At this time last year, our focus and attention with regard to Tom Brady [stats] was much different. Minicamp was.

The first real measuring stick on how he was progressing from major reconstructive knee surgery, and the nasty staph infection that ensued.

The Brady Knee Watch was the major storyline of the June camp. How did he look? How comfortable was he dropping back to pass? Was he stepping into throws?

Was there any hesitation with a crowd around his legs?A year later, his knee wasn’t even the most famous knee at camp. That distinction belonged to Wes Welker.

Brady still wears a brace, hidden under the sweatpants he wore during the just completed three-day minicamp. But there was no drama or worry about the quarterback going forward into the season.

Not at this camp.

Instead, the drama and worry have played out over a report describing a “growing disconnect” between Brady’s representatives and the team regarding negotiations on a new contract, as Brady’s deal expires at the end of the 2010 season. It’s a report Brady hasn’t exactly dismissed as being false, adding fuel to the fire.

On the field, the chill in the negotiations didn’t seem to faze No. 12. Brady looked sharp, comfortable and totally in command. His arm was strong, his passes crisp, and he paid great attention to detail with everyone from Randy Moss to second-year receiver Brandon Tate to rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez.

While this was a noncontact affair, he left no reason to doubt he’ll be stronger and even better than last year, now 20 months removed from that ACL/MCL surgery and the devastating injury that cost him the 2008 season.

He also left no doubt who was in charge.

“Tom is a tremendous leader,” veteran receiver Torry Holt said. “Like I’ve been saying all spring, his commitment, his passion, his work ethic, his attention to detail is what you need in a leader. It’s what you definitely need in the quarterback position. He definitely has all those intangibles. We just have to continue to get in behind him, do what we’re supposed to do, and go from there.”

Brady’s exploits here, though, were almost in the no-big-deal category, save for someone seeing him for the first time.

“In college, we didn’t see too many quarterbacks like that,” rookie linebacker Brandon Spikes said. “It’s crazy how good he is.”

What’s become the story, what’s now the big deal is every word Brady utters from here on out, as opposed to every football he throws. Those words will be analyzed and dissected just like a touchdown drive. It’s interesting to note Brady chose not to address the media during minicamp, which is a change from the usual pattern. He didn’t speak during the last three weeks of organized team activities.

But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t heard from. Brady addressed the so-called “disconnect” during a charity event a little more than a week ago, saying he was basically going to “go with the flow.” And Wednesday, Brady, in his position.

As an assistant player representative, shared his thoughts on a possible 18-game season in a statement made through the NFL Players Association. He didn’t sound like a fan.The point here is Brady looked like Brady during minicamp. That made no headlines. Most years, that would generate some buzz. In a contract year, however, that falls to the back of the line.