Tom Brady Says: I Know Game: Truth be told, the imminent resolution of Tom Brady [stats]’s contract issue is the least of the Patriots [team stats]’ worries this week. Fortunately, no one knows that better than Brady, who is the rare exception among professional athletes - a guy who can compartmentalize his life.

While his agent, Don Yee, works out the legalese of his pending contract extension with the Kraft family’s numbers crunchers, Brady is devoting the bulk of his time to preparing for the most pressing matter of the moment - the onrushing Cincinnati Bengals.

That does not mean, as some have implied, that Brady is sitting back childlike, blindly tossing footballs around while the adults decide his financial and football future. What it does mean is he is someone uniquely capable of concentrating on the moment, which is to say the Bengals, while keeping tabs on his business interests.In other words, he’s an adult, too, which is not the case with many professional athletes in such a circumstance. If there was a bit more of that going around inside the Patriots’ organization these days things might be going a bit smoother, but all athletes are not Tom Brady, just as few quarterbacks are.

Read the complete story

Tom Brady Other Goal: When you have a quarterback as willing to spread the ball around as much as Tom Brady does, it's important to understand the under-the-radar players in the New England Patriots' passing attack, because if something happens to either Randy Moss or Wes Welker, you want to be placing your waiver claim on the right option since this team is virtually guaranteed to finish within the top five passing offenses.

Julian Edelman: The former quarterback from Kent State enters his second year in the NFL. He transitioned quickly to the wide receiver position and showed the speed and elusiveness to make him a handcuff for those drafting Wes Welker. Edelman's upside is higher than any other team's third wide receiver, and those playing in leagues with 12 teams or more cannot afford to ignore him on draft day. If Welker reinjures his knee or misses time for any other reason, Edelman, who is dealing with injury issues of his own at this point, has top-20 potential.Brandon Tate: Tate is part of the reason the Patriots were willing to reach an injury settlement with veteran Torry Holt. A knee injury in late 2008 dropped Tate's draft stock, but the fact that Tate set the NCAA record for combined return yardage while at North Carolina convinced the Patriots to spend a third-round selection on him in the 2009 NFL draft. Now, almost two years removed from the torn ACL and MCL injuries, his speed appears to have returned, as exhibited by Tate's 97-yard kickoff return in the Patriots' preseason game versus the St. Louis Rams. Tate is the most talented of the reserves and has an outside shot of replacing Edelman as the third receiver in three wideout sets.

Read the complete story

Tom Brady Come Back: Last year at this time, Brian Hoyer was just looking to make the New England Patriots roster as an undrafted rookie out of Michigan State. Little did he know he’d end up being the No. 2 quarterback – Tom Brady’s immediate backup. Now he talks like a veteran.

“Things happen for a reason,” said Hoyer, who likely will get plenty of time, perhaps even the start, in Thursday night’s preseason finale in New Jersey against the New York Giants. “I’m happy to be where I am.”

Who wouldn’t be? Last year, Hoyer was even out there in crunch time against a team, Houston, that was trying to make the playoffs in the regular season finale. Hoyer says that has served as a springboard into this season.

“I think I used it in the off-season, the OTAs and leading up to now,” he said. “That was a real game, it wasn’t a preseason game, it wasn’t a mopup duty game. They were trying to make the playoffs, and I got an opportunity to play a good defense. That was invaluable.

Read the complete story

Tom Brady was the story last night because, when it comes to the Patriots, Tom Brady is always the story.The quarterback survived the exhibition opener unscathed, a big deal because he remains without a new contract, and impressed in his 17 snaps, which is hardly unusual.The real development, though, is what happened around Brady. It was how the coaches called the game, and whom the ball went to, and how it got there.

The 2010 Patriots offense is far from a finished product, and it’s not like the 2009 edition, ranked third in the NFL, was some broken-down jalopy. But by the end of the season, it had become a bit one-dimensional, predictable, and, as the Ravens proved in the playoffs, very defendable.

Read the complete story

Tom Brady [stats]  spent a big chunk of his day off yesterday playing golf with Robert Kraft at Willowbend Country Club, a private course in Mashpee, a source told the Herald.

It was just the quarterback and the team owner, enjoying a round of golf on a gorgeous morning at the scenic 27-hole layout overlooking Shoestring Bay.

It certainly helped dispel the notion that their relationship had cooled with Brady yet to work out a long-term deal with the team.

Both recently shot down such reports. Brady said he had a “great relationship” with the owner. Kraft, speaking prior to.

Read the complete story

Brady and dadThe players huddled up and sang “Happy Birthday” to Tom Brady at the end of the morning walk-through.

Fans watching the first session also sang the birthday song to the Patriots quarterback, who turned 33.

There were a few signs, acknowledging Brady’s special day. Following the session.

The quarterback signed autographs, and then was greeted by his father Tom Sr., on his way off the field. The two exchanged a warm embrace (left, from Herald photog Matt Stone).

Read the complete story

Bill Belichick and the coaching staff have slowed things down in the last few days of training camp. The Patriots wrapped up their 13th practice of camp Wednesday, and the day's lone session was conducted in shorts and shells.

The Patriots have conducted five practices since Monday, with a light session Monday morning, a walkthrough Tuesday morning and a limited-contact practice Wednesday, when Belichick also canceled the morning practice to focus more on the teaching aspect of camp.

Read the complete story

Patriots [team stats] quarterback Tom Brady [stats]  is beginning to sound like the NFL Players Association representative that he is.

Unlike most of the league’s owners, Brady didn’t express outrage at the massive contract handed to Rams top overall pick Sam Bradford late Friday night. He didn’t talk about.

The injustice of an unproven player slated to earn as much as $78 million over six years, with $50 million guaranteed, while Brady will earn just $6.5 million this season.

Read the complete story

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is known for being able to focus on his receivers in the face of oncoming rushers. This season he plans to put that single-minded approach to another use - keeping his contract negotiations from becoming a distraction to the team.

"Nobody here can solve it but myself and the team," Brady said after practice Friday morning at New England's training camp. "I'm in the position a lot of guys are around the league and on this team. I'm under contract and it's my responsibility to come out and play as well as I can. I've always felt that's what I love to do anyway - to come out here and compete."

Read the complete story

Beautiful people, beautiful house! Tom Brady and Gisele Bunchen are set to move into an incredible mansion in Los Angeles. The three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, 32 and his supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen, 29, are building a huge California dream home from scratch, with everything from a wine cellar to a weight room thrown in.

Just down the road from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the 22,000-square-foot house covers a massive 3.75 acres and also has a six-car garage, and lagoon-shaped swimming pool with spa.  With eight bedrooms there will also be plenty of space for Gisele's Brazilian family to visit the couple's six month-old son Benjamin.

Read the complete story