FOXBORO -- One of the true good-soldier Patriots of the last decade has decided to retire.

Inside linebacker Ted Johnson, a fixture of successful Patriot teams under the last three head coaches, cited the effects of multiple concussions in announcing his desire to leave professional football on the day before his 11th training camp was about to begin.

`` It is with deep regret that I have decided to retire from football,'' Johnson, 32, said in a statement released Thursday morning by the Patriots' media relations department.

`` The decision was not an easy one, but life sometimes has a timetable all its own. I can no longer ignore the severe short- and long-term complications of the concussive head injuries I have sustained over the years,'' he said.

In a conference call with New England media Thursday evening, he said that he may have been guided `` subconsciously'' in his decision after witnessing the challenges being faced by fellow linebacker Tedy Bruschi following the latter's stroke in February.

Bruschi, who was hospitalized less than a week after participating in his first Pro Bowl and later reportedly underwent surgery to repair a small hole in his heart that caused the stroke, has decided to sit out the 2005 season to continue his rehabilitation. Johnson said he `` didn't feel right'' all last season.

`` I felt this way before Tedy had his health issues,'' he said. `` It didn't really affect me in a direct way ... maybe on a subconscious level, but I haven't felt well long before Tedy had his health issues.''

`` There were times when I just didn't feel right, and you just keep playing. You're a football player, that's what you do,'' added Johnson, who underwent a series of examinations in recent weeks that revealed the cumulative effects of repeated head trauma, perhaps as many as six diagnosed concussions in recent years.

`` There were a lot of symptoms that suggested that there could be some long-term effects from the head trauma,'' he said. `` I really didn't put much time or energy into it after that. I didn't think it was an issue that I needed to pursue with any real urgency ... but there was evidence that it was more serious than I wanted it to be.

`` It just hit me like a bolt of lightning,'' he said. `` You can't ignore this, you have to address this.''

Among the symptoms Johnson cited were `` cognitive clarity, sleep ... that was an issue, and my memory. There was a lot of evidence of memory loss.''

Johnson, married with four children, had to weigh issues that undoubtedly are still being considered by Bruschi and his family.

`` I could still play, but I'd open myself up to some potentially very damaging, long-term health issues,'' he said. `` I love this game. It's given me more than I could have ever hoped for. But at the end of the day, when I look at my wife and my four kids ... those are the most important things to me. I just hope I have the wits and intuition to know that when it's time to go, you'd better go.''