"Patriots quarterback Tom Brady looked out into a packed media room and noted that it wasn't a normal Wednesday. With the AFC Championship Game against the Ravens looming Sunday, only four teams are alive.

"I'd rather be doing this than watching soap operas," Brady joked.

Yet what he wasn't doing was playing football. Brady sat out yesterday's workout because of a sprained left (non-throwing) shoulder. The ailment that he suffered in Week 16 against the Dolphins had caused him to miss Wednesday practices in the past, and it's not likely he aggravated it with the Broncos hitting him just twice last week."