Tedy Bruschi busts balls over a Josh Uche comparison
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
If you’re a Patriots fan on Twitter, you almost certainly got all hot and bothered for a moment on Friday night when ESPN’s Mike Reiss made a hell of a comparison. Could Michigan linebacker Josh Uche be on a similar trajectory to that of Tedy Bruschi?
Reiss invoked the legendary linebacker’s name when he introduced Uche on Twitter Friday night. Uche led the Wolverines with 8.5 sacks and projects as an athletic, versatile player at the NFL level.
Problem, though: the comparison caught Bruschi’s eye. He eclipsed that mark with 14 sacks his senior year at Arizona and 52 for his career. So he decided to hit Uche with the ol’ “Kiss the rings, kid” on the way through the door. Ruthless.
14 sacks my senior year. 52 career. But welcome to NE, kid. 😂 😉 https://t.co/SENxWr1r1F
— Tedy Bruschi (@TedyBruschi) April 25, 2020
Mike most certainly was not saying that Uche is the next Bruschi or that he’s going to lead the Patriots defense to three Super Bowls. What he said was that Uche profiles similarly to Bruschi as they enter the league. They’re the same size at 6-foot-1 and around 245 pounds. Both left their schools as pass-rushers with the potential to transition into more of a well-rounded linebacker role. Bruschi did and excelled at it.
Uche is just so severely far from reaching that kind of level. No choice but to accept Bruschi’s response. Even if the comparison wasn’t really what Bruschi thought it was.
EVANSTON, IL – SEPTEMBER 29: Josh Uche #6 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a sack against Clayton Thorson #18 of the Northwestern Wildcats
at Ryan Field on September 29, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. Michigan defeated Northwestern 20-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
That’s not to take away from one of the biggest nights of Uche’s life, though. Belichick moved up to draft him. That’s a big deal no matter what. He obviously has the kind of traits that Belichick wanted to work with.
Bruschi will get some heat for taking a shot at Uche, or whatever scolding the angry internet people want to give him. Hopefully it was just meant as some good-natured ball-busting. Can’t blame a Patriots Hall of Famer for defending his territory a little bit.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at [email protected].
