Heart of Patriots returns

Linebacker Bruschi, 8months after stroke, hopes to play Sunday

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — For decades, “ Teddy Ballgame” referred strictly to Ted Williams, baseball’s last .400 hitter. Then, amid New England’s march to three Super Bowl titles in the past four seasons, the sobriquet was altered to “ Tedy Ballgame” and assigned to Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

That deference stemmed from Bruschi’s gift for

making game-changing plays that

personi ; ed New England’s attack in

the same way Williamswas de ; ned

for Boston Red Sox fans by his unerring batting stroke.

Now, if Bruschi meets his goal of being back on the ; eld Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills after he was medically cleared, the nickname will take on new, indelible meaning for a man who is all too familiar with the other de ; nition of stroke.

Only eight months have passed since the nineyear NFL veteran went from being able to read Peyton Manning’s pass plays to losing vision in his left eye from a stroke. Just two days after his ; rst Pro Bowl appearance, a blood clot slipped through a tiny hole in what many believe is the biggest of Patriot hearts, found its way to the 32- year-old’s brain and

Cover story

Please see COVER STORY next pageu ‘ Tedy Ballgame’: Tedy Bruschi is a guy “ you always want on the ; eld,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick says.

By Stephan Savoia, AP