FOXBOROUGH - Tom Brady is on pace to break Dan Marino’s NFL record for passing yards in a season, with 4,593 yards through 14 games. Having a group of receivers who aren’t greedy about who’s getting the ball helps, he said.
“Everybody knows that they’ll have an opportunity in the game. We don’t have a bunch of selfish guys,’’ Brady said. “It’s a great group of guys that are very unselfish, that really are happy when another guy does well.’’
Aaron Hernandez was the primary target Sunday, catching nine passes for 129 yards. Both are career highs. Fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski, who had been one of Brady’s primary targets for the preceding six games, only had five balls thrown his way.
“Believe me, no one is happier for Aaron than Rob and Wes [ Welker] and Chad [ Ochocinco], myself, because that’s what it took,’’ Brady said. “Next week it may be someone else.
“I think collectively, the skill players, we’re all in this together. If I’m doing my job, [I’ll] help get someone the ball.’’
Brady isn’t the only one threatening to top the 5,084 yards Marino put up in 1984. The Saints’ Drew Brees (4,780 yards), the Giants’ Eli Manning (4,362), and the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers (4,360) are also within range.
Self-starters
Brady and coach Bill Belichick downplayed the assistance they received from the Steelers, Ravens, and Texans, who all lost over the weekend, leaving the Patriots as the AFC’s only 11-3 team, and in line for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
“We have to go out and win, that’s what we have to do,’’ Belichick said. “We can’t worry about what everybody else does or doesn’t do. We don’t have any control over that.’’
Said Brady: “I don’t think we think about any of those things other than Miami. You control your own fate. We certainly always control it.’’
Carter on IR
The Patriots made it official yesterday, placing defensive end Andre Carter on injured reserve, which ends his first season with the team after 14 games and a team-high 10 sacks. Carter injured his quadriceps on the last play of the first quarter Sunday.
Carter took to Twitter last night, saying, “Big day tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers,’’ which creates the speculation that he will undergo surgery today.
With Carter’s injury, the Patriots now have two spots open on the 53-man active roster, because the team also released defensive lineman Eric Moore yesterday. Moore had played in the past two games after signing with the Patriots Dec. 10. He didn’t have a tackle, but made 13 in four games with the Patriots last season.