The Patriots are free of their football responsibilities until July 30 and the start of training camp, so it's time for some of them to become active in various civic/promotional endeavors. There's often a noble purpose behind most of these activities, although there's never a sponsor very far behind that wants to hitch its name and logo to the wagon of a popular pro player.

One such case is the youth football clinic being conducted today by Patriots' linebacker Tedy Bruschi at Gillette Stadium. It's sponsored by SBLI (Savings Bank Life Insurance), with whom Bruschi has an ongoing commercial relationship. Here's the explanation of the camp as gleaned from a press release sent to my desk by the SBLI folks:
"The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts (SBLI) and Tedy Bruschi team up for a youth football mini-camp at Gillette Stadium. Fifty-four children, ages 7 to 14, will get the experience of being a member of the New England Patriots. The activities will start with participants dressing in the locker room, getting the mini-camp’s “game plan” from Bruschi himself, followed by an introduction onto the field over the stadium PA system. Like the Patriots, the kids will run out of the giant Patriots helmet and onto the field, where they will then be led through on-field stretching before participating in football drills with Tedy Bruschi and some of his Patriots pals.
"The lucky children were chosen via an essay contest in partnership with the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and the Boston Public Schools. The children were asked to write about their game plan for being healthy and doing their best in school. The other spots were offered to several not for profits. Among them are Camp Harbor View, the American Stroke Association, the Home for Little Wanderers, AccesSport America, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Woburn & Lawrence and the South Shore & Worcester YMCAs, among others."
Another Patriot who's getting behind a cause today (and this one is a little less commercial in nature) is kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who's on board with former Patriot Andre Tippett for a "Summer Safety Blitz" event at Patriot Place. Gostkowski and Tippett will be joining state troopers from all six New England states and New York in a day-long event (centered around the plaza next to the CBS Scene restaurant) to read to kids and help promote a summer of safe family fun.
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