Brady hurt his left shin diving into the end zone in the first quarter of last Sunday's 35-7 win at Buffalo. Though he winced in pain and limped for some of the game, he played until the contest was out of hand.
Yesterday, Brady offered a limited update on his condition. (According to league rules, the term ''questionable" means he has a 50-50 chance of playing.)
''I'm doing better than I was a few days ago," Brady said. ''You guys know Belichick, so I'm not going to talk about this stuff. He's given me strict instructions to keep quiet, so that's what I'm doing.
''We'll see how it goes, so hopefully I'll be out there. I'm excited about what [Saturday's game against Tampa Bay] means for us, it's going to be a great challenge, one of the best teams in the NFC.
''I wish I could elaborate, but Belichick said, 'Don't say anything about it.' So, it's what the boss said, it's what I do."
Brady has started 84 straight games since taking over for Drew Bledsoe in the third game of the 2001 season.
''I've said that's something I'm really proud of," Brady said. ''There's something about showing up and playing every week. I think that's the goal of everybody in this locker room. Everybody wants to be out there. Sometimes you're limited and you just try to see where you're at.
''I've been very fortunate over the years, not to have any major injuries that would keep me out. When I separated my shoulder a few years ago, it was the last game of the year. But that was really it."
Apparently the statute of limitations has run out on the old shoulder injury from the 2002 season. Brady has never acknowledged it being separated.
During the portion of the workout the media was allowed to view, Brady did practice and appeared normal.
Tampa is the only NFL team that Brady has never started against, though that has no effect on the Bucs' admiration for the Patriots' signal-caller.
