Tom Brady News: Pro Sports Daily

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November 7

Boston Globe

"The Ravens expressed the feeling after losing to the Patriots a month ago. Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter seconded it. And now, Tom Brady's refuting it. On a Thursday appearance on the NFL Network, Porter told host Rich Eisen he believes Brady "gets his own rules.'' That's not the way the Patriots quarterback sees it."

Players don't bite on Joey Porter

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November 7

Boston Herald

"Some of the Patriots haven't heard Joey Porter's incendiary comments. Others just shrug it off like they did when the Jets flapped their gums during Week 2. Porter, the Dolphins linebacker, may be boosting the reputation of the AFC East as a trash-talking division, but veteran Patriots linebacker Junior Seau had a response to that. "Leave us out of that," Seau said. "We're not going to join that crew." Porter went on the NFL Network's "Around the League" and essentially said quarterback Tom Brady works from his own set of rules."

Dolphins look to continue strong play against Tom Brady

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November 6

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Against the rest of the NFL, he is Tom Brady. Dashing figure of impending doom, King of New England, winner of three Super Bowl rings and nearly a fourth, orchestrator of the Patriots' quick-strike offense, author of countless fourth-quarter comebacks, and, lest we forget, husband of a Brazilian supermodel. In 14 career outings against the Dolphins, however, this same acclaimed quarterback has more often resembled Peter Brady. You know, of sitcom rerun infamy. Bumbling figure of self-inflicted doom, loser of football games that should have been won, thrower of interceptions that could have been avoided, teller of jokes that inevitably fall flat. All right, that last part can't be verified, ..."

Patriots are getting a healthy dose of Brady

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November 5

Boston Globe

"Maybe you're skeptical that the 1,033 yards and 94 points the Patriots have posted over their last two games are a simple byproduct of playing teams that are a combined 1-13. Maybe you're not sure that Tom Brady is all the way back. Maybe you shouldn't worry about it. "I would say that the Patriots I've seen the last couple weeks is the real Patriots offense,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. "What I mean by that is, I'm sure, like anybody else, time makes you a little bit better and makes you a little bit sharper. Those guys are pretty sharp right now.''"

Despite routs, doubts linger over Tom Brady

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November 5

Boston Herald

"The bye week allowed for a step back. In the long-range view, it showed a Patriots offense in two distinct forms. Over the first five games, Tom Brady led an inconsistent attack that limped to a 3-2 record. Seeing the former league MVP, who was still recovering from major knee surgery, miss an open receiver was not rare. Then Brady went retro, taking observers back to that MVP year of 2007 with 1,033 yards of offense and 94 points in the next two games against woeful opponents. Will the real Patriots offense please stand up? Will the Dolphins see the unit that often features Brady's brethren hugging in the end zone or the one whose lowlights are miscommunications and miscues? Coach Bill ..."

Pats tackle cancer; rested Brady returns to town

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November 3

Boston Globe

"Former Patriot Joe Andruzzi was surrounded by his Pats pals in Foxborough last night for the second annual New England Celebrities Tackle Cancer Gala, which benefited the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. The guest list for the event included Tom Brady, who was back in town after a weekend in South Beach with his wife, Gisele Bundchen, and teammates Stephen Neal, Dan Koppen, Matt Light, and Jarvis Green. The party was held at Christina's on Route 1. Speaking of Brady, he talked about more than just football when he was on WEEI yesterday morning. The Pats QB called his recent Florida vacation a honeymoon, of sorts, saying that they watched the Jets-Dolphins game and relaxed with friends. The famous ..."

Brady feeling good

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October 31

Boston Globe

"Put aside the knee injury that destoryed his 2008 season, all of the surgery, all of the rehab. Tom Brady turned 32 this summer, the point of his athletic life when aches and pains tend to linger a little longer and matter a little more. With his performance this month, when he earned the AFC Offensive Player of the Month award, Brady further proved his knee has reached a point that will allow to perform at his typically elite level. The attention has been on his knee, and not his age. That also could have tempered his season. It has not. Brady, speaking on tonight's "Patriots All Access" show, said he feels great physically. Most interestingly, he said his arm has never felt better, and ..."

