SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – There was a time Tedy Bruschi just wanted to “function as a family man again.” Never mind trying to play professional football or win another Super Bowl. That’s natural when you’ve suffered a stroke. But there he was late yesterday, sitting at another Super Bowl podium talking about winning another championship.

Getting ready to face the Giants in Super Bowl XLII wasn’t even on the radar screen when Bruschi suffered a stroke soon after Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.

“I had a cardiologist tell me, ‘Don’t worry we’ll get you back out there,’ and I wanted to strangle him because I wasn’t thinking about that at all,” Bruschi said. “All I was thinking about was functioning as a family man.

“But as I got better and better I thought maybe this is possible. Getting back in 2005 was an incredible journey.”

Getting back to the Super Bowl, especially this Super Bowl, has been an incredible journey as well. Eighteen wins without a defeat. The setting couldn’t be better either considering Bruschi played collegiately at the University of Arizona in nearby Tucson.

“I’m in a state I feel very fond of and where I have a lot of history,” Bruschi said. “To be here is sort of like coming full circle because it was so recent after our third Super Bowl that (the stroke) happened. To be here in the state of Arizona is very special.”

Bruschi hasn’t put his stroke in the rear view mirror. When he takes the field on Sunday, he will be representing all stroke survivors.

“I work with the American Stroke Association a lot,” he said. “This is a victory for all stroke survivors. I realize the whole grasp of things I’vebeen able to accomplish. A lot of stroke survivors look up to me. So I’m proud to call myself a stroke survivor.”

The Patriots landed here late yesterday amid a steady rain that fell throughout the day. But it didn’t dampen the players’ spirits.

“It starts to hit you now,” Bruschi said. “You can feel the excitement with all the attention and the exposure.”