Belichick, Patriots Mum on Brady

Jan 25, 05:00 AM

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The mystery surrounding the injured right ankle of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady deepened Thursday when he was nowhere to be found during the media's access to practice and the locker room.

Coach Bill Belichick kept to his normal procedure of saying as little as possible about injuries, even one as potentially significant as this one as his team begins preparations for Super Bowl XLII and its eagerly anticipated rematch with the New York Giants on Feb.3. "I don't have any comment on it," Belichick said.

Brady was seen wearing a protective boot on his right ankle earlier this week when he was in New York, where he has been dating supermodel Gisele Bundchen. He was later filmed walking normally without the extra support.

The quarterback's father, Tom Brady Sr., said Wednesday that his son "tweaked" his ankle during Sunday's 21-12 victory against the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship Game.

He emphasized that concern over the injury's possible impact on New England's bid for 19-0 perfection was "much to-do about nothing."

Yet Belichick seemed happy to keep alive the subject and the speculation surrounding it.

When asked if the injury should be viewed by the media as a non-issue, he replied, "Portray it however you want."

Backup Matt Cassel, who threw only seven passes during the regular season, and third-string quarterback Matt Gutierrez, who threw one, handled passing drills during the portion of practice that local media were allowed to watch.

The teams are not required to submit formal injury reports until Wednesday.

"That form will be filled out completely, and I can't wait to give that to everybody," Belichick said.

"I know you're anxious for it, so when it's due on Wednesday, we'll have it for you. Don't worry about that."

Teammates weren't exactly forthcoming about the status of the two-time Super Bowl MVP, who comes off a superb regular season in which he threw for 4,806 yards -- No.3 on the NFL's all-time single-season list -- and a record 50 touchdowns.

"That's something you'd have to talk to Brady about," defensive lineman Richard Seymour said. "I have as much information as you do."

Cornerback Ellis Hobbs was willing to discuss anything but his indispensable quarterback. "I'm not talking about that," he said.

Linebacker Adalius Thomas responded playfully. "I don't know anything about a boot, a cup or a shoe," he said.

Running back Kevin Faulk, though, expressed confidence that Brady will lead the offense just as he has during three Super Bowl triumphs in the previous six seasons.

"He's going to play, man," Faulk said. "Don't even worry about it. If the game was today, he was going to play."

Brady, 6-4, 225 pounds, has made 126 consecutive starts. Faulk points to that streak as a testament to a rigorous offseason conditioning program in which the Pro Bowl passer is always demanding more of himself.

"He competes with the strongest guys and the fastest guys knowing he's not one of the strongest or fastest guys," Faulk said. "That's what makes Tom." (c) Copyright 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. Belichick, Patriots Mum on Brady
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