WEEI/Boston Announces Game Day Football Line-Up

The WEEI Sports Radio Network, based at WEEI-AM/Boston, revealed Wednesday that its game day football programming line-up will kick off September 13 with the initial edition of “NFL Sunday.”

The “NFL Sunday” football pre-game show airs from 9am-12noon with Dale Arnold, Michael Holley, former Patriots tight end Christian Fauria and WEEI.com’s Chris Price.

“The Real Post Game Show” with Pete Sheppard, Fred Smerlas and Steve DeOssie will begin immediately following Patriots games, giving listeners their first opportunity to react and discuss how the team performed. Listeners will also hear the press conferences of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, as well as highlights from the game and from games around the league.

“WEEI has always provided the most complete and comprehensive coverage of the Patriots and this year will be no exception. I’m thrilled that we have been able to secure such a robust line-up featuring Dale, Holley, Christian and Chris before the game; and Pete, Fred and Steve after the game,” said VP/AM Programming Jason Wolfe. (09-09-09)

Bruschi to tackle NFL for ESPN

Tedy Bruschi, who enjoyed a long career with the New England Patriots and won three Super Bowl rings, is joining ESPN’s stable of NFL analysts.

ESPN made the announcement Tuesday, saying Bruschi will provide NFL analysis on ESPNBoston.com, the network’s new local sports site, and appear on NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio and other ESPN platforms.

ESPNBoston.com launches on Monday, the day the Patriots play their season opener on “Monday Night Football” against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium. “Tedy Bruschi has embodied the Patriots and their unrivaled success the past decade, and we are thrilled that this three-time Super Bowl champion is joining our roster of NFL experts as well as ESPNBoston.com, which will give New England sports fans a stable of authentic and familiar Boston voices when it launches Monday,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, production.

Bruschi retired last month after 13 seasons of playing linebacker and being the leader of New England’s defense, saying he was simply too old and found his “body doesn’t heal as quickly.” “I’m very excited to be joining the ESPN team. I hope to bring my passion and knowledge for the game as an analyst just as I did as a player,” Bruschi said in a statement. “I look forward to the national exposure of covering the entire league while also having the opportunity to stay close to my roots here with ESPNBoston.com.” Bruschi is equally as well known for his determination off the field. After suffering a mild stroke in February 2005, he endured months of rehabilitation before he was medically cleared to play and returned to the Patriots lineup in October for the seventh game of that season after having surgery for a hole in his heart. “I was retired,” he said at the time. “I didn’t think it was possible.”

At the end of that season, Bruschi was named the 2005 NFL Comeback Player of the Year and received both the Ed Block Courage Award and the Maxwell Football Club’s Spirit Award. Bruschi also has been named to NFL.com’s All-Interview Team for accessibility to the media, and he has been one of the Patriots most active players in the greater Boston community. When his retirement announcement was made, Patriots coach Bill Belichick called him “the perfect player,” and team owner Robert Kraft, citing “executive privilege,” promptly named him honorary defensive captain of the franchise’s 50th Anniversary Team.

Bruschi played in 189 regular-season games, more than any linebacker in Patriots history. His 631 total tackles over the past six seasons were the most on the team. For his career, he had 1,134 tackles, 30½ sacks and 12 interceptions, four of them touchdowns.

Tom Brady just finished up his weekly interview with WEEI Radio, and this Monday’s edition was a little more action-pacted. Plenty of issues to discuss, including his ailing shoulder, his status for the Bills game, Tedy Bruschi’s impending retirement, and Kevin O’Connell being released.

But first, the guys from the Dennis & Callahan Show asked him about the opener and if he believes he’ll play.

“I’m certainly expecting that,” Brady said. “It was fun to be out there last Friday night against a very talented team. The team palyed well in some aspects and in some ways, we still have plenty of room for improvement. As for my shoulder, I just fell awkwardly. Anytime a 350 pound man lands on you, most people would be a bit sore, which I was. A lot of players on the team have bumps and bruises and I have bumps and bruises. But I’m expecting to be out there.”

Brady said he’s looking forward to the prepration for this week’s exhibition game against the Giants and for gearing up for the Bills. While he said he’d love to play this week, that decision is up to coach Bill Belichick, “and traditionally he doesn’t let us play.”

We believe that Brady is out this week, but you can undertsand him saying what he did. As for making a definite prediction about his shoulder, he asked, “We don’t play for two weeks. What does it matter how confident I am? You wait for Sept. 14.”

There were a bunch of other topics addressed, so here is a rundown…

Brady, on that alleged conversation with Chad Ochocinco: “Yeah, I don’t remember talking to him. I think Ochocinco can be a little bit evasive at times.”

Brady, on his first thoughts after Albert Haynesworth hit him: “Damn, that guy was heavy. That’s what I was thinking. Albert Haynesworth is one of the best defensive lineman we play against. He kind of drifted a little bit, I think I drifted into him. He made a good play, and I just landed awkwardly on the ground. Coach made the decision at halftime, and that was the last time I was out there.”

Brady, on if he immediately freaked after the hit: “I don’t think so. Last year, when I got hit (in the knee) — and this is going back a long way — I knew it was bad. The pain didn’t go away. It was a lot of trauma to that injured area, and it lasted for a long time. … I couldn’t avoid it, but there is an art to taking hits. Part of conditioning is to be strong and flexible to be able to withstand hits.”

Brady, on O’Connell’s release:” We’ve been away from the team for 48 hours, and I haven’t talked to anybody, but you see the reports and if they’re true… I really enjoyed Kevin. He’s a great person, a very talented player, and it’s a very competitive position. Kevin worked very hard, and he does have a bright future. It’s really always tough this time of year when guys who you have a lot of respect for don’t end up being part of your roster.”

Brady, on if he had an MRI or X-ray: “I always rely on our doctors and trainers. It’s just part of getting hit. When you get hit, you get sore, and when you get sore in the shoulder, as a quarterback, you take a little precaution. It’s apparently, progressing, I’m confident. … I know when a 350-pound man falls on me, I can handle it. That gives me confidence.”

As for what Brady said about Bruschi… that needs its own entry.