Bruschi to Sit Out Season

New England Patriot linebacker Tedy Bruschi plans to sit out the 2005 NFL season to further recover from the mild stroke he suffered 10 days after the Super Bowl, a Patriot official said Wednesday.

“His health has improved steadily during the past five months and Tedy continues to make daily improvements with his ongoing rehabilitation,” team spokesman Stacey James said in a written statement. “It has been an off-season of many emotional highs and lows for Tedy and his family ... “

Bruschi, 32, a defensive leader on a team that has won three of the last four Super Bowls, also underwent surgery this off-season to close a hole in his heart. He had been working out at team headquarters for several months but did not participate in mini-camps.

He spoke publicly about the stroke only twice, most recently at last month’s Super Bowl ring ceremony, and did not indicate whether he planned to return this season. His announcement came on the same day a New England television station reported it was “90%” certain he would play this season.

“All off-season we have seen and felt Tedy’s strong and upbeat presence,” Coach Bill Belichick said in a written statement. “As usual, we will keep the focus on the short term and address the future in due course.”

In part to brace for the possibility of losing Bruschi, the Patriots signed free-agent linebackers Chad Brown and Monty Beisel this spring, and drafted Nevada Las Vegas’ Ryan Claridge.

Bruschi was the AFC’s defensive player of the week three times last season, including after the first-round playoff victory over Indianapolis. He ranked second on the team with 128 tackles and tied for second with three interceptions. Also, two of the Patriots’ four defensive touchdowns resulted from his fumble recoveries.

“Tedy’s the heart and soul of our team in a lot of ways,” tight end Christian Fauria said. “If anyone’s ever seen him play, they can attest to the fact that he’s very passionate about what he does. This is uncharted territory for all of us.”