Bruschi is AFC defensive player of the week

Was it an emotional vote? Or just a reflection of the number of times the commenters talked about Bruschi's return during the game. I was excited to see him in on so many plays. He's really going to anchor the middle. Hopefully, Seymour will be back to nail down the center. With both of them in the lineup, I feel real good about playing Indy at home.

The AP story follows:

Bruschi is AFC defensive player of the week
November 2, 2005

NEW YORK (AP) -- New England's Tedy Bruschi, returning to the lineup eight months after a stroke, is the AFC's defensive player of the week.

Bruschi had 10 tackles Sunday in the Patriots' 21-16 win over Buffalo. He played nearly full-time in his first game since the Super Bowl.

Other AFC players honored were Denver quarterback Jake Plummer (offense) and Houston's Jerome Mathis (special teams).

The NFC players of the week were Tiki Barber of the New York Giants (offense); Charles Tillman of Chicago (defense) and Joe Nedney of San Francisco (special teams).


Patriots

Theo Epstein's Press Conference

Not surprisingly, the press conference has resolved nothing. Mayor Menino was wrong and theo did not come out and say he was staying after all. Theo said he wasn't leaving because of Larry, he wasn't leaving because of the Shaugnessy article, he wasn't leaving because of this or that. He's not burnt out. There was no one thing. In other words, he didn't tell anyone anything.

The only thing resolved was John Henry took responsibility for Theo leaving. He said the articles about Larry were completely unfair and inaccurate. But he wouldn't say what else he could have done and he actually sounded like he was in pain talking about Theo leaving.

BTW, John Henry told Larry Luchinno he shouldn't come to the press conference.

If you want to see a summary of Theo and Larry's comments, you should head over to the Extra Bases at the Boston Globe.

Red Sox

Rumors about Theo Epstein's press conference

Because I like to pass on rumors, Mayor Menino has just come on WEEI to say he believes Theo's press conference today is to announce Theo is staying instead of leaving. Otherwise, why have the press conference at Fenway?

Listening to Shaugnessy and Schilling talk about each other was probably the most amusing thing I've heard in a long time. They were practically dripping with venom every time they opened their mouths.

Red Sox

Silver slugger and Golden Glove

The Boston Red Sox placed three players on the silver slugger team, more than any other organization. The Red Sox winners include first-timer Jason Varitek as well as designated hitter David Ortiz and outfielder Manny Ramirez.

Jason Varitek also won his first Golden Glove. No Sox player had won one since 1991, when Tony Pena did. Pena and Varitek join Carlton Fisk (1972) as the only catchers in Sox history to win the award. Varitek became the team's 15th Gold Glove winner and brought the organization its 35th overall. Varitek on Monday won a Silver Slugger award, voted on by managers and coaches and presented to the best offensive player at each position in each league.

Red Sox

Theo Epstein leaves the Red Sox

In case you missed it, Theo announced yesterday that he was leaving the Red Sox. He has no immediate plans for the future, but he ''... will embrace this change in my life and look forward with excitement to the future."

Theo signed up in 2002 as the youngest GM in baseball history. It took him only 23 months to win a world series. He rebuilt the farm system, kept the Sox in the playoffs every year, signed Ortiz to a ridiculously low (for a baseball player with his power) paying contract, and went to the Schillings for Thanksgiving in order to get him to come to Boston. He signed Keith Foulke (who was, arguably, the MVP of the World Series, made the highly courageous move to trade the extremely popular Nomar, and waived Manny over the past summer.

But in the end, according to reports on the radio (WEEI), the boston globe and the herald, Theo decided despite the 4.5 million dollar 3 year deal on the table, that he couldn't live with Larry's interference in the everyday affairs. With negotiations details being leaked to the press, Theo reportedly had had enough. The other theory being floated was that Theo is feeling uncomfortable with his fame. Either way, it was hugely courageous of him to leave 4.5 million on the table. Maybe he feels he can make more somewhere else. Maybe he was insulted with the Sox's first offer. Maybe he was just too sensitive about the news stories.

The only two people who know the real story are Theo and Larry. And they probably won't talk about it. I feel that Theo, if he did talk, would try to be as honest as he always has been. But at the same time, I expect he won't lob any big bombs as he leaves. I'm not so sure about Larry and considering he's the one guy left standing in the front office, that's not a good sign for the Sox in a PR sense.

Lajoie, one of Epstein's top advisers, resigned within minutes of Epstein doing so. It's possible that other baseball operations employees will also exit, especially given that assistant GM Josh Byrnes left to become the GM in Arizona last week and will be assembling a staff.

Red Sox, Theo Epstein, Larry Lucchino, baseball,MLB