Citing a source, the report indicated that pain management is the primary issue. Given the injuries Brady has played through in the past - three cracked ribs for much of the 2009 season, and a chronic foot injury for which he underwent surgery last January - that likely won’t be much of a problem.
Coach Bill Belichick was asked a series of questions yesterday regarding Brady’s health, and not surprisingly offered little insight.
When asked what Brady was able to do at practice on Thursday, Belichick replied, “Play quarterback, the usual thing.’’
Later, Belichick was asked to assess his level of concern.
“Any player that we put out on the field I have confidence in or we wouldn’t put him out there. If they’re out there, we have confidence in them,’’ he said. “If they’re not out there, there’s either another player ahead of them or we’re not confident that they can go out there and do it. It’s as simple as that.’’
Wes Welker, listed as questionable because of a knee injury, was far less cryptic when asked if he expected both he and Brady to play the entire game. “Absolutely,’’ Welker said.
Offensive linemen Logan Mankins (knee) and Sebastian Vollmer (foot, back) were declared out for the game.
Also questionable are: Kyle Arrington (foot), Deion Branch (groin), Patrick Chung (foot), Dan Connolly (groin), Julian Edelman (back), Dane Fletcher (thumb), James Ihedigbo (shoulder), Matt Light (ankle), Devin McCourty (shoulder), Rob Ninkovich (hip), Matthew Slater (shoulder), Brandon Spikes (knee), Shane Vereen (hamstring), Brian Waters (ankle), and Tracy White (abdomen).
Playing to win When the topic of clinching the top seed in the AFC was brought up, Belichick initially said the Patriots were preparing for tomorrow’s game the same way they prepared for the first 15.
But when asked whether backup quarterback Brian Hoyer might get to see some extended playing time, as he did in last year’s regular-season finale in Buffalo, Belichick indicated that the Patriots are indeed focused on winning and securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