Offense answers call

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October 27

Boston Herald

"The time for taunting has long passed. Even if he wanted to, Patriots coach Bill Belichick doesn't have ammunition anymore. Quarterback Tom Brady and the offense have gone from zero plays longer than 40 yards before Week 6 to four plays of at least that length during the past two games. Brady's 54-yard touchdown pass to Sam Aiken was the latest example, helping seal a 35-7 rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium Sunday. Brady now has three 40-plus yard passes, and Laurence Maroney has a 45-yard run. After Belichick's good-natured ribbing and constant reminders of the lack of explosive plays, they got the message. Perhaps the coach will use the bye week to conjure up another ..."

Trip all work for Patriots

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October 22

Boston Herald

"With potential distractions looming as the Patriots head to London for this Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, Bill Belichick had relatively simple advice for his team. "(Tuesday) we spent a good half hour, 45 minutes going over that, making sure we look to the right when we cross the road (and) not the left, some of the real important things," Belichick said. While Belichick delivered the line with a smile, he is aware that playing a game in a foreign country offers unusual challenges. "We'll touch on some of that when we get there," the Patriots coach said. "Those are all things that we're taking into consideration and they are time consuming and they are distractions. . . . There are ..."

Tom Brady, Patriots in Catch-22

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October 22

Boston Herald

"By the time Tom Brady steps on the Wembley Stadium grass, he plans to have nothing but confidence in his receivers. Against the 0-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in London, Brady will have Randy Moss and Wes Welker, two household names about whom the Patriots quarterback has no doubts. "Not much to worry about with them," Brady said. But after that, it gets interesting. If the formation calls for a third or fourth receiver, the Patriots (4-2) have nothing but questions. With the release of veteran Joey Galloway and rookie Julian Edelman breaking his arm, neither Brady nor coach Bill Belichick has said who will see action. What is known is that rookies Brandon Tate and Terrence Nunn are options to ..."

Tom Brady's all business

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October 21

Boston Herald

columnist Karen Guregian

"Members of the British media got a chance to grill Tom Brady [stats] during a conference call yesterday afternoon and were surprisingly tame. They kept to the basics. There were no Gisele Bundchen questions, no baby questions. They stuck to football and the Patriots' looming trip to London to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Brits wanted to know why Brady fell in love with the game, and if he took time to find out about his Irish roots. Brady, of course, spoke of growing up in California and being a Joe Montana fan. Of more interest to the media across the pond, Brady said his family had descended from Country Cork. "My father is 100 percent Irish. We took a trip over there ..."

No need to worry, Tom Brady still has it all

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October 19

Boston Herald

"Any more concerns about the quarterback? After a week of angst about what's wrong with Tom Brady and his offense, the quarterback needed just 15 minutes to play better than any other had in NFL history. Admittedly, this was against a team that not only is terrible but also laid down like Old Yeller in front of the fireplace. However, not even that could take away from Brady's record-setting five touchdown passes in the second quarter of a snow-encrusted 59-0 pummeling of the Tennessee Titans or Houston Oilers or whomever Jeff Fisher's team thought it was yesterday. What it wasn't was an NFL team, but that's not Brady's fault. In fact, in this game nothing was except for the embarrassment ..."

Patriots offense erupts in historic blowout

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October 19

Boston Herald

"Tom Brady spent most of the second half wrapped in a parka, hands in his pockets, trying to stay warm as the snow fell around him. The Patriots quarterback had turned in a record-setting day amid adverse conditions, helping embarrass the woeful Tennessee Titans. Yet each time he glanced at the Gillette Stadium scoreboard yesterday and read the 59-0 score, there was no shock. He did not admit awe that his team had set a franchise record for both points and yards. "I don't think it shakes anybody up when you go out there and do that," said Brady, who had a passer rating of 152.8. "That just shows that when we go out and execute, we're going to score points." On the heels of a tough loss to ..."

