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Belichick Mum On Brady

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A Tribune wire report

Published: January 25, 2008

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick stayed true to form Thursday, refusing to discuss Tom Brady's health a few days after the quarterback was photographed limping in New York with a cast on his right foot.

"I don't have any comment on it," he said in a news conference before the Patriots held their first practice in preparation for the Feb. 3 Super Bowl against the New York Giants.

Brady did not show up during the first 15 minutes of practice, when reporters are allowed to observe, and it was not immediately known if he would play after the session was closed to the media. Patriots spokesman Stacey James said the team would not announce whether Brady participated in any part of the workout.

The next practice participation report will be issued Wednesday, James said.

Brady wasn't seen in the locker room before practice during the 45 minutes it was open to the media.

When asked at the news conference earlier if Brady would practice, Belichick said: "We'll go out there. I don't know."

"The injury report will be out next Wednesday and we're excited to get that to you," he said to laughter from reporters, "filled out completely and I can't wait to get that to you because I know you're anxious for it."

Brady, this season's NFL MVP, had been dogged by photographers outside the New York City apartment of his supermodel girlfriend since the photographs surfaced Monday showing him wearing the boot and carrying a bouquet of flowers.

Brady was later seen in New York walking without a cast. He reportedly has a mild high ankle sprain.

In other Patriots news Thursday, the team placed backup safety Mel Mitchell on injured reserve with a biceps injury, sidelining the special teams player for the Super Bowl.

Coughlin Installing Game Plan Early

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Giants started practicing Thursday for the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.
Coach Tom Coughlin had the team work on first- and second-down situations, and planed to work on third-down plays Friday. He hopes to have about 80 percent of the game plan in place this week before the team leaves for Glendale, Ariz., on Monday.

"I instructed them to take care of all of the details for the next week as much as they possibly could so that none of that still has to be discussed when we head to Arizona," Coughlin said. "So today was a good day. I was pleased with the energy and the way we went about our work."

Starting left guard Rich Seubert (knee) and backup cornerback Kevin Dockery, who missed the last two playoff games with a hip injury, did not practice.

COWBOYS: Todd Grantham was hired as Dallas' defensive line coach, less than two weeks after the Cleveland Browns unexpectedly fired him from his job as defensive coordinator.

DOLPHINS: Karl Dorrell, who was fired as UCLA's coach last month, was hired by Miami to coach its wide receivers.

PRO BOWL ADDITIONS: Buffalo defensive end Aaron Schobel, Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, Philadelphia defensive end Trent Cole and Washington long snapper Ethan Albright were added to the Pro Bowl rosters.

Schobel, who will appear in the Pro Bowl for the second straight year, was added to the AFC roster in place of injured Miami end Jason Taylor.

Dockett, a former Florida State standout, has been added to the NFC roster, replacing Chicago's Tommie Harris, who is out with a knee injury.

Cole was added to the NFC roster in place of injured Seattle end Patrick Kerney.

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