Felger: Brady missed ALL of practice on Thursday

[spacecrime]

Yes, people are too touchy. You need to fix your den aisle if you don't think this is important.

We're doomed.

 

[fake punt]

Perhaps for the current game plan Brady's participation in practice isn't critical. I trust that Belichick is getting the most out of practice without Brady. Also, even though Brady isn't on the field, he's studying. I guarantee that.

 

[MRBLAZE]

Yeah, what they said.

Of COURSE this is a story. It's bizarre to me reading post after post insisting that Brady wearing a boot is proof that he's ok, or that the starting QB missing practices before a Superbowl means his coach is just having a bit of fun. Up is down, black is white. Guys, those are bad things, not good.

Do I think Brady will play? Absolutely. But do I think he's injured? Absolutely. And to me, that's the #1 question mark in a game that otherwise looks like a mismatch. If that's not a story, what the heck is?

The only argument for this being a "non-story" is that we have no solid information at all. But if solid inside info were required to talk about the Patriots, this would be one quiet board!

Couldn't have said it better myself, in fact I know I couldn't have because I'm not assertive enough. Well said, patchick.

 

[ewg_gestalt]

I think there is also the question of how severe the injury is, and if it will be a problem at the game.

The only reason where Brady would have to be active (as opposed to listening from the sidelines) is if they were installing new plays. Anything else, I would assume they've done enough reps in practice that the cost-benefit analysis would tip in favor of letting him heal up rather than working out on the ankle too early.

I don't think we're in "Bloody Sock" territory here, either. The fact that Welker and Stallworth were joking about it in their pressers suggests it's not serious enough to hamper him in ten days' time. (The fact that BB let them go that far suggests everything will be OK.)

 

[scout]

Every football fan has thought about Brady's condition, whether that means he'll be healthy, injured, or the head game part in which BB may be playing. I'm sure that the Giants are preparing for Brady and Coughlin has told his teammates not to pay any attention to Brady's absence (if in fact he was absent, wink). But, just like any fan, there has to be some doubt in the back of the mind of NY players concerning Brady's health. Does this take away from the Giants focus? Probably not, but BB is probably enjoying himself.

 

[fake punt]

The fact that Welker and Stallworth were joking about it in their pressers suggests it's not serious enough to hamper him in ten days' time. (The fact that BB let them go that far suggests everything will be OK.)

Good point.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

It's not like Brady hasn't dealt with SB hype before. Let his ankle heal; I'm glad he's missing practices. He'll be mentally ready regardless, and physically better off for having rested it.
End of story.

Exactly!!
I saw Felger comment on this last night. He thinks Tom is somehow missing important practice time. I don't see how. That great Statue of Liberty play Tom pulled off against the Jags was installed into the offense a day or two before that game. They'll get down to serious game prep next week in Az and Tom Brady will be ready to roll. The physical rest will do Tom a lot of good and we know he's busy watching hours upon hours of Giants game film. Tom Brady is the last guy we need to worry about.
Let the mediots do it!!

 

[dhamz]

But, just like any fan, there has to be some doubt in the back of the mind of NY players concerning Brady's health. Does this take away from the Giants focus? Probably not, but BB is probably enjoying himself.

The problem with the BB is messing with the Giants preparation theory is it makes no sense. They are going to prepare for Brady whether he plays or not.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I think there is also the question of how severe the injury is, and if it will be a problem at the game.

The only reason where Brady would have to be active (as opposed to listening from the sidelines) is if they were installing new plays. Anything else, I would assume they've done enough reps in practice that the cost-benefit analysis would tip in favor of letting him heal up rather than working out on the ankle too early.

I don't think we're in "Bloody Sock" territory here, either. The fact that Welker and Stallworth were joking about it in their pressers suggests it's not serious enough to hamper him in ten days' time. (The fact that BB let them go that far suggests everything will be OK.)

I think back to all those practices he and other veterans missed this season due to team decision, and look where that got us...oh, wait. Some days they work on a particular aspect of the game or situational stuff a guy isn't going to be in on...Not to mention occasionally they probably like to see a backup get some reps with starters. When better than during a bye.

Great point on the joksters - no way these guys are taking that tack unless they know their boy is just fine. Too many people seem to think that they won't practice in AZ - not true. Once media hype day is over they will get down to brass tacks, and by Friday they will be in bunker mode. Probably skip the walk through like last time and have family day on the field instead.

