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Posted by: Gambler7 Jan 21 2008, 08:20 PM

http://www.pagesix.com/story/curse+work+tom+s+cast

Posted by: Rick Burlesons Yam Bag Jan 21 2008, 08:22 PM

How the hell could this be true and not mentioned once on WFAN, WEEI or the blogosphere today?

At the moment, I am very skeptical.

Posted by: HomeBrew1901 Jan 21 2008, 08:24 PM

I was about to say the same thing. Nothing on ESPN, CNN or any other network. Plus it is Page 6, if it were true wouldn't it be front page news?

Posted by: BroodsSexton Jan 21 2008, 08:25 PM

I heard he has an injured shoulder as well and that he's only probable for the Big Game.

Posted by: Havok Jan 21 2008, 08:26 PM

I wonder if Brady will take out a TRO on Randy Moss as well?

I don't remember seeing Brady get hit in a way that would injure his foot, nor do I remember seeing him limp at all, and I can't find anything about this alleged injury anywhere online. I'm going to assume (and pray) that everything is OK.

Posted by: switchhitter33 Jan 21 2008, 08:26 PM

So wait, do you think that pic os photoshopped or something?

Posted by: Gambler7 Jan 21 2008, 08:26 PM

I was skeptical as well, but here is a video of it...clearly he is walking with a limp, but it could be something that is precautionary and he is limping because of the boot
http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1386375873

Posted by: SoxScout Jan 21 2008, 08:33 PM

must be sprained, you keep it wrapped tight to avoid swelling and making it a million times worse. ask al jefferson.

Posted by: Corsi Combover Jan 21 2008, 08:34 PM

God, paparazzis are such tools.

Posted by: genoasalami Jan 21 2008, 08:42 PM

Looks like a minor sprain to me based on the way he is deftly carrying his bag AND the pretty flowers.

Posted by: EdRalphRomero Jan 21 2008, 08:43 PM

Well, that would explain his mediocre day and the switch to the power running set. This feels unreal.

Posted by: Crazy Puppy Jan 21 2008, 08:44 PM

He was asked about a possible leg injury during his interview this morning on WEEI. Apparently some writer (I'm not sure who) said they saw him limping over to the sideline and consulting with the trainers during yesterday's game. Brady's answer:

"There's always just kind of bumps and bruises, so I'll be ready for the Super Bowl. I'm not worried about that. I'm not missing this one. I'd have to be on a stretcher to miss this one.

"It'll be just some treatment this week. Like I said, games like this, you get a little nicked up, but nothing serious."
http://weei.podzinger.com/viewMedia.jsp?index=1&num=10&filter=0&expand=true&match=query,channel&dedupe=1&start=0&il=en&col=en-all-pod_weei-ep&s=PZSID_pods_pod5_8_6_0004;WEEI+-+Dennis+and+Callahan&e=17431940&res=160138494 (Comments start at the 15:27 mark)

Posted by: Caspir Jan 21 2008, 08:48 PM

Definitely seems to be precautionary, but I saw him limp at one point yesterday. I dont care what the reason is, seeing him in a boot made my stomach turn.

Posted by: Trautwein's Degree Jan 21 2008, 08:51 PM

Pure genius!!!

Have Brady caught wearing a cast, it's all part of the master plan.

Posted by: genoasalami Jan 21 2008, 08:53 PM

I am not sure the two are related. I give more credit to the Chargers defense, they are a turnover machine and the wind was an issue. Remember, he completed every pass during the last drive.

Posted by: The Big Red Kahuna Jan 21 2008, 08:54 PM

That's not Brady. It's the Unabomber.

Posted by: Who The Hell is Stan Papi Jan 21 2008, 08:57 PM

If Rivers can play with a torn ACL...Tommy could play (and win) in this condition:

Posted by: EdRalphRomero Jan 21 2008, 09:04 PM

I'm not sure they are related either. The throw I have been wondering about was the pass to Moss. It just looked like something went terribly wrong with his mechanics. But I have no idea when the injury might have occurred.

Posted by: CrouchingTonyHiddenPena Jan 21 2008, 09:07 PM

This could be nothing. If it turns out to be an ankle sprain however, I just hope it's not of the "high" variety.

Posted by: Varitekstheman Jan 21 2008, 09:08 PM

I posted this last night in the AFC Champ Gamethread:

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10589351


Looks like CBS Sportsline was somehow the ONLY place to notice this.

Posted by: Old Fart Tree Jan 21 2008, 09:09 PM

That makes me feel sick to my stomach. I'm praying this is a non-factor.

Posted by: genoasalami Jan 21 2008, 09:13 PM

If the injury is serious would he be carrying flowers into his girlfriends NY apartment or would he be staying in Boston/Foxboro for MRI/treatment?? Just askin.

Posted by: Mike in CT Jan 21 2008, 09:18 PM

I'd probably stop at the apartment with flowers first.

Posted by: Ferm Sheller Jan 21 2008, 09:25 PM

He injured his foot (ankle?) against the Steelers in the AFC Championship in Jan 2002 and had to leave that game. He came back one week later (refresh my memory, or was it two weeks later?) and played well enough in SB 36 to win MVP. I'm not worried.

Plus, hasn't Cassel been groomed to handle this very situation?

Posted by: E5 Yaz Jan 21 2008, 09:25 PM

"News" such as this, and the over-reaction to it, are going to make these two weeks insufferable

Posted by: tims4wins Jan 21 2008, 09:28 PM

Yup, it was 1 week later. This is a non story that will be blown up, as E5 Yaz says.

Posted by: Ed Hillel Jan 21 2008, 09:29 PM

I'm hoping this is precautionary, especially with the Giants D-line. That's his back foot too. Blah.

As for when it happened, I thought I noticed Brady get up slow after he was sacked for the last time. Someone jumped on top of him and the weight shifted awkwardly to his right ankle it appeared.

Posted by: tims4wins Jan 21 2008, 09:34 PM

Untrue... because of 9/11, the bye week before the Super Bowl was eliminated.

Posted by: mt8thsw9th Jan 21 2008, 09:34 PM

Because of 9/11, this wasn't the case, it was one week.

Posted by: Reverend Jan 21 2008, 09:34 PM

Yeah, but that's because you can't have any.

Same applies to me: Does what I would do in relation to Gisele really matter?

I don't know what to make of the splint. But at this point, I'd splint a slightly sprained ankle or a splinter (no pun intended) so I don't know that this is dispositive of anything.

Though I would love to find out it was a hoax... I don't think so, but oh my...

Posted by: hoothehoo Jan 21 2008, 09:35 PM

Wasn't it only one week that year because 9/11 pushed everything back a week?

Posted by: Ferm Sheller Jan 21 2008, 09:35 PM

Actually, Ed, Tims is right. One week lay off. AFC Championship was played on 1/27/02 and SB 36 was played on 2/3/02.

Attached to my Cassel comment was an invisible smiley face.

Posted by: Ed Hillel Jan 21 2008, 09:35 PM

Oh, that's right. I forgot about that giant conspiracy to get the Patriots to win the Superbowl. I was originally upset at having to wait two weeks, but now I'm pretty happy it's a two week layoff.

Posted by: Captaincoop Jan 21 2008, 09:39 PM

(calls bookie)

Is it too soon to have the Cassel conversation in earnest? How bad is he? We've never seen him in a meaningful game, and that includes college. It would be such a ridiculous situation to have him playing in the Super Bowl.

Posted by: since67 Jan 21 2008, 09:42 PM

This is most likely nothing......but there's a bit of difference in healing time once you get over 30 from age 24 when Brady last had a sprain. Lol, ask any of us over 30 about recovery time.

Posted by: DJnVa Jan 21 2008, 09:45 PM

Bah, I really doubt that he'd be walking through NYC if it was serious. He'd be up in Mass all day getting everything checked out. No worries yet.

Posted by: Ferm Sheller Jan 21 2008, 09:47 PM

Yeah, at age 37 myself, I thought of that. But is the difference between 24 and 30, especially for a pro athlete with access the best of treatment, so significant?

Posted by: Ahriman Jan 21 2008, 09:49 PM

I'm fairly certain I heard something about Brady getting hurt in the 4th quarter of the AFCCG on D&C this morning. Said it was minor and he fully expects to play in the SB.

Edit: So, no that wouldn't excuse his horrible accuracy all game long. I watched the game again and, by my count, there were maybe 6 or 7 throws that I would classify as on target/easily catchable. He was missing on everything, even the little screen passes.

Posted by: Ferm Sheller Jan 21 2008, 09:50 PM

Cassel's good enough to lose the SB and bad enough to not give his chance a team to win the SB. Cassel at QB is a worse sports nightmare than Eric Gagne toeing the rubber in Game 7 of the WS.

Posted by: Caspir Jan 21 2008, 09:52 PM

Are you a professional athlete who dedicates a significant portion of his life to staying in top shape, while having access to elite medical care 'round the clock?

