National Football League

Bruschi takes shot at Ochocinco

Published Sep. 13, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Former New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi on Tuesday ripped into Chad Ochocinco over a tweet in which the new Patriots receiver suggested he was in awe of the team's offense.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw for a franchise-record 517 yards against the Miami Dolphins Monday night, but only 14 of those yards were contributed by Ochocinco.

A day after his Patriots debut, Ochocinco tweeted, "Just waking up after a late arrival, I've never seen a machine operate like that n person, to see video game numbers put up n person was WOW."

In an appearance on WEEI Radio Tuesday, Bruschi took exception to the comment, saying the former Bengal needed to stop being a fan and "join the system."

"Drop the awe factor, OK, Ocho, Chad, drop the awe factor," said Bruschi, who retired in 2009 after 13 seasons with the Patriots.

"You're not a fan, alright. You're not someone who's on another team or watching TV. You're not an analyst. You're a part of it . They want you to be a part of it. So get with the program because obviously you're not getting it.

"Stop tweeting and get in your playbook," Bruschi added. "If you're in [the game] and you know what you're doing and you execute out there, you don't think it's amazing. You know why? Because it's what you're supposed to do.

"All of a sudden it's second nature. 'I know i was supposed do that ... because we're that good and that's what we're supposed to do and that's what I thought we were gonna do.'

"You are still in awe to be a member of the New England Patriots offense. Join the system, buddy."

The Patriots won 38-24 on the back of Brady's mammoth game, with Ochocinco's fellow receiver Wes Welker making eight receptions for 160 yards with two touchdowns, including a 99-yarder.