Brady is no Tom Terrific

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October 16

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Just how bad has it been for Tom Brady this year? The NFL's 2007 Most Valuable Player missed all but one quarter last season after surgery on his left knee. It shows. Sunday, in a loss at Denver, Brady launched a long pass to Randy Moss that was too long. He threw a short pass and hit an open Wes Welker - in the foot. When he tried to stage a go-ahead drive in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, he lost a fumble when he was sacked. The Patriots lost to the Broncos, 20-17, in overtime. Brady hasn't been terrible, he just hasn't been Tom Brady. And with the team 3-2, he's getting roasted. "Everyone counts on me to perform at a certain level," Brady said. "You really feel, in a way, ..."

Sharp-eyed observations

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October 16

Boston Globe

"There was plenty to dissect from the Patriots' offensive performance against Denver Sunday. But when the passes are off-target, quarterback Tom Brady said, the results cannot affect his confidence. Brady leads the NFL in pass attempts (207) and is second in completions (127), but the results have not always led to big plays or touchdowns (six). The miscues seem to point to a unit that is out of synch. "You've got to be the one to ultimately go out there and perform better,'' Brady said. "Everyone counts on me to perform at a certain level. I count on them to do their job. When you're not doing it, it's very frustrating when you really feel in a way that you're letting your teammates down. ..."

Tom Brady, he's only human

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October 16

Boston Herald

columnist Ron Borges

"Shakespeare figured it out more than 400 years ago so what's taken Tom Brady and his followers so long? The world's greatest playwright was no fan of football but he understood the human condition. If Patriots fans did, they would have saved a lot of money on blood pressure medicine by now. In "The Merchant of Venice," Shakespeare's villain, Shylock, goes on trial, defending his actions at one point by insisting he's just a man, like all men. "If you prick us, do we not bleed?" he says, knowing the truth is indeed so. Difficult as it has been for many to grasp, same is true for Brady, whose predictable struggles have caused ardent fans to forget if you prick him he bleeds, too, and if you ..."

Tom Brady bullish for big-play revival

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October 15

Boston Herald

"Tom Brady is longing for the long ball. So is Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Both want to see a return of the big play to the Pats' offense. During Sunday's loss to Denver, Brady missed a wide open Randy Moss with a deep throw to the end zone. He says that has to change. "We haven't hit them this year," Brady said. "Coach (Belichick) hammered into us today we haven't had a pass over 40 yards yet this year in five games. It's something that I got to do a better job of. There's only one way to do it, and that's to go out there and work on it. You've got to hit them, that's why you play quarterback." Brady indicated there was no problem hitting them in practice. It was just a matter of better ..."

Ravens' John Harbaugh continues complaints, questions officiating in loss to Patriots, Tom Brady

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October 13

USA Today

"The Ravens' dissatisfaction with the officiating in Sunday's 27-21 loss at New England continued on Monday when coach John Harbaugh considered if Patriots QB Tom Brady gets more favorable calls than his opponents. "I sure hope not," Harbaugh told reporters, via the AP, when asked if Brady's superstar status affects offcials' decision-making. "I'd like to think it's not engrained in their subconscious in some way. If it is, I would like to think they're professional enough to not take it that way. That would be very important that it's not the case." Ravens LBs Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs blasted the officials on Sunday after Baltimore was flagged for roughing-the-passer penalties on two ..."

Stats don't lie: Tom Brady's been off

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October 13

Boston Herald

"Five games into the Tom Brady comeback tour from reconstructive left knee surgery, and we're still waiting for the real quarterback to emerge. He's still not quite right, and by extension, nor is the Patriots offense. Brady's numbers alone make you pause because they're so pedestrian. Entering last night, there were 18 quarterbacks in the league with a better passer rating than Brady's 85.9. Even the Redskins' Jason Campbell and Cowboys' Tony Romo ranked higher. Ouch. For comparison's sake, after five games in his record-setting 2007 season, Brady's rating was a sparkling 128.7. Here are some other numbers entering last night that help give Brady's performance this season some perspective: ..."