Posted by: lexrageorge Jan 21 2008, 09:53 PM

Actually, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but, in a couple of seasons, there was only a 1 week break scheduled prior to the Super Bowl, and I believe this may have included the 2002 Super Bowl as well. There was a desire to have the SB played in January, so, some seasons, based on the calender, they ended up with only one week of hype.

Also, I seem to recall that one of the issues the NFL was wrestling with that year was the Super Bowl venue. It was originally scheduled for Nawlins' on the 27th. Meanwhile, the national auto dealers convention was scheduled for 2/3 at the Superdome. And, somehow, the NFL got the auto dealers and the city of New Orleans to agree to push their convention out by a week. It may not sound like a huge deal to me and you, but, the NADA convention is huge in the auto industry, as it occurs just a couple of weeks prior to the President's Day promotions, which kicks off the all important new car buying season.

Sorry for the diversion....

Posted by: E5 Yaz Jan 21 2008, 09:53 PM

No, but he stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Posted by: DJnVa Jan 21 2008, 09:54 PM

Are you saying that 6 or 7 of the incompletions were on target? He hit 22 of 33, which gets Eli a Standing O.

Posted by: KenTremendous Jan 21 2008, 09:55 PM

Not sure if that photo is the reason (or a reason), but most of the lines have fallen from Pats -14 to Pats -12.

I was annoyed by the 2-week break. Now I'm thrilled. Whatever it is, he has two weeks to let it heal.

Posted by: SoxScout Jan 21 2008, 09:56 PM

I think he is saying there were only that many passes in the ideal spot that Brady usually hits. I would agree that the number of ideally placed balls was very low.

Posted by: Rasputin Jan 21 2008, 09:58 PM

No no no.

It's Tom Cruise.

Posted by: kolbitr Jan 21 2008, 09:58 PM

Has been picked up by Florio on http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm, who amusingly suggests, regarding the injury, that "there's a chance that Brady entered the game with the injury, and that the team merely concealed it."

I am surprised he didn't mention other obvious possibilities, which are:

a) Brady suffered the injury while kicking kittens and puppies

b) Brady hurt his foot while dancing disrespectfully on a logo somewhere

c) Belichick has concealed the injury from Brady himself, convincing him that the new bootie accessorizes well with his latest messenger bag.

Posted by: Ahriman Jan 21 2008, 09:58 PM

I'm saying that the receivers had to put in some extra work to make most of their catches because of bad ball placement. After watching it again, that was about as bad as I've seen Brady play against a team not named the Dolphins. He tends to sail passes when he has a rare 'off-game" anyway, but this was extra fugly.

Anyway, I doubt this whole boot issue is anything more than precautionary. There's no way he'd be walking around if it were serious. And that's ignoring the fact that Brady said it was pretty minor on the radio.

Edit: clarity and I'm a mo-ron.

Posted by: SoxScout Jan 21 2008, 09:59 PM

shit, that is funny.

Posted by: since67 Jan 21 2008, 10:00 PM

I'm someone who noticed that as I went through my 30s my recovery time declined from injuries. That's just a fact of life as we age.

Posted by: SoxScout Jan 21 2008, 10:02 PM

Top story on the Fox25 news.

Patriots say, "We are aware of the video, and have no comment"

Posted by: lexrageorge Jan 21 2008, 10:03 PM

First, I think all 4 QB's had trouble hitting the ideal spots yesterday. When it gets that cold, fingers get numb, making it hard to get a good feel of the ball. Not sure when Brady got hurt, but I don't think it had too much affect on him. That INT in the end zone was a poor decision, compounding a rare poor play call by the coaching staff; it's also possible that Brady may have been screened from seeing Cromartie. Finally, Brady was 7 for 7 in the 4th quarter.

Let's keep Cassell's name out of it for now.

Posted by: Rick Burlesons Yam Bag Jan 21 2008, 10:10 PM

Actually, as much as it kills me to type this, Eli Manning was putting balls in the perfect spot over and over. The pass where he hit Burress's back shoulder was about as beautiful a timing pass as a football nerd would ever want to see. Even the pass to Toomer where Toomer had to lay out to get it was put in the right spot, Toomer just wasn't quite all the way to the sideline where he was supposed to be on that route.

Posted by: Rick Burlesons Yam Bag Jan 21 2008, 10:12 PM

Personally, I think it's sad that Tom decided to leave football and become a Computer Science major at Tufts.

Here all week. Veal.

Posted by: Seagull Jan 21 2008, 10:12 PM

As much as I'd like to just shrug this off, it's hard to do that. I'm just glad that there are two weeks to get better, and hopeful that the way he was walking around in the video makes it seem relatively minor. I'm kind of amazed that the Pats would be okay with Tom walking around with that boot in downtown Manhattan, knowing that he was sure to be photographed. Maybe that's further evidence of the minor nature of the injury?

Posted by: FelixMantilla Jan 21 2008, 10:12 PM

Watching the video, was anyone else bothered by the little rat dog that Giselle was carrying? I mean, I always thought you were supposed to avoid women who own them things.....

Posted by: Ferm Sheller Jan 21 2008, 10:25 PM

Reiss added a blip about Brady's limp at 10:00 pm here... http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

...doesn't add anything we don't already know, though.

Posted by: Rocco Graziosa Jan 21 2008, 10:27 PM

Ok, this sucks. Who knows how bad it is or if it will affect his play in two weeks, but there is no way this could possibly be spinned into positive news. Sure explains why he played like a mortal yesterday.

Posted by: Ed Hillel Jan 21 2008, 10:31 PM

Well, if he was injured in the second half it doesn't. He also looked sick, but that's pure speculation. He seemed a bit glazed over the entire game. Who knows, maybe he was a bit knicked up and it got worse yesterday. The likelihood is that we won't know until after the SB anyways.

Posted by: aksoxfan Jan 21 2008, 10:32 PM

Posted by: aksoxfan Jan 21 2008, 10:34 PM

i was wondering about Brady when i was watching the game. he seemed out of sorts; the look on his face was like his mind was elsewhere. he did what he had to do, but i thought something was bothering him.

Posted by: genoasalami Jan 21 2008, 10:35 PM

TMZ.com had the video. "Check back often for the latest video on Brady's foot and check out Britney Spears smoking a cigarette while parking her car."

Posted by: Ferm Sheller Jan 21 2008, 10:35 PM

He gets up those stairs pretty fluidly, without favoring either leg. I know when I mess up my ankle, climbing stairs is a dreadful activity.

Posted by: Caspir Jan 21 2008, 10:44 PM

This is true, but I'd imagine that while it may take Brady longer to recover from this mystery ailment than it would have six years ago, he will still be back to his normal self quicker than you (or even me, a 24 year old) ever could. It's one of the perks of being a gifted athlete. Your employers have millions (or a cool billion) riding on that ankle. They're going to baby it, give him the best care, and make sure he's feeling good in two weeks.



Stop being a cock tease and tell us what kind of cigarettes they were.

Posted by: BigSoxFan Jan 21 2008, 10:50 PM

After watching this video, I actually started to generate some sympathy from all those spoiled celebs who have to put up with those damn paparazzi losers. Can't even imagine how annoying it must be to deal with that crap on a daily or weekly basis.

Posted by: jsinger121 Jan 21 2008, 10:51 PM

ESPN has it now.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/news/story?id=3207592

This will blow up like crazy.

Posted by: Rocco Graziosa Jan 21 2008, 10:52 PM

As it should. This is monster news.

Posted by: bowiac Jan 21 2008, 10:54 PM

Where's the line go if Brady is out? Even? Pats huge dogs?

Posted by: gcapalbo Jan 21 2008, 10:54 PM

You're absolutely right-- What kind of a dog is that for a top tier NFL quarterback like Brady to be seen with?

Sure, some might say, a little ball of fluff like that with short legs-- why that's a supermodel dog, it goes with the territory, and it's OK.

No, it's all wrong. A guy like Brady should have a Rotweiler, or at the very least a Doberman, or a black Lab named 'Shep'.

Whipped.



That little dog must be eating at Brady's psyche. I'm sure the thing is high strung like she is, and all it does is yap, yap, yap whenever he is over at her townhouse.

Clearly, Brady finally snapped and got the injury kicking the stuffings out of Gisele's dog.

Alternately, Brady was caught abusing the dog, and Gisele threw a fit and kicked him viciously in the ankle, breaking it. Now Matt Cassel has to start the most important game in the history of the NFL.

We're screwed.

I'm sure that "No comment" from the Patriots was meant to tell us that this is a minor ding that they are being very, very careful with, and Brady was in New York "Having the ankle worked on".

Gisele is the problem here, and that damned dog.

Another Yoko-Romo-Shitzu-gate in the making.

Posted by: mt8thsw9th Jan 21 2008, 10:56 PM

It's funny to see the woe-is-me types overreacting to this one. The actual game can't come soon enough...