Felger just needs something to talk about to his (now thanks to the success of the team he loves to nitpick) peers as ESPN. This teams success is responsible for Felger's success in the booming Boston sports media business and in life. Absent that he likely would be toiling at a keyboard still in relative obscurity somewhere else by now.

 

[TommyD4207]

If nothing else, at least Cassel is getting plenty of reps.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

The only argument for this being a "non-story" is that we have no solid information at all. But if solid inside info were required to talk about the Patriots, this would be one quiet board!

Absolutely.

IMO, BB is (brilliantly) using this to draw the focus of the media away from Randy Moss, Spygate and the "Pressure of going for 19--0" and towards something that everybody who counts (i.e., everybody in the Patriots lockerrroom) no doubt knows is a fabrication.

How many stories on any one of those three topics have you read or watched in the past week? Now ask yourself how many dozens of stories on those topics the media would have been churning out this week if they weren't consumed with Bootgate.

But, until we have that "information", we have to assume there is something else going on.

 

[JR4]

This is a story.
It is a concern.
How anyone can take the "It's no big deal" attitude about a team's QB missing 2 full days of practice, and maybe more,
before the Biggest Game in HISTORY! .... is just beyond comprehension.

Sure he may be great come next Sunday ... but then again .... the injury
and missed practice time could ... COULD ... have a negative impact on the
out come of the game from a Patriots Fan point of view.

If PATs should lose I just bet people saying this is no big deal will
be singing a different tune
.

I for one am concerned ... but there is nothing anyone can do about it ...
.. it is what it is.

 

[JR4]

......
BB is (brilliantly) using this to draw the focus of the media away from Randy Moss, Spygate and the "Pressure of going for 19--0" .....

??????????????????????????????
I just can't respond to this ..... it is just too absurd.

 

[Patjew]

I don't think it's a huge deal, but honestly it makes me nervous for the simple reason that I'd prefer everyone, especially TFB, to be 100% healthy.

That being said, everything regarding the Pats makes me nervous. But the fact that this isn't GOOD makes it BAD to me, even if it's nothing to kill ourselves over (yet).

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I realize some of you were either not fans at all or not seriously into the team back in 2001...but Tom could barely hobble off the field with that high ankle sprain and with no bye week due to 9/11 he played a week later as if nothing had happened in this teams first superbowl with just 15.5 weeks of game and practice experience as a pro under his and their collective belts.

He is now 8 years into this system, knows it inside out, had his career best season with a new receiving corps that has now had 6 months of practice plus 18 games won under their collective belts. And we have a bye, which for a largly veteran team and organization like this is what benefits them most. Rest.

 

[TommyD4207]

I realize some of you were either not fans at all or not seriously into the team back in 2001...but Tom could barely hobble off the field with that high ankle sprain and with no bye week due to 9/11 he played a week later as if nothing had happened in this teams first superbowl with just 15.5 weeks of game and practice experience as a pro under his and their collective belts.

:rocker: :rocker: :rocker:

Nicely done.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

I agree, our quarterback missing two practices is significant and it can't help. It also suggests his injury is serious. But I'm not going to worry about it from the standpoint of timing and game preparation unless/until it extends into next week.

The characterization of the injury as "serious" is way, way over the top. If it was serious he wouldn't have been walking around in a boot, and later without out.

He wouldn't be walking at all.

 

[Disco Volante]

Anyone even hinting at this is all part of BB’s plan is just being foolish…

 

[JCrew]

I remember this one episode of Coach where the team pretended that the star QB was injured throughout the game until the last drive. He then proceeded to lead the team to victory. Don't recall the exact reasoning for this strategy (maybe similar to the Inigo Montoya left handed strategy?), but maybe Belicheck found inspiration on the tube.

 

[scout]

I remember this one episode of Coach where the team pretended that the star QB was injured throughout the game until the last drive. He then proceeded to lead the team to victory. Don't recall the exact reasoning for this strategy (maybe similar to the Inigo Montoya left handed strategy?), but maybe Belicheck found inspiration on the tube.

There was a Baltimore Colts game, I think on MNF, where the qb went off limping, came back limping, but managed to throw hard and often for the win. That was a long time ago. Bert Jones I think.