The only thing on the NFL MVP that appeared to be hurting was his memory. When asked how this ankle injury compared with the one he had before Super Bowl XXXVI, Brady said he couldn't remember that one before declaring he would play in his fourth Super Bowl.
"This won't keep me out this game and that didn't keep me out of that game," said Brady, who was not wearing the famous walking boot he was photographed with last Monday in New York, touching off L'affaire Ankle.
Brady, who threw an NFL-record 50 touchdown passes this season, admitted he did not take the field for practice in Foxborough last week, sitting out sessions Thursday and Friday. He said that since suffering the injury against San Diego he has jogged around on the ankle, shuffled on it, dropped back and thrown the ball a little bit.
"Not as much as I would have if I've been practicing, but enough to know that I realize that I'm going to be able to play Sunday," Brady said.
However, neither Brady nor Patriots coach Bill Belichick would say definitively that the quarterback, who is seeking his fourth Super Bowl title, matching the marks of Pittsburgh Steelers great Terry Bradshaw and Brady's boyhood idol, San Francisco 49ers QB Joe Montana, would be at practice today.
When asked about Brady's status, Belichick said the team would have an update when it was required to by the league, which is on Wednesday, when the injury report is released.
"I'm looking forward to that," said the coach.
Brady was slightly more revealing, saying, "I think we need three good days of practice, which I hope to be participating in," said No. 12.
Brady was much more decisive when asked if his ankle injury hindered his performance against the Chargers. He was 22 of 33 for 209 yards and two touchdowns, but threw three interceptions, including one to Antonio Cromartie in the end zone late in the third quarter.
"I wish I could blame them on that," he said.