Broncos down Patriots in OT

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October 12

Denver Post

"As often happens when Bill Belichick coaches against one of his former assistants, the showdown between teacher and student got heated. Only Belichick was an innocent nonbystander on the opposite sideline, nowhere near the tongue-lashing and glare Broncos coach Josh McDaniels gave his special-teams assistant, Mike Priefer. "I deserved it," Priefer said. "It was a field position game and those were costly mistakes. I should have coached them better. But that's OK. We'll learn from it and keep getting better.""

Broncos pen in Tom Brady

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October 12

Boston Herald

"The Denver Broncos defense had corralled Carson Palmer and shut down Tony Romo. But Tom Brady was supposed to be a different story, what with the Patriots star sporting three Super Bowl rings and a rebuilt knee. But after having his way with the Broncos in the first half, Brady and the Pats went nowhere. "In the second half, not scoring any points, that's a tough way to end the day," said Brady, who finished the 20-17 overtime loss 19-of-33 passing for 215 yards, with a critical fourth-quarter sack-fumble that derailed hopes of victory. "Everybody's frustrated. We made too many bad plays. We just have to get on the same page and get back to work." That was evident on what might have been a ..."

Brady is unapologetic about roughing calls

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October 8

Boston Globe

"Tom Brady conceded that the Patriots were "fortunate'' to get a pair of roughing-the-passer penalties that extended touchdown drives last Sunday in their win over Baltimore, but the quarterback wasn't about to apologize for the flags, which Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and coach John Harbaugh have insinuated were the result of special treatment for Brady. "I want the penalty call,'' said Brady. "I want 15 yards. I don't care whether they hit me or not, that's an advantage for our offense.'' He added with a grin, "I go hug the ref before the game, ask about his kids and stuff like that. I'm trying to get him on our side.''"

Tom Brady takes any advantage

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October 8

Boston Herald

"Tom Brady made no apologies yesterday for playing up the two roughing the passer calls he received during Sunday's win against the Ravens. The Patriots quarterback will do just about anything to gain an advantage for his team. "I want the penalty call. I want 15 yards. I don't care whether they hit me or not. That's an advantage for our offense," Brady said. "I go hug the ref before the game, ask about his kids and stuff like that. I'm trying to get him on our side." That was just one of several revelations made by Brady during his weekly chat with the media. In answering another question about the so-called Brady Rule, and roughing the passer calls in general, Brady admitted he might have ..."

Champ Bailey has utmost respect for Randy Moss, Tom Brady

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October 8

Boston Herald

"Who needs a film room to diagnose the Patriots offense when you have Champ Bailey to give you the lowdown? Think Tom Brady isn't all the way back from his knee surgery? The Broncos Pro Bowl corner says the quarterback is closing in on 100 percent. Think Randy Moss lollygags? Bailey says you're crazy. Bailey, one of the best corners ever to play the game, provided many interesting insights and observations during his session with the local media yesterday. None was more fascinating than what he had to say about Moss, who he has been battling the past decade and beyond. The 31-year-old defender is looking forward to another knockdown, drag-out affair Sunday with No. 81, who did not practice ..."

Rodney Harrison skirts criticism for Brady 'joke'

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October 6

Boston Herald

"NBC analyst Rodney Harrison was stunned to find out yesterday that quite a few people thought he was serious when he called out Tom Brady for crying to the referees during Sunday's win against the Baltimore Ravens. The former Patriots safety was deluged with e-mails from fans who couldn't believe he would turn on a former teammate, when he said of the quarterback: "Tom Brady, if you're listening, take off the skirt and put on some slacks. Toughen up." Harrison was kidding. He actually gave Brady a heads-up that he was going to bust his chops on TV before going on air and doing so. "Let me tell you something. No one has more respect for Tom Brady than me," Harrison said. "I've seen this ..."