Posted by: Mystic Merlin Jan 21 2008, 10:56 PM

Holy shit. I know what you're getting at, but this is a bit hasty.

This injury didn't seem to bother him none too much in the fourth quarter, where he went seven for his last seven or some such shenanigans.

Posted by: genoasalami Jan 21 2008, 11:04 PM

He looks a bit gimpy on that video but who would not look gimpy trying to walk in a foot cast. They are not crocs.

Posted by: moondog80 Jan 21 2008, 11:05 PM

Maybe this is wishful thinking, but doesn't it seem a bit odd that Brady, who buys into the Pats' secrecy with injuries as much as anyone, would walk around with his famous girlfriend in NY of all places with a cast on his foot? I would think if it was a big deal, they wouldn't want to publicize it. And if they didn't want to publicize it, he wouldn't have put himself in this position. Gamesmanship?

Posted by: Lynchie Jan 21 2008, 11:07 PM

The boot is very supportive. Let the talk be about his boot. It will give the media something to run a story with until Plaxico 'The Unstoppable' Burress opens his mouth that no one can cover him. He will not be able to help himself.

Posted by: Jack Sox Jan 21 2008, 11:09 PM

Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Posted by: DJnVa Jan 21 2008, 11:09 PM

With the way BB deals with injuries, I'm having a tough time reconciling Brady walking around publicly in NYC if they thought this was something really serious. Hell, I have a hard time reconciling him *walking* on it at all.

Posted by: Rocco Graziosa Jan 21 2008, 11:14 PM

Great question. Pats -5? Pats -3? They're most definitely still favored. Brady spent most of the year passing to wide open receivers and thats probably not gonna change with Cassell in there.

Posted by: Harry Hooper Jan 21 2008, 11:14 PM

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1068152

Posted by: CapeCodsBabyBull Jan 21 2008, 11:15 PM

Positive thinking.. Nike is discontinuing the Air Jordans and coming out with a new line of shoe called the "Air Cast". On the back of the right shoe will be an insignia of Tom throwing a football and on the Back of left shoe is an insignia of Randy Moss catching that throw. It's simple Randy's wearing the other Boot.

Posted by: Obscure Name Jan 21 2008, 11:16 PM

Please please please bring the line down. I really want to bet on the Patriots.

Posted by: E5 Yaz Jan 21 2008, 11:17 PM

What? No thoughts and prayers?

The speed at which this thread has spun out of control makes the Moss TRO thread look sane in comparison.

Posted by: Ed Hillel Jan 21 2008, 11:19 PM

What happens if Brady tries to play but they can't get the footcast off? Will Troy Brown have to play QB?

Posted by: kolbitr Jan 21 2008, 11:19 PM

Well...it's not too early to start thinking of alternatives to Brady at quarterback, I would suggest.

In 2001, Faulk completed a pass for 23 yards to Tom Brady against the Dolphins.

In 2002, Jabar Gaffney threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Corey Bradford while he was a Houston Texan.

But the non-QB with the most QB experience seems to be Randy Moss, who is 4–8 for 106 yards and 2 TDs, and a 95.8 rating. Maybe this is what Brady meant when he told Dennis and Callahan this morning that Moss would be "a huge factor" in the Super Bowl.

Posted by: Reverend Jan 21 2008, 11:23 PM

Name a non-Red Sox related thread that would move faster.

KG could eat Osama bin Laden, actually eat as in put him between slices of bread and make a sandwich of him which he would then digest and then defecate into an appropriate receptacle for such waste and it wouldn't have this kind of traction.

Posted by: E5 Yaz Jan 21 2008, 11:25 PM

Oh it isn't the speed, it's the out-of-control. No one knows anything about this injury at this point, and suddenly Jabar gafney's playing quarterback

Posted by: kolbitr Jan 21 2008, 11:29 PM

Why not? He's got the right number for it, and that's what matters. No doubt this was BB's top secret emergency plan all along.

Posted by: PseuFighter Jan 21 2008, 11:31 PM

I'm going to wear my boot tomorrow in showing of solidarity. I want this to catch on.

That said, if it's serious, I don't think he'd be on his feet. Rather, he'd likely be back in the Boston area resting.

Posted by: Rocco Graziosa Jan 21 2008, 11:32 PM

Settle down Francis. I think its a fascinating question as to what the spread would be like if Brady was out. No one even suggested he WOULD be out. Just a question. You need to lighten up.

Posted by: PseuFighter Jan 21 2008, 11:32 PM

It's not a cast. It's a CAM walker. I have two of them.

Posted by: E5 Yaz Jan 21 2008, 11:36 PM

You need a remedial reading course. In particular, go back and take out your misdirected BS at the guy who suggested one pic of Brady is a f'ing walking cast was "monster news."

Posted by: 941827 Jan 21 2008, 11:39 PM

Brady had shoulder surgery a couple of off-seasons ago and the only way we learned about it was someone's loose lips at a charity golf event and a subsequent article that made passing mention of the surgery in an Orange County paper (talk about having a scoop and not knowing it...). Unless this injury requires amputation during the off-season, I doubt we'll ever know exactly what it is.

Edit:



On the other hand (for those who enjoy panic), it could be an injury that can only be healed through surgery, but can't be made worse if he walks around with the protective boot. For example, I think Gates's injury (dislocated toe) was like this.

Posted by: Rocco Graziosa Jan 21 2008, 11:40 PM

It IS monster news. What could be bigger news than the QB of the undefeated football team's quarterback spotted walking in a cast when there has been no news on an injury? Who knows what the deal is, but its news. But I don't think anyone here is suggesting he's not going to play. I thought it was interesting to speculate what the spread would be if he didn't play. Sorry if that upsets you.

Posted by: January Jan 21 2008, 11:45 PM

I have to debate if this beats the 'BB concealed the injury from Brady' comment. The posters should stick those two in the EPSN comments, just to see if they make their front-page rotation. They should.


I would not be surprised if this was a hoax. I mean, I bet BB would love the chance to list Brady as 'questionably' on an injury report, list Cassel as the starter and then send Brady out for the second snap of the game, just for the oh-sh*t factor.


If he's got something like that, and is walking around on it, it can be worse than a mild sprain. Could he actually play in that? It looks like it.

Posted by: Ed Hillel Jan 21 2008, 11:49 PM

It's funny you wrote this because, honest to God, this is the first time I've ever heard of this. And I'm a pretty obsessive Pats fan.

Well, there's really no use in worrying about this. Even if Brady is limping the day before the game, I can't see the Giants pulling the safeties out of pass coverage. The 5-8 yard area should still be open for Faulk, Maroney, Gaffney, and Welker to roam. As was mentioned earlier, Brady went something like 7 for his last 7 in the shorter area to end the game. At some point, Maroney will take over and if the Giants try to adjust, I have a hard time beliving Brady won't be able to throw the ball 30 yards downfield.

O-line will need to be top-notch, but that's what they've been all year. This time the Pats will have one of the best blocking tight ends in the game back as well as their starting right side. The Pats will still score their points. I'm more concerned about the secondary.

Posted by: jacksoxfan Jan 21 2008, 11:52 PM

Maybe Kraft needs to fuel up the company jet, fly to Texas, pick up TO and his medical team and get them back to Foxboro for a consult. And tell them not to forget the magical hyperbaric chamber for Brady to nap in. Sorry Tom, it only sleeps one.

Posted by: GlenMorangie Jan 21 2008, 11:55 PM

Help me out - what kinds of injury can they be used for, or what do you have them for?

Posted by: XNOUGHT Jan 21 2008, 11:56 PM

I fucking hate the paparazzi. Having those assholes buzz around you constantly filming you and making comments would make anyone look bad.

Posted by: 941827 Jan 21 2008, 11:59 PM

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1856118&postcount=6 message board randomly has the text of an article about the surgery. I was wrong about one detail -- the original article revealing the surgery was in the Palm Beach Post.

Posted by: Freddy Linn Jan 22 2008, 12:05 AM

When I leave the house, I wear a sandwich board with a picture of a giant penis. They get bored of photos pretty quickly, and it turns the wife on.

Posted by: Romero Romine Jan 22 2008, 12:08 AM

Ideally, what you will have is Belichick claiming not to know anything about this over the next two weeks, then putting out an injury report the Friday before the Super Bowl with something completely outrageous, like

Brady-Questionable (Body)
or
Brady-Doubtful (What is the self, really?)

Then have Brady come out in a wheelchair during player introductions and be faith-healed by Rodney Harrison just before game time.

Posted by: jacksoxfan Jan 22 2008, 12:12 AM

They are used to immobilize the foot/ankle and allow protected weight bearing following any number of injuies from the minor (sprain) to the severe (fracture or post surgery). The benefit of a cam walker vs. a traditional cast is the ability to remove it for treatment and then easily re-apply it. It also permits a more normal gait than you could get in a cast.

