by By Teddy Panos, Sun Correspondent , Lowell Sun

Celebratory, because Bruschi's is the classic tale of a great guy making good. The longtime heart of the Patriots defense squeezed every last bit out of his ability. Along with Troy Brown, nobody better exemplified what the Pats were all about during their magical run atop the NFL.

Other than his father's death, I've never seen Bill Belichick more emotional, with New England's coach repeating over and over again how No. 54 always "did the right thing." That right there should tell you all you need to know about Bruschi the player and the man.

Sad, because yet another link to the Patriots dynasty is gone. It's no coincidence that the defense's playoff performance has steadily declined as proven winners like Roman Phifer, Ted Johnson, Willie McGinest and Ty Law moved on. Now, an already questionable unit enters 2009 without a trio of veterans who may have played an even bigger role in New England's success: Rodney Harrison, Mike Vrabel and Bruschi.

No doubt all three were a shell of their former selves. But there's also very little doubt their presence will be missed as a young defense seeks to forge its own identity while carrying Super Bowl aspirations on its shoulders.

* Speaking of shoulders, I'm not overly concerned about the health of Tom Brady's. Brady will likely play opening day, though how much of an injury he sustained and how much it hampers him throughout the year remains to be seen.

No, I'm more concerned with how healthy Brady's relationship with the karma gods is. Let's face it. The guy led a pretty charmed life for a while. I mean, when things are going so well you can upgrade from a beautiful Hollywood starlet to a world famous supermodel, you have to figure some kind of Faustian bargain is at play. And as happens in any deal with the devil, the chips get called in at some point.

A subpar Super Bowl performance against the Giants, a season-ending knee injury in his very next appearance on a Football field and an unlucky landing on his right throwing wing just three exhibition games into the comeback seem to indicate a balancing of the luck scale is in progress.

Perhaps I'm a superstitious fool, or simply the latter, but I vividly remember when, after 30 years, Lucky the Leprechaun deserted the Celtics for nearly three decades. One has to wonder if the same strange forces are at play with Tom Brady.

* Lastly, as the Patriots search for a legitimate backup to Brady, here's hoping their efforts land A.J. Feeley, the longtime Eagles backup who doesn't appear to have a home now that Michael Vick has landed in the City of Brotherly Love.

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