”
Sportbook info tells us that Bruschi has turned the defensive signal calling over to second year pro Jerod Mayo and has been mentoring the young player. “I wouldn’t specifically say the torch has been passed to me, but it’s been passed to this whole defense,” Mayo said. “It’s just going to take a group effort to really pick up the slack for his absence.”
Bruschi was a key player on the 2007 New England Patriots who were the first team ever to finish the offshore sportsbook regular season with an unbeaten record. The Patriots did not finish the season unbeaten though as they lost in sportbook action to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Offshore sportsbook notes tell us that while the spotlight oftentimes went to Tom Brady and the offense, Bruschi was a big part of the Patriots success and he will be missed. “I’m so glad there wasn’t one moment,” Bruschi said. “I’m very fortunate to have so many.”