Posted by: 5belongstoGeorge Jan 22 2008, 12:37 AM

So Brady will probably be getting treatments while he's staying with his girlfriend in NYC for his 3 off days... He's even the king of the Big Apple.

Posted by: Captaincoop Jan 22 2008, 01:29 AM

If it were a regular season game, I would imagine the game would be OFF. Given that it's the Super Bowl, that obviously won't happen. But I can't imagine the Pats would be favored, and no one would have much of a read on the situation, since Cassel has never played. So my guess is the game would become a pick 'em. Since no one knows how good Cassel is, everyone will have their own theory, and I would imagine a pick 'em line would be the best way to even out the bets.

On a related note, not that I am rooting for this injury to be serious (obviously), but would Matt Cassel winning a Super Bowl to clinch an undefeated season in his first start since HIGH SCHOOL be the greatest sports story of the decade? Not that I would live to see it, as like most of us I would suffer cardiac arrest immediately if I ever heard that Brady was sitting out, but still...

edit: spelled 'Cassel' wrong...

Posted by: Beomoose Jan 22 2008, 01:59 AM

Well from a media PoV, at least this will end the endless talk about how Rivers' is some kind of god for playing on his torn ACL, despite many of the same people calling him a chump earlier in the season when he had two good legs. I'm personally hopping Moss and Brady completely light the Giants up, just take all those ESPN storylines and shove them back in their faces.

Posted by: Sea Dog Jan 22 2008, 02:08 AM

Um, aren't most of those ESPN storylines Patriots-related? Because you know they've been running with the "Pursuit of Perfection" for weeks now. No one's going to get more media coverage than the Patriots, and rightfully so.

Posted by: PseuFighter Jan 22 2008, 02:41 AM

That's pretty much spot-on. I've had some for ankle surgeries I seem to find myself in and out of (from a really bad fracture).

Posted by: genoasalami Jan 22 2008, 08:18 AM

from the rag of all rags.

[post="http://www.nypost.com/seven/01222008/news/regionalnews/flowery_tom_a_posy_patsie_888537.htm"]The Post[/post]



The booty - known as a cam walker - is a good sign for the Big Blue faithful, according to Hospital for Special Surgery foot and ankle expert Dr. Rock Positano.

"When they put you in a cam walker, that usually means you're hurting," Positano told The Post, after viewing stills and video of the gimpy quarterback. "He's sustained some kind of trauma that requires immobilization. This is not just a simple strain or a sprain."

Positano was betting that Brady had suffered trauma to his metatarsals - bones toward the front of the foot - or the Achilles' tendon, located near the heel.

"Achilles' injuries are very difficult to treat," he said. "You don't come back from an Achilles' injury in a week. The fact that he's in a cam walker should make Giants fans very optimistic, and should certainly make Michael Strahan, or any defenseman who sees that, salivate."

Posted by: gtg807y Jan 22 2008, 08:32 AM

It would be a huge story, and also the subject of a biopic entitled The Backup, probably made by Disney. Jake Gyllenhaal would play Cassel, and right before he engineered the game winning drive there would be a slow-clap started by Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Brady. You'd need a love interest who was good looking but not too hot...

Anyway, I'd rather this situation never come to fruition. I would think playing on natural grass would be better for foot/ankle/leg injuries than FieldTurf?

Posted by: TheoShmeo Jan 22 2008, 08:33 AM

So that settles it. The Pats were caught cheating and Brady is out for the game or is seriously limited. Thank you, NY Post.

The bummer in all of this from a curious fan perspective is that given that it's the Patriots, we aren't going to find out anything useful before the game unless Brady is ruled out (and even in that case, we probably wont be told). Anything less than that will lead the Pats to leak only the barest details (questionable/leg). That's what they should do vis-a-vis the Giants, but it's going to lead to a lot of hand wringing between now and February 3.

All of that said, I find it almost inconceivable that they wont find a way to get Brady on the field for that game and that Brady wont go to extremes, if necessary, to get there.

Posted by: genoasalami Jan 22 2008, 08:39 AM

The truth is if Brady had avoided the camera yesterday we would not have heard about this injury until the day after the Super Bowl. Headline - "Brady led the Pats to Super victory with a bum ankle"

Posted by: TheoShmeo Jan 22 2008, 08:48 AM

The only way for Tom to avoid the paparazzi is to stay in his apartment in Boston. That would be a pretty big departure for him as he seemingly comes to NY on Mondays. I'd rather he stay to his routine and risk getting exposed by the lowlife media than go stir crazy looking at the four walls of his apartment. Clearly, he could have gone somewhere other than the media capital of the world, but the cameras would have likely found him wherever he went, and again, as a Pats fan, I'd rather Brady did what he always does and have to worry about his health than do something that might mess with his head.

PS: I know you weren't arguing against what I just wrote, and I agree that if the media hadn't spotted this, the first time we would have heard about it would be as you suggested.

Posted by: loshjott Jan 22 2008, 09:05 AM

I agree. The fact that this injury apparently is not serious enough for Brady to alter his usual Monday routine is at least relatively good news.

Posted by: Carney Lansford Jan 22 2008, 09:20 AM

Why would Brady want to be ultra-careful, even with a minor injury, with the Super Bowl coming up? I love all the speculation when no one has a goddamn clue. If it was that big of a deal, he'd have stayed home. We'll see plenty of footage of him practicing over the coming weeks to allay all of your fears. If not, I hear Bledsoe's available.

Posted by: Lose Remerswaal Jan 22 2008, 09:23 AM

I'm not catching up on 120 posts, but it wouldn't surprise me if this was all a ruse.

Posted by: soxfan121 Jan 22 2008, 09:25 AM

Allow me to save you some time: two weeks of breathless speculation on Brady's foot, followed by Brady starting, followed by a huge statistical performance in the Super Bowl, followed by a Pats win, followed by "whispers from Foxboro" about how Tom Brady played the Super Bowl with a torn achilles, followed by a mysterious surgery and bland denials from the principles.

It's a sprained ankle; it'll affect the game plan, but it won't keep the Pats from winning (and winning big). The inevitable Moss bomb attempt will have to come from a max protect set; otherwise, lots of WR screens and stuff that doesn't require him to set up, plant, and then move again. And I wouldn't be shocked if Kevin Faulk gets to throw a RB option pass.

Posted by: PedroKsBambino Jan 22 2008, 09:25 AM

It would be awesome if this is all a fake. It's probably not, but man...would that be good times. In the post-game Super Bowl press conference he could just say "nothing was wrong, I just figured it would make for a nice storyline this week. Did I look injured out there?"

Posted by: drleather2001 Jan 22 2008, 09:25 AM

Oh come on.

EDIT: In all likelihood, BB and Brady just said "well, I'm going to play, so fuck whatever the press says about it. None of that matters."

That seems to be their MO more than anything.

The fact that he's walking around NYC a day after the game would point to it not being a big deal. If he had a crutch or somesuch, then I'd be concerned.

Posted by: Caspir Jan 22 2008, 09:43 AM

I don't buy that, but http://boards.giants.com/forums/thread/666443.aspx sure do.

I'm sure his ankle/foot/lower leg really is sore and banged up. I mean, it's been a very long season. No one (save for the Giants) have had to do as much playing and practicing this year, and you have to figure that pretty much every player on both sides have some sort of aches or pains. I'm not worried yet, but if Brady is rocking the boot during media day, I'll be a bit nervous, especially with the Giants defensive line.

Posted by: DJnVa Jan 22 2008, 09:51 AM

Paraphrasing both here:

John Clayton on ESPN Radio: "I don't think this is a big deal. They hit the practice fields Thursday, we'll see what happens."

Dan Koppen on NFL Radio: "I'm not worried about that. I pretty sure Tom will be able to drop back and throw it in 2 weeks."

Posted by: naclone Jan 22 2008, 09:57 AM

just to be clear, Brady was not "walking around NYC" with his famous girlfriend. if you watch the video, it's pretty clear that an SUV pulls up across the street from Gisele's apartment, she gets out, walks across the street, enters the apartment. Then brady grabs some stuff out of the back of the truck and walks across the street and into the apartment.

It's not like they were walking through Times Square or Central Park or going clubbing or something. They walked...across the street.

Posted by: mascho Jan 22 2008, 09:59 AM

Brady played in, and won (both the game and his first Super Bowl MVP), a week after suffering a sprained ankle that forced him out of the AFC Championship Game. This year, he was able to play the entire AFC Championship Game, and gets an additional week to rest and recover.

Not exactly worried about this...if anything, I'm relieved. Helps to explain Sunday's performance. Had Brady been 100% and played like that, I'd be concerned about the Giants and their ability to game plan for the SB.

Posted by: TheoShmeo Jan 22 2008, 10:27 AM

That's reasonable.

But it's also reasonable to look at Sunday's performance, in which he threw three 3 picks, completed no passes other than short or mid-range ones, was bailed out to a degree by Faulk, Welker and Stallworth on some off the park but ultimately catchable passes and missed some open receivers, and say that if Brady's condition isn't one that can improve materially in the two weeks between games, it's cause for some good mouth puke.

