Brady's QB coach Martinez dead at 66

Football Tom Martinez, who was Tom Brady’s quarterback coach since he was 13, died yesterday, the San Jose Mercury News reported. It was his 66th birthday. Martinez announced in June he was given just weeks to live because of complications from diabetes. He was waiting for a kidney transplant. Martinez coached hundreds of athletes at the College of San Mateo in California, and always told his athletes the same thing that kept him going day after day: “I always preached as a coach that you never quit, that you battle to the end.’’ Last night, Brady’s father Tom told Comcast Sports Net New England, “It’s a big loss but he’s been very, very, very sick. I’ve known him for 50 years. He was a terrific coach and terrific mentor to a lot of people.’’ . . . Brady Quinn apologized to Tim Tebow for unflattering comments Quinn made about the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback in a GQ article. Quinn was quoted as saying, “We’ve had a lot of, I guess, luck, to put it simply.’’ He also said he felt the fans were the reason Tebow leapfrogged him on the depth chart when supplanting Kyle Orton as the starter after a 1-4 start. Quinn tweeted that the comments attributed to him did not reflect his opinion of Tebow . . . Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins agreed to restructure his $25 million, five-year contract with Philadelphia . . . Boston College coach Frank Spaziani said senior running back Montel Harris will not participate in spring practice because he aggravated a left knee injury that sidelined him for much of last season. Harris cited soreness after participating in the first practice of the spring season Saturday.