Brady gets chills without Wes Welker

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October 4

Boston Herald

"For the past two weeks, Tom Brady has been without his go-to guy. His on-field security blanket has been missing. Not having wide receiver Wes Welker in the slot, at his disposal, has certainly given a different feel to the offense. Welker is the outlet Brady looks to when he's in trouble and when he needs to keep the chains moving. When Welker is not there, the trouble tends to multiply. At least, that's how it has transpired against the Jets and Falcons. Rookie Julian Edelman, aka "Mini-Me," may be a Welker clone, but he's still learning. Brady doesn't have the same level of trust with Edelman, as he does with Welker. Joey Galloway, meanwhile, is lost, and hasn't been able to find his ..."

Brady, Patriots struggling inside red zone

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October 1

Baltimore Sun

"Ravens safety Ed Reed said New England quarterback Tom Brady looks like the old Tom Brady, but he might not regain top form until next season. It usually takes two years for a player to fully recover from the type of extensive knee injury Brady suffered last season. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer suffered a major knee injury in a 2006 playoff game, and he hasn't played as well since even though he looked fine against the Steelers Sunday. Palmer has put up impressive numbers the past two seasons, but his passes seemed to float, and sail a lot."

Tom Brady, Ed Reed in thinking man's matchup

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October 1

Boston Herald

"In the moments before the ball is snapped on Sunday at Gillette Stadium, two of the brightest, hardest-working minds in football will be churning. Behind the center will be Tom Brady [stats], the Patriots [team stats] quarterback who has used a cerebral approach to become one of the most efficient players in the game's history. In the center of the defense will be Ed Reed, the Baltimore Ravens do-it-all safety who has been baiting passers into throwing him the ball since 2002. Brady will spot Reed, because the QB said, "You don't break the huddle and think, 'Let's just run this play without seeing where he's at.' " And Reed will be focusing on Brady's tells, attempting to figure out where ..."

Joe Flacco & Co. prove Ravens more than defense

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October 1

Boston Herald

"The numbers that have been posted through three games look like they could belong to Tom Brady [stats]'s offense. They could also fit into Peyton Manning's portfolio, or fall in with the amazing offensive statistics Drew Brees has piled up. They're just so un-Raven-like. From points scored (103), to points per game (34.3), to yards per game (430.3), to first downs (82), to touchdowns (13), to third down conversions (46 percent), to touchdowns scored in the red zone (10, on 14 possessions), the numbers speak of an incredibly potent offense. That's why the 3-0 Ravens, who visit Gillette Stadium Sunday, figure to pose an even greater challenge not only to the Pats, but to every other team in ..."

Brady is getting up to speed

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September 28

Boston Globe

"Tom Brady yesterday recorded his 200th career touchdown pass, becoming the fourth-fastest player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. Yet touchdowns have been coming slowly for the Patriots this season. Brady's milestone toss came on an improvised play in the fourth quarter of the 26-10 win over the Falcons. It was Brady's first touchdown pass since throwing two in the fourth quarter of the season-opening 25-24 win over the Bills. The Patriots continue to struggle in the red zone, scoring just one touchdown in five trips yesterday. Brady, however, was encouraged by the improvements he saw."

They'll take it, and continue moving forward

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September 28

Boston Globe

columnist Bob Ryan

"Is it coming? Perhaps. Maybe. Probably. Do you really want to hear that the New England Patriots are a - sorry - "work in progress?'' Can't say I actually heard that overworked cop-out phrase tumble out of any Patriot's mouth after yesterday's grinding 26-10 conquest of the Atlanta Falcons, but that certainly was the gist of the message. And you'd better buy it, because they are, well, not there yet. And he's not there yet, either."