I also take zero comfort in what Koppen said. No one from the Patriots is going to tell us much of use between now and February 3.

All that said, I agree that Tom will be fine and they'll find a way to treat this enough so that he'll be at or near his normal self by game time.

Posted by: Havok Jan 22 2008, 10:35 AM

Brady went out to dinner sans foot cast last night, according to TMZ:



Breathe.

Posted by: Clears Cleaver Jan 22 2008, 10:40 AM

Who the F is that guy with the football hat on in the background? Flvaor Flav's younger brother?

Posted by: bsartist618 Jan 22 2008, 10:40 AM

What's with the idiot in the football hat? (or whatever that is)

Posted by: 5belongstoGeorge Jan 22 2008, 10:45 AM

Did he get his blue cheese on the side? When he dropped his fork was the waiter nice when he brought a new one?

Brady is simply going to light up the Gigantes. My biggest hope is that his girlfriend wears something revealing in the luxury box during the Superbowl and the network has an HD camera zoomed in on her for the entire game.

Posted by: Nator Jan 22 2008, 10:46 AM

Secret TMZ camera hidden inside?

Posted by: Caspir Jan 22 2008, 10:48 AM

Man, he loves those fucking suede cowboy/elf boots. He had them on after the Jags game last weekend too.

Posted by: naclone Jan 22 2008, 10:51 AM

hmm...if that pic was taken last night, both brady and gisele seem under dressed for how cold it was here in the city

Posted by: loshjott Jan 22 2008, 10:54 AM

He's carrying a bunch of roses - probably one of those guys trying to sell flowers to everyone that passes by. The football hat almost looks photoshopped on.

Posted by: GreyisGone Jan 22 2008, 10:54 AM

My guess is in the interest of fashion they toughed out the 30 second walk from the venue to their ride.

Posted by: kevlog Jan 22 2008, 11:08 AM

Everything's going to be juuuuuust fine.

Posted by: DegenerateSoxFan Jan 22 2008, 11:08 AM

And not on her face. I know her body absolutely rocks, but her face just isn't that pretty.

Posted by: JimD Jan 22 2008, 11:16 AM

Maybe I'm giving Belichick and Brady too much credit here for being smart, but I can't imagine that they are doing this without there being an ulterior motive. Admitting weakness is not something the master does - if the boot is truly necessary, they'd find a way to keep it under wraps.

Messing with the heads and plans of opposing coaches, on the other hand, is perfectly acceptable. Any moments spent by the Giants staff trying to guess 'How would Brady play if he's hobbled? How do we plan for Matt Cassel?' is a bonus.

Posted by: 5belongstoGeorge Jan 22 2008, 11:22 AM

Yeah, I can hear the taunts from Strahan now... "Tom Brady dates ugly girls!"

I find Tom's taste in women to be similar to his skills as a quarterback.

Posted by: aaandrewww Jan 22 2008, 11:26 AM

Am I the only one who sees the suspicious shadows to the right of both his legs in this picture? I couldn't get the video to work, but did that actually show the boot?

EDIT: the gisele picture from the same article shows the same artifact so I guess its just a camera trick and not a photoshop.

Posted by: Mooch Jan 22 2008, 11:28 AM

It's in the video. I think the photo was a video still and might have some blurring from the frame before it.

Posted by: genoasalami Jan 22 2008, 11:43 AM

Make sure you refresh www.tmz.com often for breaking news on Tom Brady's status for the Super Bowl and for Britney's Spears latest pregnancy test results.

Posted by: mannytizzletek Jan 22 2008, 12:21 PM

I concur. I've said it before; she has the Steffi Graf face.

Posted by: Dirty Water Jan 22 2008, 12:32 PM

yeah .. b/c your gf/wife is soooo much hotter.
don't hate ..... any guy on this board would knock 5 yrs off their existence to have at her for a night !!!

Posted by: AlNipper49 Jan 22 2008, 12:36 PM

Any guy on this board would knock 5 years off of his life to have Nell Carter for a night. Caring about who Tom Brady is banging is kind of like having a fantasy baseball team.... you're not going to have Cesar Crespo starting for your fantasy team because any softball team you play for would be lucky to have him.

Posted by: drleather2001 Jan 22 2008, 12:37 PM

Sarcasm and hyperbole on a message board. How droll.

Posted by: Dirty Water Jan 22 2008, 12:40 PM

yeah .. i can see the similarities.........

Posted by: drleather2001 Jan 22 2008, 12:45 PM

Alright, fine, since you seem to have no problem using sarcasm and hyperbole but can't wrap your head around it when others use it:

Would you honestly give up 5 years of life to have sex with someone? Anyone? Because if that's true, you're life must be pretty pathetic.

Posted by: 5belongstoGeorge Jan 22 2008, 12:49 PM

The point of this exercise is to make it clear that Tom Brady can pull the kind of pussy that, as Eddie Murphy once said, has fireworks shooting out of her ass.

Any other opinion about this matter is incorrect.

Posted by: Dirty Water Jan 22 2008, 12:50 PM

Well, with my wealth and modern technology, I think I can live to 250-300.

Posted by: Carlos Cowart Jan 22 2008, 01:11 PM

You're giving Belichick and Brady too much credit. If they wanted to play head games his right arm would be in a sling. This is neither gamesmanship nor is it particularly serious. If it were serious they wouldn't let him put weight on it, which means he'd be on crutches. Dude rolled an ankle, it hurt like a bitch and swelled a bit. We've all done it. Stabilize it laterally with the boot so he can't aggravate it, work with the trainers over the next couple weeks, a good tape job and he won't even feel it during the Superbowl.

Posted by: twoBshorty Jan 22 2008, 01:13 PM

Next important question: the new PageSix blurb said he and Gisele were sitting with Leonardo DiCaprio. Why are they hanging around her ex?

Posted by: shawnrbu Jan 22 2008, 01:23 PM

I'll do it one better: I'd shed five years off of my prime years (if possible). Taking five years from the backend is not pathetic enough.

Posted by: drleather2001 Jan 22 2008, 01:31 PM

Ok, so far we have:

- Tom Brady wore a protective boot for part of the evening last night
- This may be a sign that he was playing a little hurt on Sunday, which may account for his mediocre performance.
- This probably isn't a ruse by the Patriots
- He should be fine for the SB.

I can't imagine this thread is going to dig up much more than this.

Posted by: 5belongstoGeorge Jan 22 2008, 01:34 PM

Can we at least have more emphasis on the Supermodel angle? You're not helping.

Posted by: bsartist618 Jan 22 2008, 02:08 PM

Who says he hurt it during the game? Maybe Randy was demonstrating consensual horseplay...


Anyway, if he can walk around in his suede boots, I'm sure come gametime a nice tape-job will be good enough for him to play on it. Nothing to worry about here.

The "Girlie Man Limps Home" angle in the NY Post gave me a laugh.

Posted by: Rocco Graziosa Jan 22 2008, 02:55 PM

I thought that was great. The Heralds "Theres something afoot with Tom Brady" headline this morning was well done as well.

The concern I would have is if its a strain of the Plantar fascia, which is the connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot. If thats fucked up the pain is gonna be intense, and it would absolutely affect his ablity to plant and throw. (one could argue that his lack of accurate deep balls in the AFC championship might be a sign he was having trouble planting or having pain when he planted) The "boot" would also be the correct Rx for it becuse it would force Brady to limit how much its used and strained. The problem is the best medicine for that type of strain is weeks off........weeks that Brady doesn't have. He could play with it, but It would probably be very painful.

If he's using a boot for an ankle that an even worse sign. Normally for a VERY bad ankle sprain he would be wearing this:

http://www.onlinesports.com/pages/I,MKM-AIR100.html?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Products-_-PPC-_-MKM-AIR100

I GUESS it could some super precautinary measure to use a boot for an ankle sprain, but man I've never heard of it. A boot for an ankle sprain would suggest its a bad sprain, probably a high sprain that needs tons of support.

But no matter whats goin on, Tom Brady isn't wearing a removable cast on his leg for no reason.

Posted by: BigSoxFan Jan 22 2008, 03:02 PM

My biggest concern with Footgate is not really how Brady starts the game. Clearly, he'll be dinged up to some extent and won't be 100% but then again, nobody is. Then again, not everyone is walking around in a boot either. The main concern for me is now the Giants having the knowledge that Brady's foot isn't right. Now every Giants defender will be channeling his best Lee Flowers impersonation. It would be a shame to have such a great season ruined because Brady went down in the 2nd quarter and couldn't return. That's the risk we take every week but now that risk is elevated.

Posted by: Gambler7 Jan 22 2008, 03:04 PM

When he goes out later that same night not wearing a brace of any kind and in pretty tight fitting cowboy boots (that most likely do not zip up) I have to assume the injury can not be that bad. He may not be wearing it for no reason, but I think the reason is to be precautionary with whatever is bothering him.

