The
Patriots [team stats]' hopes for a fourth Super Bowl title in seven years and an unprecedented 19-0 season certainly hit a major speed bump yesterday, as
Tom Brady [stats] was spotted wearing what appears to be a walking cast on his right foot.
Two weeks before a date with the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII isn't the best time for the quarterback who runs the league's most prolific offense, not to mention the player the Patriots can least afford to lose, to turn up with an injury problem.
A video taken of Brady in New York yesterday, which is available on TMZ.com, shows the NFL's MVP returning to the apartment of his girlfriend, Gisele Bundchen. He's dressed in dark glasses and a black hooded coat, walking gingerly on the sidewalk after emerging from a black SUV parked on the street.
The walking cast clearly is visible below the denim jeans he is wearing. He has a white sneaker on his opposite foot. The video has him carrying a bouquet of flowers, slowly moving up the steps to Bundchen's West Village apartment.
During his weekly appearance on WEEI's "Dennis and Callahan" show, Brady didn't dismiss the notion he had suffered some type of leg injury during Sunday's AFC Championship win over the San Diego Chargers.
Brady was asked to respond to reports of an observer noticing that he was a little gimpy at one point during the game, and was examined by a doctor. He paused a bit before answering.
"Ah, you know, there's always bumps and bruises. I'll be ready for the Super Bowl," Brady said, when asked point-blank if he had a leg injury. "I'm not worried about that. I'm not missing this one. I'd have to be on a stretcher to miss this one. There will be treatment this week. In games like this, you get a little nicked up. It's nothing serious."
Brady had an uncharacteristically rough game, throwing three interceptions for the first time this season. Despite throwing a pair of touchdown passes, he seemed a bit off all game. Many of Brady's throws weren't on target, with receivers such as
Kevin Faulk [stats] having to dive or reach backward for the ball.
That's not Brady.
Some of his problems might have been due to the windy conditions, while the Chargers also may have accounted for some of Brady's uncharacteristic ineffectiveness.
The foot problem, however, adds a new wrinkle, something that is going to cause much worry and concern in the coming week and beyond.
While Brady does have time to recover, the idea of him being hampered or hindered in any way with his foot or leg is disconcerting given the upcoming opponent in the Super Bowl.
If he can't push off that right (plant) foot, he can't get zip on the ball. A closer look at Sunday's game footage shows Brady at times appeared to be throwing off one foot, or not getting the proper help from his plant foot.
Moreover, the Giants have one of the better pass rushes in the NFL. If Brady is having trouble with his mobility, that could loom as an even larger problem, especially against an opponent that gave the Patriots one of their toughest games of the year to date.
During the Patriots' 38-35 win in the final regular-season game Dec. 29, while Brady was sacked only once, he was constantly pressured and harried by Giants defensive linemen Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck.
eh, doesn't seem like anything serious. but we shall see.
