“I’m ready. I’m expecting to play,’’ Brady told reporters yesterday between hot, humid practices. “There is no reason why I wouldn’t. I’ve been out here doing everything. It will be nice to get out there and play some football.’’
Tomorrow’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia will mark Brady’s first on-field action since tearing ligaments in his left knee in last year’s season opener against the Chiefs.
Reflecting on the devastating hit from Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard, Brady said yesterday he “certainly didn’t think what happened was a cheap shot,’’ while also saying that he knows it could happen again. Such an acknowledgment seems tied to how Brady has attempted to tackle the mental aspect of his recovery, which other players who have had similar injuries - such as Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer - feel can be as hard as the physical rehabilitation.
“I’m really not nervous about any of that,’’ Brady told a large gathering of reporters, who peppered him on his playing status, his recent appearance on the HBO television show “Entourage,’’ and his health.
“It is part of football. You line up and play and it’s a physical sport. I’ve really put it past me, I really have. I’ve tried to make a concerted effort to move forward with everything about last season and learn from the experiences and use them in positive ways.’’
Part of Brady’s approach this training camp has been to step on the gas pedal and never let up, participating aggressively in every practice and oftentimes setting the tone for the rest of the team.
When he had days off in past years, Brady joked that he was getting old. He also previously talked about being on a pitch count to preserve his arm. This year, he chuckled that while he’s 32, he’s reversing the trend and “getting younger now.’’
“I just feel great,’’ he said. “I want to be out here playing and I want to be out here with my teammates. It’s no fun being inside all day; I’d rather be out here practicing and getting better.’’