And I agree with the chorus about how pathetic the paparazzi are. It's embarassing just listening to them.

Posted by: twoBshorty Jan 22 2008, 03:06 PM

If he had plantar fasciitis, he wouldn't have been out clubbing in heeled cowboy boots, would he? That would be both painful and stupid.

Posted by: G String Quartet Jan 22 2008, 03:25 PM

Not without a noticeable limp. I had this last year during my softball season and although I was able to wear cleats and "somewhat play" (fairly ineffectively) it was not without a change in walking style and pain.

Posted by: Frisbetarian Jan 22 2008, 03:30 PM

This could also be a metatarsal injury. If so, hopefully it is not too serious. Seeing the picture of Brady in cowboy boots (if indeed that is real) would lead me to believe it is not. A stress fracture of one of the middle metatarsals is treated with RICE initially, then a soft cast (CAM Walker) for up to one week. The injury usually takes at least 3 weeks to fully heal.

Posted by: Havok Jan 22 2008, 03:36 PM

http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1387524535.

Imagine if one of those paparazzi lowlifes stepped on Brady's foot during that madness? I would march to New York with pitchfork in hand. Brady looks fine walking, though.

In other news, Britney skipped court again, but she really, really loves her kids.

Posted by: EdRalphRomero Jan 22 2008, 03:37 PM

For what it is worth the Providence Journal ran http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/sp_fbn_brady22_01-22-08_A68N3L4_v6.2e7c9cf.html quoting Dr. Chris Chiodo:

"The chief of the foot and ankle division at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston said Brady doesn't appear to be seriously injured. Dr. Chris Chiodo, who is not treating Brady, said he has used a boot to treat several ailments, including a sprain, a strain, a bone bruise, tendinitis or overuse of the foot. He said he strongly doubted Brady had a displaced fracture. 'I don't think he'd be walking on it if that were the case,' Chiodo, an orthopedic surgeon told The Associated Press in a telephone interview."

He's not treating him and the article does not make it clear if the doctor actually said that he does not believe that Brady is seriously injured (or how he would define that) only that he doubted he had a displaced fracture.

Edit: More http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1068269&srvc=rss

“'The fact that he’s walking without crutches tells me it’s a mild injury,' said Dr. Mark Slovenkai, a foot and ankle surgeon at New England Baptist Hospital."

Posted by: jsinger121 Jan 22 2008, 03:39 PM

Watching that video he looked fine walking the streets of New York.

Posted by: PedroKsBambino Jan 22 2008, 03:47 PM

Maybe he had surgery to transplant a tendon from a cadaver onto his ankle to provide additional support...I hear that happens sometimes.

Posted by: mascho Jan 22 2008, 03:47 PM

Yeah, but was he limping?

I kid, I kid.

Nothing like a story like this to kick off 2 whole weeks of Super Bowl "analysis..."

Posted by: Doctor G Jan 22 2008, 04:37 PM

I personally think the boot was one of Randy Moss' old ones and that Randy asked Tom to wear it to take the focus off Randy.

Posted by: DJnVa Jan 22 2008, 04:42 PM

Peter King weighs in:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/01/22/tombrady/index.html

Posted by: E5 Yaz Jan 22 2008, 04:54 PM

Hey, no fat jokes!

PK must've read this thread and channeled his inner Katherine Hepburn

Posted by: kenneycb Jan 22 2008, 05:24 PM

According to http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080122 latest, his sources (take that as you may) say that it is an ankle sprain and that it happened in the second quarter.

Edit: It is NOT a high ankle sprain, just a regular ankle sprain. I just have trouble relating what I read to what I type.

Posted by: Carlos Cowart Jan 22 2008, 05:25 PM

And gay.

Posted by: 941827 Jan 22 2008, 05:30 PM

There is a massive difference between a high ankle sprain and an ankle sprain.

Simmons said that Brady's injury is an "ankle sprain."

A high ankle sprain would be reason for concern.

Edit: And now the Boston Herald says:

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1068340&srvc=deadspin

This must be a VERY mild sprain:



http://www.orthogate.org/patient-education/ankle/ankle-syndesmosis-injuries.html

Posted by: Kevin Youkulele Jan 22 2008, 05:50 PM

Some info about http://orthopedics.about.com/od/sprainsstrains/a/syndesmosis.htm:

Posted by: drleather2001 Jan 22 2008, 07:05 PM

This sounds like...kind of bad news.

Posted by: Omar's Wacky Neighbor Jan 22 2008, 07:37 PM

SportsCewnter: Jaws thinks he found the play when Brady MAY have tweaked his ankle. Says it came ~2:34 to go in the first quarter. (Or is this old news?)

EDIT: my bad: first quarter.

Posted by: DJnVa Jan 22 2008, 07:44 PM

Except for the fact that he would almost certainly NOT be walking around on the ankle if it was serious. As someone said, he'd also have crutches to help keep the weight off, and wouldn't be seen later than same night, sans cast.

Posted by: genoasalami Jan 22 2008, 08:07 PM

You will be amazed what 68 degrees with no humidty and calm winds will do for an ankle sprain. He will be fine in Glendale.

Posted by: John Dopson Jan 22 2008, 08:30 PM

In which quarter?

Posted by: Ed Hillel Jan 22 2008, 08:33 PM

I'm guessing the 3rd. I still think he injured it when he was sacked the last time. I can't remember when that was but I saw him get up gingerly after Igor jumped on his back awkwardly.

High ankle sprains are a bitch (I've had a few, along with ankle fractures and lower sprains) but only for sprinting and, especially, jumping. Brady won't be able to do much out of the pocket, but that's not his forte to begin with. Unless he takes another shot I don't think will affect his performance appreciably. He should still be able to plant, throw with weight on it, and move 2-3 steps in the pocket to avoid rushers.

Posted by: patinorange Jan 22 2008, 08:38 PM

Can't he find a chick in Boston?

I don't trust these NY motherf..er's with our boy walking the streets and riding in those crazy cabs.

Posted by: neil Jan 22 2008, 09:01 PM

I can't see the papz showing much interest in Tom now.

Posted by: SPDougie Jan 22 2008, 09:30 PM

I am watching the replay on NFL Network and am pretty sure I just spotted the play where Brady sprained his ankle. With about 13 minutes left in the 3rd quarter when Brady was sacked by Castillo and Phillips you could see his right leg planted and twist as he took an awkward fall. FWIW it was the play right before his 2nd INT of the day albeit it was the only one that wasn't his fault (tipped off Stallworth's hands to Florence).

And for any "concern" he played better post-sprain.

Posted by: DaveRoberts'Shoes Jan 22 2008, 09:59 PM

I have no inside information on what is going on with Brady's foot, but I will eat my hat if it's anything other than an ankle sprain. And not a high ankle sprain, just a routine ankle sprain. If it were any kind of syndesmotic injury (a.k.a high ankle sprain), he would be on crutches. Not necessarily because he "needs" them, but because that would maximize his recovery between now and the Super Bowl.

I have put patients in CAM walkers (the other common brand name for them, ironically enough, is Bledsoe boot) for all kinds of injuries, but the fact that he is walking around relatively comfortably and without crutches in New York city and is not in Foxboro getting treatment 18 hours a day gives me great relief.

He's fine.

Posted by: Corsi Combover Jan 22 2008, 10:01 PM

Butch Stearns is hearing "mild sprain of the right ankle."

Posted by: E5 Yaz Jan 22 2008, 10:04 PM

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/01/brady_high_ankl.html

Posted by: Corsi Combover Jan 22 2008, 10:08 PM

Source: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/01/more_on_brady_1.html

Posted by: mascho Jan 22 2008, 10:10 PM

Watching that game tonight as well, and it is interesting. During the game I would have agreed with that statement, but now, I'm looking at those other two INTs in a different light. But let us look at all three INTs, shall we?

The first pick. Patriots take over at the 5:13 mark of the first quarter, on their own 20. At the 1:11 mark of the below linked video is that pick. That video doesn't do the play justice, but the Chargers, as Deion indicates, are clearly in Cover 2. Jammer gets a decent jam on Stallworth, but Stallworth still gets a release to the outside, which is crucial, because it's away from safety help. He's running a go route down the sideline, and the throw to Stallworth is the right read. Brady just doesn't get it into the right spot, and Jammer makes a great play on the ball. Right read by Brady, but an underthrown ball coupled with a great play by Jammer equals INT. (As an aside, a perfect example of the right throw on that play? Eli right before the half in the NFC Championship game, the pass that Burress dropped near the Green Bay goal line. That throw is how you throw the go route against a Cover 2).

