"A couple of months after his 35th birthday, Tedy Bruschi no longer takes anything for granted.

So when he was not among the Patriots final cuts Saturday, it was a time to say thanks and share a moment with a player who knew exactly what he was feeling.

“Rodney (Harrison) and I just recently congratulated each other on making the team,” Bruschi said yesterday. “He’s made his 15th and I’ve made my 13th. So now it’s like OK, it’s time to get ready for the season. It’s exciting trying to help another team win.”

Excitement is a good word to describe Bruschi’s current state. For the first time since he was a young linebacker himself, he’ll start alongside a precocious 20-something in rookie Jerod Mayo.

Bruschi likes what he has seen so far, and it has little to do with Mayo’s formidable skills on the field.

“It’s exciting to have a young player next to you, especially one like Jerod,” Bruschi said. “One thing that has impressed me since Day 1 is his attitude. He’s always got questions and always wants more info. You can tell he loves to play football. Young or old, playing next to a guy like that is going to excite me.”"