"Tedy Bruschi may not be on the field as much as in past years, but one element of the veteran linebacker’s game that has remained a full-time job is his role as mentor to the younger players.

In the big picture, that may turn out to be one of Bruschi’s most important contributions to the 2008 campaign.

Whether it’s been fellow inside linebackers Jerod Mayo and Gary Guyton, or even third-year player Pierre Woods, Bruschi has done his best to impart some of the wisdom he’s gained from 13 years in the league.

He’s helped the rookies deal with the rigors of the season, too. And thus far, Mayo and Guyton in particular have performed and acted like seasoned veterans.

“We talk a lot. We’re in the meetings, in the weight room. If anything, I’ve just been trying to tell them we still have a long way to go,” Bruschi said Friday. “These guys are used to the season being over by now. If you count the four games in preseason and what we’ve played, they’d be done, or possibly preparing for a (college) bowl game. I’m trying to tell them about the old cliche, it’s not a race, it’s a marathon. The same things you did early in the season to prepare, you still have to do them now.”

Bruschi, along with other veterans, have done their best to help along youngsters like Woods who have been thrust into bigger roles due to injuries. Eleven games in, he likes what he sees.

“More than anything, I always look for attitude,” Bruschi said.

“I think the people up top and the coaches do a good job bringing good football players in here, but how can you judge what type of attitude a kid’s going to have? How hard of a worker he is? Is there any test you can run that says he’s going to be a hard worker? Is he going to accept leadership? You really don’t know.

“You don’t get a true gauge until they’re in that situation, and these young guys have done nothing but ask questions, absorb the things we’ve told them and work hard. I think that’s the most important thing to me. Because I think you can see the abilities they have, epecially Jerod. They got the ability. For me, I’m more concerned with their attitude, and their attitude has been great.”"