Second pick, the Florence pick. In my opinion, this was set up by a poor play call and/or read on the play prior. Second and nine. This play is at the 5:04 mark of this video. Second and nine at the San Diego 47 yardline. Pats come out singleback, with two receivers in slot formation to the left, Brady lined up at TE to the right, with Watson in motion from left to right. Weak play action fake to the right, with both Brady and Watson running dual 5 yard outs. Brady looks right the whole way, almost looks like it's a two receiver route between Brady and Watson. (To the backside the slot receiver ran an out, and it looks like the outside receiver runs either a slant or a skinny post). Chargers jump the two out routes, and Brady pulls it down, but the play results in a sack. Sets up 3rd and long, and puts the offense in a position where they have to make a play, and allows San Diego to drop in coverage, which they do. Pick results. I really don't like the design of that play they called on second down. The play action fake was weak/barely carried out, and if you're going to run a route designed for Brady/Watson, run something other than dual outs. Spread the coverage out a bit, either with a post-corner and an out, or something like that.

Third pick, the Cromartie pick. If you look at about the 6:30 mark of that linked video, you'll see as close to what Brady saw as possible. Honestly, I plain don't think Brady saw Cromartie there, at all. Two things occur to me on that play: One, Cromartie was spying Brady on that play, and man did he do a great job of it. Two, Faulk's curl route obscured Brady's vision, and Brady never saw Cromartie there. Wasn't Faulk's fault, he ran his route..."did his job" if you will. Problem was, Cromartie did his better.

So to sum up, I think the first pick was just a poor throw, but the right read on that route. Second pick was a tipped ball, but a function of the previous play, one that put the Patriots in 3rd and long. Third pick? Looked bad on TV, but if you look at it from Brady's vantage point, you won't see what he didn't see: Cromartie lurking.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?season=2007&week=POST21&game_id=29524

Posted by: Wakefield's Heart Jan 22 2008, 10:18 PM

I'm with patinorange! Not to mention I was sincerely just thinking on Sunday night that this was, in my mind at least, the week for this Giselle character, as lovely as she seems, to really prove her love. But fellas, I gotta tell ya, after this episode during this specific period--this critical juncture in NFL history--I've got to give everybody's favorite Brazilian supermodel a big fat "F" for this one. Mary Mother of God. You'd think that a woman who was dating a 3-time Superbowl-winning, best dressed, gorgeous hunk of the decade--one who, oh yeah, just happens to have another one of those to play in in, oh, what is it, less than two weeks--could've left her swingin', dinin', clubbin' New York lifestyle behind for just a few measley more days to in turn play nurse/supermodel entertainer in the quiet, safe confines of the good man's surely chic Commonwealth Avenue brownstone. Instead? They're being carelessly whisked away left and right in vehicles, seen wandering the streets in risky footwear, being followed around by insane men donning dysfunctional football hats as fools in the background eerily chant "Let's go Giants!", and worst of all, risking life and limb in New York City cabs when everything they could possibly want or need to do is within a 10 block walk of the West Village?! I really wish I could make you guys feel better, but a crazy cab driver almost got me killed this year in her taxi on my way home a little while back as she took a turn on East 11th Street and First Avenue near where I live. We got clipped by a sanitation truck, for Pete's sakes: these things happen! This hellhole town that I love and call home is no place for Tom Brady this week. NO PLACE. Giselle belonged up in the arctic tundra of Back Bay this week (where sex is allowed, by the way), but my bet is that she wouldn't do it (not the sex, travel to the tundra). Tom with the boot? Giselle gets the boot from me this week. Yet another reason why I should be Tom's girlfriend.

I know...jealous much?

Posted by: Wakefield's Heart Jan 22 2008, 11:11 PM

Dear God, this (sort of) just in: the mediots on SNY Encore's "Daily News Live" are all but challenging bitter, Boston-hating, brazen New Yorkers to stalk Tom down with a lead pipe to the kneecap while he's here in town. May he be safely returning to Logan as we speak on the last Delta shuttle to get the hell OUT OF HERE! Flee, Tom, flee!

Posted by: SoxScout Jan 22 2008, 11:31 PM

1st quarter. They just showed the play on SC. On the pass out to the right that went way over Moss' head his ankle rolled over... the next few plays he was hopping around.

Posted by: 941827 Jan 24 2008, 01:59 PM

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/01/practice_report_46.html


I believe the media-access portion of practice is usually just stretching and warm-ups. If that's true, I suspect Brady won't make any appearances this week or next. Given all the coverage of Brady's injury, Belichick might as well do what he can to continue creating doubt in the Giants' minds about Brady's status.

Posted by: TheoShmeo Jan 25 2008, 03:33 PM

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

It means nothing, Brady wouldn't have been in NY on Monday and Tuesday if he needed treatment, he'll be ready to go on February 3 and this is just preventitive.....WASH, RINSE, REPEAT.

Posted by: Bucknahs Bum Ankle Jan 25 2008, 04:05 PM

Yes, but there were civilian clothes spotted at his locker! CIVILIAN CLOTHES!!!

Actually, in all liklihood, it was just overflow from Randy's locker. I mean there are only so many wife-beaters that a guy can fit in one of those.

Posted by: Corsi Combover Jan 25 2008, 04:16 PM

Source: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8UD1VOG0&show_article=1

Posted by: E5 Yaz Jan 26 2008, 04:20 AM

Rivers had a torn cartilege and now Kaeding had a broken plant leg:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3215072

The only guy not playing after being in a walking boot is LdT

Posted by: SoxScout Jan 26 2008, 11:02 PM

Tomorrow's Boston Herald cover story is on Brady being spotted limping around the Back Bay today according to WHDH.

EDIT

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1069210&format=text

Posted by: TheShynessClinic Jan 26 2008, 11:05 PM

This is really going the way of a "Cloverfield"-type viral campaign.

Posted by: TheoShmeo Jan 27 2008, 09:37 AM

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1069248

Former Patriots back-up Jim Miller in an article in today's Herald essentially states the obvious on Brady: The ankle is unlikely to matter but if Brady is not at practice in Arizona, it's probably time to start worrying somewhat.

Given that it's pretty damned unlikely that Brady will miss the game, the only question in my mind is how much practice time does he need to get ready for this game? The two week lay-off suggests that he'll need at least a few practices to regain his timing and get used to throwing with whatever adjustments his condition will require.

Posted by: woofer Jan 27 2008, 11:15 AM

Do people really believe that he's walking around on an injury that could potentially effect his play next sunday? I just don't understand why people think he would be walking around on a bum ankle at this point. Seems just as likely to me that he was faking it for the officers. And even if its real, it can't be anything even talking about, because he would be in the CAM walker still and would not be out and about.

Posted by: Southpaw67 Jan 27 2008, 11:37 AM

They just showed Brady live on ESPN addressing the crowd at the rally in Foxborough.
Wendy Nix reported that he was in street shoes and walked to the podium without a noticeable limp.

Get down off the ledges, folks.

Posted by: RedOctober3829 Jan 27 2008, 11:47 AM

WCVB showed him walking onto the buses leaving to go to Logan and he was walking normal.

Posted by: MarcSullivaFan Jan 27 2008, 01:16 PM

From where I positioned outside of his place last night, no limp was noticeable as he walked from the couch to the refrigerator. He did seem to be drinking an awful lot of orange juice right before bed, which concerned me; I was worried that it might give him acid stomach and keep him from getting a good night's sleep. Luckily, it seemed to have no effect, as he seemed to be sleeping soundly last night, and didn't even wake when I was rifling through his laundry hamper.

Posted by: E5 Yaz Jan 27 2008, 02:27 PM

Whate idiot wrote the cutline for this photo:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/specials/playoffs/2007/01/27/brady.ap/index.html

Posted by: Ferm Sheller Jan 27 2008, 02:31 PM

"From where I positioned outside of his place last night, no limp was noticeable as he walked from the couch to the refrigerator. He did seem to be drinking an awful lot of orange juice right before bed, which concerned me; I was worried that it might give him acid stomach and keep him from getting a good night's sleep. Luckily, it seemed to have no effect, as he seemed to be sleeping soundly last night, and didn't even wake when I was rifling through his laundry hamper." -Vince Wilfork (on being at Mercury Morris's house)

Posted by: mannytizzletek Jan 27 2008, 06:33 PM

With a totally open collar. In this weather, not the smartest of decisions.

Posted by: Saints Rest Jan 27 2008, 07:17 PM

His attire has nothing to do with catching a cold or getting sick. He's going to be in more dire circumstances during the 6 hour flight to Phoenix.

Posted by: Tony C Jan 27 2008, 07:34 PM

actually, more recently scientists have discovered a link between weather and the transmission of certain viruses.

button up!

Posted by: jaypatsox Jan 27 2008, 09:16 PM

Anybody watching NFL Network right now? Live Brady Press Conference...At the tail end right now...

Damn, missed all the ankle questions....he told the media to stop with the ankle related questions. Guess It was bugging him last game but it wont stop him from playing...obviously.

Posted by: ColoradoJack Jan 27 2008, 09:24 PM

i am...everybody seems loose, relaxed (BB and Brady at least)...it'll be interesting to juxtapose that against the Giants' press conference tommorow...