Patriots play better, beat Ryan, Falcons

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September 28

Boston Globe

"During player introductions before yesterday's game against the Falcons, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was fixing his knee brace. Eventually, he got it the way he wanted. Brady can say the same about the outcome of yesterday's game, but not about the Patriots' offense, which still needs a little adjustment. Even with an offense that remains a work in progress and continues to cease progress in the red zone, the Patriots still scored an impressive 26-10 gut-check win over the previously undefeated Falcons (2-1) at soggy Gillette Stadium."

Long-distance connection

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September 28

Boston Herald

columnist Dan Ventura

"Just when it looked like the Patriots had developed an aversion to the end zone, salvation came in a most unlikely form. Facing a third-and-6 at the Falcons 36-yard line, and trying to put away a game they led, 19-10, with 7:55 remaining, the Patriots went for the kill. Lined up in the shotgun, Tom Brady took the snap, surveyed the field, and spotted a streaking target down the right side. The receiver wasn't the speedy Randy Moss, whom Brady had tried all day to connect with deep, but backup tight end Chris Baker instead. The 258-pounder got a step on Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson and hauled in the ball in stride, rambling into the end zone for the back-breaking touchdown. It was the ..."

Matt Ryan can't hit same Heights at Gillette

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September 28

Boston Herald

"The first stage of Matt Ryan's homecoming weekend went according to plan. The second part left much to be desired. Less than 24 hours after watching his alma mater Boston College dispose of Wake Forest in overtime, Ryan made an unsuccessful debut in Foxboro. He completed 17-of-28 passes for 199 yards, but failed to generate any points in the second half as the Atlanta Falcons fell to the Patriots, 26-10, yesterday at Gillette Stadium. "It was a bit of a frustrating loss for us," Ryan said. "I thought we came out and did a pretty good job on offense of moving the ball, but we couldn't get the ball in the end zone. When you play a good football team like New England in their stadium, you are ..."

Pressure cooked: Bad game plan dooms Falcons

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September 28

Boston Herald

"Falcons coach Mike Smith, of all people, should have known what was coming yesterday. Even when Tom Brady [stats] isn't sharp, if you go soft on him he will make it hard on you. Yet despite being armed with knowledge gained from harsh experience, Smith allowed Atlanta defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder to make the same decision yesterday that Smith made Jan. 12, 2008. Both paid the same price: They got beat. At the time, Smith was the defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars [team stats]. In a divisional playoff game, he decided that his team could not pressure Brady under any circumstance and chose instead to drop seven and eight defenders into coverage. Brady carved them up ..."

Patriots come clean

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September 28

Boston Herald

"The clouds never entirely lifted on a dreary, wet day. But amid the gray and the rain was a glimmer of light reflecting off the soggy turf at Gillette Stadium. Faced with early criticism in this young season, with the quarterback fending off more questions than he has in years, the Patriots [team stats] answered in emphatic, straight-forward fashion. They drummed the Falcons, 26-10, yesterday, using a physical running attack to build the lead, and then watching Tom Brady [stats] close it out with a 36-yard touchdown strike to Chris Baker. It was not perfect. And it may not erase the memory of the stinging loss to the Jets. But the wisdom comes in the same grizzled fashion as Fred Taylor ..."

Scrambling - for answers

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September 24

Boston Globe

"Tom Brady is Tom Brady because he rarely wilts in the face of pressure. So, when pressured for answers yesterday on why the Patriots offense has been operating at less than peak efficiency, Brady hung in against the steady rush of "What's wrong?'' questions. But, just like last Sunday against the Jets, the quarterback didn't have the answers. "We're all trying to understand the reasons why we haven't performed as well as we'd like in the last two games,'' said Brady. "It's a number of reasons, and I think the only thing we can really focus on as players is what we can do. I can certainly make better decisions with the ball and throw it more accurately. That's where it starts for me.''"

