Former Patriots linebacker Matt Chatham, who helped victims of the Boston Marathon bombing on Monday, joined Mut & Merloni on Wednesday for an emotional recounting of his experience. To hear the interview, go to the Mut & Merloni audio on demand page.

Matt Chatham

Chatham and another former Patriot, Joe Andruzzi, were near the finish line to support marathoners who were running to raise money and awareness for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, which aids cancer patients and their families. Chatham has estimated he was about 15 feet from the second explosion, yet he escaped relatively unscathed and was able to assist those who were seriously injured — including one woman who lost a foot in the blast.

“There’s still some people that we haven’t gotten word; I know the families probably want their privacy,” Chatham said. “But my wife and I are still laying awake at night wondering about that woman that we carried out, because she was one of the many that were really badly injured.

“There’s so many people from [the Andruzzi charity team] that were there helping. Our first instinct — the blast was in front of us — we were trying to get people off the street. Most of the carnage was right there in front of you. We were trying to get people back in the building. As I mentioned, I think there were some reports that Joe and I were helping people at the finish line; his deal was up there, we were back and more involved in the second blast.

“Our situation was there were a lot of I guess more of it being entrepreneurial, just makeshift, MacGyver-type situations. One of our friends was pouring drinks on a man that was burning, just trying to figure out ways to get him out. The woman that happened to move to the back of the alley way, I had to carry her because her foot had been blown off. She ended up at my wife’s feet. Like a nice husband and wife couple, we’re bickering about if I should be helping people in the street or if we should help people who had fallen in the restaurant. My thinking at the time was that the woman had simply tripped, and we just needed to help get her up and keep people moving. Then we turned and realized that she had had pretty traumatic injuries.

“It just speaks to sort of the chaos that’s around it. All of our sort of recollections will probably continue to meld here in the next several days and weeks. I think my account initially, I assumed she was blown into our area. But from accounts from some of the people near us were telling me that she actually crawled to that spot and needed to be carried. We’re really uncertain. It’s just that — I know it’s not war, but that fog of war kind of feel.

“Again, so many heroic things that happened that day. I’m just a tiny part of it. It really doesn’t seem right.”

Added Chatham: “If there’s anything good that came of this, I just think the volunteers that are involved in this thing are incredible people. The fact that we ended up carrying people out was just because we were there. We tend to hang out with all the kind of people that would always carry people out. I don’t know anyone that would have stepped over those people and not aided them.”

Chatham said the charity team members he’s spoken with are of the same frame of mind, that they are grateful to be alive and ready to make more of a difference going forward.

“The rest of the foundation and all the people that were there close and that for whatever reason are still here, most of our conversations have surrounded around how blessed we are and how we were out there for a good cause to begin with, and this seems like another lease on life,” he said. “It’s like we really have more good work to do. For some reason God spared us. For some reason that bomb didn’t make those few more feet back. I think we all feel like now’s the time to get to work and really make something positive out of all of this.”

The Joe Andruzzi Foundation will celebrate five years of successful fundraising for cancer patients and their families with the New England Celebrities Tackle Cancer Gala, set for December 3 at Gillette Stadium.

Andruzzi, a former Patriots guard who has waged his own battle against cancer, will bring together supporters, celebrities and athletes, including current and former Patriots players, for what is anticipated to be a record-breaking fundraiser. All proceeds raised through the event will go toward helping the Joe Andruzzi Foundation provide more cancer patients with financial assistance, as well as supporting pediatric brain cancer research.

“This has been a monumental year for the Foundation; we’re blessed to help more cancer patients and provide more support for research at Boston Children’s Hospital than ever before,” Andruzzi said. “But helping more people requires additional support from our community, and we plan to make this year’s gala our best yet.  We’re honored to once again invite our friends and supporters to join us for this fun and heart-warming benefit in hopes of raising significant funds to help families with their bills during treatment. Jen and I know the cancer battle all too well, and every little bit truly helps.”

Individual tickets to the fifth annual gala are available exclusively at JAFGala.org. Information regarding a limited number of remaining sponsorship packages is available online, or by contacting the Foundation directly at 774-284-4694 or emailing gala@joeandruzzifoundation.org.

Joe Andruzzi (AP)

Late last week, I had the opportunity to talk with former Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi about his post-football life, which includes heading up the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, as well as working as a part-time strength and conditioning coach with the Patriots.

Andruzzi, the starting left guard on all three Super Bowl-winning teams, was a regular presence on the field during the most recent round of OTA’s, and said so far, he likes what he sees, despite the fact that there are a lot of new faces.

“Not just on the offensive line, but there are a lot of new faces everywhere in the locker room,” he said. “That being said, the aura around the offensive line is still there. These guys still know that regardless of whether you’re a veteran or a guy just getting here off the street, that this is a football team where you’re held accountable for everything you do, on and off the field. You always have to worry about doing your job and getting it right.

“I think across the board, these guys are hungry. A lot of the younger guys just want a chance, and they’ll do everything they can to make the most of that chance,” he added. “Specifically, in regards to the offensive linemen, it’s a group of real hardworking guys. They’ve all been consistent through the offseason program. They’ve done a great job of sticking together — the guys usually stick together by position, and they all try and push each other. This is a group of real competitors.”