Posted by: LESDL Jan 27 2008, 09:29 PM

Belichik very loose. A few funny moments.

Brady only seemed irritated with the question about Gisele's presence.

Posted by: bean8282 Jan 27 2008, 10:17 PM

Hey LESDL who's she in the avatar?

Posted by: Lukieb Jan 27 2008, 11:34 PM

I don't know what was better about that press conference. It had to be either of the following parts.

1. Throughout the whole press conference Bill was feverishly searching the media room for the media personnel questioning him. At one point a reporter starts asking Bill a question and says he's "I'm over here". So Bill kind of looks around like 'over here...where??' . He says it again and Bill says something in regards to "This is like playing Marco Polo." The reporter responds, "Sorry, I've over to your left. MARCO!!!" Bill responds with POLO! and begins laughing.

2. Question: You're a big music fan. What do you think of Tom Petty as the half-time act.

Bill<smirk/smile>: I think it's great. I think it's great. I I wish I could stand out there and listen to it. but, uhh..I'll have some of the CDs playing in my office this week, so it will put me in the mood. Free-falling. -- with a huge smile.

Overall a great press conference for the masses, although I find all his press conferences pretty intriguing.

Posted by: Bongorific Feb 2 2008, 05:04 PM

Bob Kraft was just in the golf broadcast booth at the FBR Open. Jim Nantz asked a question about Tom Brady's boot and Kraft made an interesting, joking/sarcastic comment: "You don't think that was just something for Tom and Bill to draw attention to themselves and keep Super Bowl pressure off of the other players?" (paraphrasing).

I don't think he was implying that the whole thing was made up. I doubt Belichick would keep Brady out of practices just to keep pressure off the rest of the team. But it was an angle to the story that I had never considered.

Posted by: RoyHobbs Feb 2 2008, 05:12 PM

Looks good to me.

Posted by: Southpaw67 Feb 2 2008, 11:28 PM

You know, I had actually briefly considered this about The Boot™ because the second the media rushed to Brady's side photographing his every step, the cameras came off Randy Moss and the whole TRO storyline virtually disappeared.
Brady protecting his bud?

Then I thought......nah.

Posted by: Mystic Merlin Feb 2 2008, 11:38 PM

Regardless, this debacle has undoubtedly taken the focus off of the "pursuit of perfection," which seemed to be an impossible task just two weeks ago.

I certainly didn't enjoy all the bullshit about BootGate, but all the media and fan attention was focused on Brady and not the rest of the team.

Posted by: drleather2001 Feb 3 2008, 02:10 AM

Maybe, maybe not.

I think the likely explanation is that Brady had a mild ankle injury, and that's that.

I have as much faith in the "Patriot Way" or whatever as anyone, but come on: You think they made up a bullshit story about Tom Brady's ankle to draw media attention away from the rest of the team? Seriously?

Guy twisted his ankle. End of story.

Posted by: Lose Remerswaal Feb 3 2008, 10:15 AM

Look for multiple posts regarding "ruse". This was considered from the very start.

Posted by: Mystic Merlin Feb 3 2008, 11:50 AM

That's not what I said at all. I don't even think I implied that.

All I said was that his injury took the focus off the team as a whole.

Posted by: Rocco Graziosa Feb 3 2008, 11:45 PM

Maybe his foot was hurt after all. It certainly would explain 14 points in the Superbowl.

Posted by: Smiling Joe Hesketh Feb 3 2008, 11:46 PM

I didn't know his foot played on the offensive line.

Posted by: Jimy Hendrix Feb 3 2008, 11:47 PM

He definitely seemed off, especially coming up short on deep balls

Posted by: Rocco Graziosa Feb 3 2008, 11:49 PM

He couldn't throw deep with ANY accuracy, and he also missed a few wide open receivers. My crew called him hurt in the first quarter. Brady and God are the only dudes who know the truth. I tip my cap that he never made this an issue or an excuse after the game. A true winner.

Posted by: bosox4283 Feb 4 2008, 07:36 AM

Agreed.

There may have been other factors impacting his strength and accuracy--no protection, bad routes, great coverage--but given the difficulties Brady had throwing the ball down field, you have to consider the strength of his ankle.

Did Brady complete a mass more than 20 yards?

Posted by: hescores21 Feb 4 2008, 10:18 AM

C'mon, his ankle had nothing to do with accuracy and completing the long ball. In his interview with Bradshaw he admitted that they were having fun with the whole thing (boot gate). Every long pass he threw, he was pressured or hit. His accuracy or lack there of was a direct result of the pressure he was under all night. The ankle is and was a non issue.

Posted by: cannonball 1729 Feb 4 2008, 10:21 AM

The pressure he was under all night may have had a lot to do with the fact that the defense didn't have to respect the deep ball, since he couldn't throw it.

Posted by: Maalox Feb 4 2008, 10:23 AM

That final pass to Moss was just about perfect -maybe six inches short- and it was at least 60 yards.

Brady threw deep without getting hit on or before release until those two last-ditch passes. I'm not just talking about pressure; he was actually physically hammered on every single deep pass until the very end.

Posted by: Lippa Feb 4 2008, 01:04 PM

I think that if there was an injury bothering Brady yesterday, it was probably to his shoulder. He's always been deadly accurate on the short and intermediate routes, but going back to the San Diego game, a lot of those balls were just a bit high or a bit behind the receiver. A good portion of that could have been the pressure he was under all game from the Giants, but even when there was time, he never quite looked right. That sounds like a guy who's struggling to keep a consistent release point, and a telltale sign of a shoulder injury. I would not be at all surprised is a story comes out within the next couple of weeks that he's going under the knife for a problem with his throwing arm.

Posted by: Harry Hooper Feb 4 2008, 01:11 PM

Maybe, or he hurt his arm/thumb in the SB game when that Giants rushher yanked his arm off as he was throwing the ball.

Posted by: Bongorific Feb 4 2008, 01:15 PM

I posted this in another thread last night, but it probably is more relevant in here. Whether it was the shoulder or ankle, Brady was inaccurate even when he had time. A few deep passes were nowhere near receivers, and even some of his quick slants to Welker were thrown behind him.

"I thought the Brady ankle stuff was overblown leading up to the game, but I think it really made a difference tonight. Brady didn't look right from his first throw and first drive of the night (even though they scored). After his first few passes, my dad turned to me and said 'doesn't look good for Brady...he's just lobbing them.' He normally fires darts on the quick slants and screens, and a lot of them sort of floated tonight. He under threw Moss and I think Gaffney on a few deep routes badly. If a couple of those deep balls lead to touchdowns, the Giants are down 28-10 and trying to figure out how to get back into the game. Obviously a lot of his poor passes were a result of the pass rush, but even when he had some time he didn't look good."

Posted by: JimD Feb 4 2008, 02:35 PM

He's been on the IR for the shoulder issue for, what, about three years?

Posted by: mannytizzletek Feb 4 2008, 02:38 PM

Kind of wish they concentrated on the game more, and had fun less. . .

Posted by: hescores21 Feb 4 2008, 05:20 PM

I dunno, maybe you could go back and watch the game again. Nearly all if his long throws, he was under tremendous pressure and could not completely follow through with his arm. As for not completeing a pass more than 20 yards, well, that would be the GIANTS game plan more than on Brady. For the throws that he seemingly had time, well, after the beating a QB takes from all that pressure, your internal clock gets a little faster and you expect to get leveled and rush the throw. Most of the time he did. This game was all about the Giants pressure and game plan, and absolutely nothing about the ankle.

As for not being able to throw the deep ball, when he had time, he managed to LOB a few 60 yards in the air. I'm not sure what you are implying but the Giants made it difficult to throw the long ball. There just was no time.

Plain and simple, a QB under duress as much as TB was, is going to look horrible. Manning, Favre, Ben and all the rest.

Posted by: genoasalami Feb 4 2008, 05:59 PM

Exactly, i thought Brady played great considering the pressure he was under. Usually, pressure like that will lead to an INT and he manged to avoid the costly interception.

Posted by: dcmissle Feb 5 2008, 09:27 AM

No shocker, FWIW:

Link: http://www.profootballtalk.com/
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Posted by: Rocco Graziosa Feb 5 2008, 09:50 AM

No shit. I heard the same thing and kinda wondered if Brady had jumped the shark a little. Tom certainly is a different guy than he was 5 years ago. Still the best though.

Posted by: jsinger121 Feb 5 2008, 10:02 AM

He can change back to what he once was if he drops Giselle and gets back to basics. Right now he is like Rocky from Rocky III. He needs to get the eye of the tiger back.

Posted by: mascho Feb 5 2008, 10:11 AM

Who plays the role of Apollo? I'm guessing Bledsoe. Can't wait to see Drew and Tom running on the beach together.

When Brady could step into a throw, he looked fine. Unfortunately, he couldn't step into many throws...