Tom Brady under the gun, but still firing away

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September 24

Boston Herald

"Tom Brady usually has picture-perfect form, but admitted yesterday he is not totally comfortable with his throwing mechanics this season. That would provide some explanation for why he's been uncharacteristically off-target with some of his throws thus far. Much has been made of Brady's altered mechanics as he tries to again accustom himself to the pressures of dealing with pass rushers in the pocket after reconstructive surgery on his left knee. "I think that's something I'm always working on, focusing on, trying to improve on," Brady said. "There's some positive things I took out of (Sunday's) game in terms of my mechanics and driving the ball. Still, I don't think it was where I'm 100 ..."

Troubling developments

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September 21

Boston Herald

"You are what you are and what the New England Patriots are at the moment is in trouble. Not three feet under water and the tide is rising kind of trouble. Not upside down on your mortgage and living off unemployment kind of trouble. Not surrounded by a pack of hungry hyenas with only a stick in your hand kind of trouble. But, then again, not exactly easily solvable trouble either. Not just gotta run to the hardware store for a can of paint honey trouble. Not just let me get a whisk broom and clean this up kind of trouble. Not the kind of trouble where the word "just" will ease your anxiety because their troubles may not be that easily solved. If you think you have to play the "hurry-up" ..."

Jets say he is 'the same Tom Brady'

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September 20

New York Post

"There has been a lot of talk this week about how Tom Brady didn't look like his "old self" against the Bills Monday night. To that thought, the Jets wonder, "Who have these people been watching?" Right tackle Damien Woody, who blocked for Brady when he played in New England before signing with the Jets, said Brady's "mental toughness" separates him from the rest. "He doesn't let anything faze him," Woody said. Woody recalled the hit Mo Lewis put on Drew Bledsoe back in 2001, prompting the Patriots to play Brady, a sixth-round draft pick who had been buried on the depth chart. "It changed the course of history," Woody said. Brady, who is 7-0 against the Jets lifetime at the Meadowlands ..."

Keeping a lid on trash

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September 18

Boston Globe

"The trash-talking coming from the Jets locker room was kicked up a notch yesterday in anticipation of Sunday's game against the Patriots. Some may think this would occur later in the season, but as Patriots running back Kevin Faulk put it, "There's no timetable on trash-talking.''"

Tom Brady: Talk is cheap

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September 17

Boston Herald

"Tom Brady is heading into his 16th game against the Jets, and the Patriots quarterback doesn't need to be schooled on the rivalry. New York spiced up the showdown by peppering the Patriots with its words, whether from coach Rex Ryan or his players. Brady warned not to confuse his team's silence with lack of intensity. "Obviously, we are very confident as a team, but talk is cheap," said Brady, who needs a win to match ex-Bear Jim McMahon for the longest streak of regular-season wins by a quarterback with 22. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins said it would be like his team's Super Bowl, a proclamation that Brady wouldn't repeat. He wouldn't be drawn in, either. "They can treat it however they ..."

Brady clutch when it counts

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September 15

Toronto Sun

"Tom Brady had not played a meaningful football game in 53 weeks -- and it showed. When Brady had the ligaments ripped in his left knee during the New England Patriots 2008 season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, questions arose about how the NFL's resident pretty boy would rebound in his first game back. They were answered last night. Yes, he was rusty. Yes, he needed time to get back into the groove. But once he did, he looked like the same Tom Terrific who led the Pats to three Super Bowl titles this decade."

New England roars back behind Tom Brady

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September 15

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Back on center stage, Tom Brady acted like, well, the NFL's biggest star. It seemed to take forever, though. A year after being sidelined by torn knee ligaments, he resembled a rusty game-manager more than the record-setting quarterback who guided the Patriots to a perfect 2007 regular season. Yet, he threw two touchdown passes to Benjamin Watson in the final 2:06 as New England beat Buffalo 25-24 Monday night. "When you're in a situation like we were, it's when you really have to step it up,'' Brady said. But he needed help in the form of Leodis McKelvin's fumble on a kickoff return after the Patriots pulled within five points. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski recovered at the Buffalo 31 after ..."

