Tedy Bruschi realized what a quick study fellow linebacker Adalius Thomas is within the first couple of training camp practices.

Shown some run-stopping techniques in one session, the newly-acquired Patriot would already be showing marked improvement by the next workout.

``That’s the sign of a good football player,’’ Bruschi said.
``He’s such a good student. He’s picked things up very quickly. The best way I’ve been trying to help him with that process is just every single time he breaks the huddles, going over reminders, saying the defense again, reminding the personnel, the situations, the possible motions, things like that. And he does the same thing with me. That’s the way it has to be. That’s the way it’s always been, whether it’s been (Mike) Vrabel in there or (Roman) Phifer in there or (Ted) Johnson in there. Once you break the huddle, that’s when the communication starts.’’