The offensive line is in a bit of a state of flux, with starting left tackle Matt Light now retired, starting left guard Logan Mankins coming off a serious knee injury and starting right guard Brian Waters hinting at retirement. New faces include veteran Robert Gallery, as well as younger guys like Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon and Donald Thomas, all of whom are ready to assume larger roles in 2012.

Andruzzi isn’t worried about any sort of breakdown in continuity — not as long as Dante Scarnecchia is in charge.

“Dante is by far one of the best coaches in that staff,” Andruzzi said of Scarnecchia, who will be entering his31st season in the league and his 13th straight year as New England’s offensive line coach. “You can give him five guys off the street and he’ll get them ready to play at a high level.”

In his playing days, Joe Andruzzi developed a bond with Patriots fans that continues to this day. (AP)

When he played for the Patriots from 2000 through 2004, offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi was accorded as the toughest guy in the locker room. The offensive lineman started at left guard for all three of New England’s Super Bowl teams, and left a legacy of consistency and durability that few have matched.

He’s kept that same sort of resolve in the next phase of his life as well. In addition to his work as a part-time strength and conditioning coach with the Patriots, Andruzzi — a cancer survivor himself — heads up the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, which is geared toward providing financial assistance for patients and their families as well as funding pediatric brain cancer research

Andruzzi, who underwent his own battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma five years ago (he’s now in remission), said he can identify with the families who are going through the trauma that comes along with fighting cancer.

“We know what they’re going through,” Andruzzi said. “I was in the hospital, and I felt those walls closing in around me. It was tough. Thankfully, I got paid very well over the course of my career, so we could take care of the bills. But others aren’t as fortunate.

“People have mortgages and rent and utility bills that sit at home when they are in the hospital. Those bills don’t have anything to do with medical bills, but they still need to get paid as much as the other bills.”

One of Andruzzi’s major fundraisers is right around the corner, as he will be hosting the fourth annual Joe Andruzzi and Friends golf tournament, set for June 18 at the Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy. Tight end Rob Gronkowski and linebacker Rob Ninkovich are listed as special guests hosts for the event, which will include a round of golf, a helicopter ball drop and a live auction with all sorts of memorabilia. (For more on the event, as well as a look at the work the Andruzzi foundation is doing, click here.)

For Andruzzi, seeing so many current and former Patriots come up to help raise money for such a worthy cause is gratifying.
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The 2011 regular season debut of “Patriots All-Access” airs Friday on WBZ-TV at 7 p.m. and is posted immediately following on Patriots.com.

Here are some highlights:

•Coach Bill Belichick explains his reasoning behind some recent roster moves as the Patriots get ready for their week one contest on Monday Night Football in Miami. He also breaks down the Dolphins on the Belestrator.

•Sights and sounds from the preseason.

•Steve Burton sits down with Patrick Chung, now the longest-tenured safety on the Patriots.

•A look back at the ten year anniversary of the attacks of 9/11 through the eyes of Patriots past and present, including owner Robert Kraft, Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe, Tedy Bruschi, Troy Brown and Joe Andruzzi.

Here’s a quick preview:

Tom Brady and the Patriots host the Giants in their final tuneup for the regular season.

FOXBORO — The Patriots look to finish the preseason on a winning note Thursday night as they get ready for the season opener in Miami on Sept. 12.

But the game figures to resemble a look more like the preseason opener, as a majority of starters will either not start or see a very limited role.

Of course, Bill Belichick wasn’t very detailed or forthcoming this week about who would play against the Giants at Gillette, or how much they might play.

It would not be a shock to see the offensive first until get one or two series after their dismal performance of last Saturday in Detroit.

Aside from the 44-yard Tom Brady to Wes Welker TD connection, the offense was unable to get much going at all. Welker did suit up but is not expected to play much if at all while Danny Woodhead, banged up with a Devin Holland shot to the head in the fourth quarter of the 31-14 win at Tampa Bay on Aug. 18, did warm up in pregame and could see some action.

Woodhead warmed up 90 minutes before the game with Julian Edelman, catching passes from Ryan Mallett, who is expected to see a majority of the playing time.

Shaun Ellis warmed up in his pants and is expected to make his preseason debut, along with Albert Haynesworth.

This is a game where the second- and third-teamers see a lot of action as the coaching staff looks for more film to help them with the necessary cut to the 53-man roster by Saturday at 4 p.m.

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The Patriots, who will be on the road for the regular-season opener (the weekend of Sept. 11) announced Wednesday they will recognize the 10th anniversary of 9/11 before Thursday’s preseason finale against the Giants.

The team will host former guard Joe Andruzzi, his three New York City firefighter brothers and his father, a former New York City police officer. It was an iconic moment in franchise history, when the four Andruzzi boys and their father were recognized on the field at Foxboro Stadium on September 23, 2001, just 12 days after the events of 9/11 as the NFL returned to play. The Andruzzi family will serve as honorary game captains and participate in the coin toss.

Also as part of the tribute, members of all five branches of the military will participate in pregame ceremonies, as well as local police, state police and local firefighters. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard will present five separate color guards for the national anthem while dozens of police officers and firefighters line the field from end zone to end zone. Approximately 200 armed service members, police and firefighters will take part in the ceremonies Thursday night.