Week One best bets include Brady, Tomlinson

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September 15

Buffalo News

columnist Jay Skurski

"If Las Vegas provided lines on things like who will have the best fantasy production in Week One, Tom Brady's name would be taken off the board. The abuse the New England quarterback has doled out to the Buffalo Bills in their recent meetings borders on criminal. In his record-setting 2007 alone, Brady went 54 for 68 (79.4 completion percentage) for 684 yards and nine touchdowns (zero interceptions) against the Bills. With a national audience on Monday night waiting to see if Brady is indeed healthy, he is my No. 1 play for the first week of fantasy football. Here's the rest of my team of recommended starters, based on a squad of two running backs, two wide receivers, a tight end, flex ..."

QB started slow, but finished fast

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September 15

Boston Globe

"It was as if he never left. Tom Brady last night threw two touchdown passes in the final 2:06 to rally the Boston Patriots from an 11-point deficit for a 25-24 opening night win at the Razor. Knee? No problem. Shoulder? No problem. Brady completed 39 of 53 passes for 378 yards. In the second half he was 26 of 31. On the final drive, he was 3 for 3, needing only 66 seconds to take the Patriots into the end zone and the victory column. It was the best comeback concert since Elvis played the International in Vegas in 1969."

Cool Tom Brady warms to task

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September 15

Boston Herald

"A year away from the gridiron hasn't melted the ice water in Tom Brady's veins. Making his first regular-season start since suffering a 2008-ending knee injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 last September, Brady was Joe Cool last night when his team needed it most. He tied a personal single-game record by completing 39 passes in 53 attempts, for 378 yards and two touchdowns - both going to tight end Benjamin Watson in the final 2:06 as the Patriots rallied from an 11-point deficit to defeat the Buffalo Bills, 25-24. "That was as close as it gets," Brady said. "There were a lot of situational plays we made at the end of the game. If we didn't make them, we probably would have ..."

Tom Brady, Patriots win stunner

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September 15

Boston Herald

"They missed him. For most of the past year, while attempting to move forward, they missed him. Patriots players can admit it now. Tom Brady sat out most of last season with torn knee ligaments, a surreal experience that left players with no choice but to blindly move forward. The blinders came off in last night's opener, allowing them to see what a nation did and realize what they temporarily lost. Brady is back, a fact he punctuated in the Patriots' dramatic 25-24 win against the Bills in front of a delirious crowd of 68,756 at Gillette Stadium. All the quarterback did was lead an 11-point comeback with 5:32 left. "It's a great feeling to have that rhythm, that aspect of the game back," ..."

Moment of truth for Patriots, Tom Brady

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September 14

Boston Herald

"When it comes to assessing how good a team is going to be, the preseason isn't always the best judge. Once the bell rings for the regular season, that's when the answers start to come, and the guessing and speculating end. Or, as Patriots coach Bill Belichick put it Friday, all the "hot air," stops being blown. Tonight against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots will begin answering all the questions we've been debating for weeks. While they've been hyped as one of the best teams in the AFC, with or without Richard Seymour, can anyone say with certainty they are going to be able to patch all the trouble spots? Time for some truth. Time for reality, instead of supposition. ..."

Moment of truth for Patriots, Tom Brady

Comment

September 14

Boston Herald

"When it comes to assessing how good a team is going to be, the preseason isn't always the best judge. Once the bell rings for the regular season, that's when the answers start to come, and the guessing and speculating end. Or, as Patriots coach Bill Belichick put it Friday, all the "hot air," stops being blown. Tonight against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots will begin answering all the questions we've been debating for weeks. While they've been hyped as one of the best teams in the AFC, with or without Richard Seymour, can anyone say with certainty they are going to be able to patch all the trouble spots? Time for some truth. Time for reality, instead of supposition. ..."