bruschi

FOXBORO — The desire to compete still burns in Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

That’s why the 35-year-old 12-year NFL veteran signed a two-year contract, reportedly worth $4.1 million, with the Patriots less than a month after New England had lost to the New York Giants, 17-14, in Super Bowl XLII.

“I feel great and football is still fun for me,” Bruschi said yesterday at the first Savings Bank Life Insurance and Tedy Bruschi Football Camp for youngsters 8-12 at Gillette Stadium. “It’s a lot of fun, and to go through the offseason programs, I know there is a certain sort of protocol I go through to get myself ready.”

That process includes talking to his family and listening to his body, both physically and mentally.

“Do I feel good? Yes,” Bruschi said. “Do I still have the fire? Of course I do. The offseason program, the training, is my body responding? Yes it is. I feel great.”

Bruschi says the Patriots are not looking back to last season, when the Giants spoiled their bid for a perfect season. The Patriots are looking ahead to this season and focusing on winning games this year.

“You win [Super Bowls], you put them behind you. You lose them, you put them behind you,” Bruschi said. “No matter what it is, you have to move on and worry about the new challenges you have on your team. ... We have a lot of work to do for this season. Last season, all the other seasons, the Super Bowl victories and losses, those are all in the books.”

Bruschi said his offseason workout program has kept him in good shape, but like most NFL players, he is not looking forward to training camp. The Patriots’ camp is slated to open on July 27.

“You never look forward to training camp,” Bruschi said. “It’s the toughest month of the job, but once you get through that and you get to the regular-season week schedules, then it’s time to go.”

What Bruschi was looking forward to yesterday was putting smiles on the faces of the 54 children from Maine to Pennsylvania who got to experience what it is like to be a New England Patriot at the SBLI and Tedy Bruschi Football Camp.

After the children changed into shorts and a No. 54 Bruschi jersey in the Patriots’ visitors’ locker room, they were each individually introduced over the PA system at Gillette Stadium by Bruschi. When Bruschi called their names, they ran through the big blowup Patriots helmet and onto the field.

After stretching, they were taught the fundamentals of football through various drills by Bruschi, quarterback Matt Cassel, kicker Stephen Gostkowski, wide receiver Ray Ventrone and defensive lineman Mike Wright.

Bobby Green, an 8-year-old quarterback from North Kingstown, was one of the 54 children chosen in a random online drawing. There were more than 1,000 entrants, according to SBLI president Robert Sheridan.

“I’m really excited,” Green said before the event. “We are going to get to run out underneath the helmet and hear our name announced and learn from Tedy Bruschi.”

“It’s great that [Bruschi] does stuff like this,” Mike Green, Bobby’s father, said. Mike heard about the contest on the radio.

Bruschi was excited to partner with SBLI.

“When I want to partner myself with someone, I want to think of families,” Bruschi said. “I want to think of something fun for kids, and SBLI has been a great partnership for me in terms of what they’ve done with me. They’ve helped me put together a football camp where a lot of kids can come and play on our field. That doesn’t happen a lot.”

Sheridan and deputy team leader Saverio Mancini, who was one of the organizers of the event, said they couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out for the three-hour event.

roblee@projo.com