Patriots: Brady says progress made, learning continues

Patriots: Brady says progress made, learning continues

Championships usually aren’t won in August.

That may or may not come as a surprise to you, considering the way the Patriots have played so far in the pre-season. Winning two games, outscoring the opposition 78-26 along the way, and adding big names (as well as bodies) to the defense has excited a lot of fans, to be sure.

Tom Brady, however, isn’t impressed. Yet.

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“Detroit (this week’s opponent) was 4-0 a few pre-seasons ago and ended up being 0-16,” Brady recalled. “I just read the Colts lost like eight straight preseason games and they seem to be…they’re a pretty good regular season, postseason team. I think there is a long way to go between now and the regular season. We have a very important preseason game coming up. All of these games are important for us.”

However, considering there was no official off-season program for the players, no “organized team activities” or mini-camps, there has been quite a bit of learning going on since camp began almost a month ago. Brady certainly hopes that the work put in will pay dividends. “I think everyone from the time that they said ‘Alright, time to play football,’ guys have been working at it pretty hard,” the quarterback offered. “We have some long practices out there, guys are working hard out there at practice and trying to get in really good shape for these games, trying to get caught up to speed on what we’re trying to do offensively. There are a lot of nuances to our offense that all the new players are working hard to try to understand better. And the veteran players are trying to do the same thing because there are things we’re doing this year that we haven’t done in the past.

“How it all comes together – we’ll see.”

As for this Saturday’s game at Detroit, one of the challenges mentioned among the Patriots’ linemen is going up against the Lions’ front four. It may be pre-season, but it’s a challenge Brady welcomes. “We played them last year, too, so we have a very good idea of the issues they present for the front, with the running backs included,” he said. “It’s a very talented group – a very talented front, especially pass rushing. They can get after the quarterback, so you’re not going to be standing back there holding onto it for too long – not that we do that very often anyway. But especially a week like this where all those guys really feed off the sacks, the negative plays, their crowd really feeds into it – really what was evidenced by us in the first half of the game last year (in a 45-24 New England win). That’s always a concern when you play a team with a good front, so there’s a lot of thought that goes into play calling, and obviously me making quick decisions and getting rid of the ball.”

Brady and the rest of the starters should have plenty of chances to make decisions this week, as the third week of the pre-season is typically when veteran players get most of their playing time. “The third preseason game is always important in that sense because traditionally, we do play longer, but who knows? Hopefully we go out and play really well,” Brady added. “I think that would be a great way for us to kind of see where we’re at against a very good team.

“I think we’re prepared to play – we’re always prepared to play around here.”

News and Notes

Brady also offered his opinion on Peyton Manning’s injury, and the possibility that the Colts’ quarterback may miss his season opener. “He’ll be playing. Are you kidding me? He’ll be playing. I know Peyton, he’s as tough a competitor as there is so it will hard to keep him out. I think I heard, Coach Dungy said that he’d have to be dead or something not to play in that game.”

The team apparently got away from the grind of training camp and practices by going to the movies Wednesday. Linebacker Tracy White tweeted the team watched the movie “The Fighter,” with the subject of the movie, boxer Mickey Ward, joining them. Deion Branch tweeted “it was an honor meeting one of the greatest fighters ever”…also joining the team at Wednesday’s practice was rocker Jon Bon Jovi, a longtime friend of head coach Bill Belichick…

The Patriots re-signed Auburn rookie free agent offensive lineman Mike Berry Wednesday. Berry (6-3, 316) was released by the team on August 3, his signing brings the roster back to the limit of 90 players. First roster cuts come next week…rookie running back Shane Vereen returned to practice on Wednesday, after having missed both pre-season games and most of the practice time with an injured hamstring…former Patriots running back Heath Evans announced via Twitter that he has decided to retire after 10 seasons in the NFL…

That big hit Tampa Bay’s Mason Foster put on Chad Ochocinco last week? Cost him a $20K fine, levied Wednesday by the NFL. Ochocinco said he would pay the fine for Foster (which is not allowed by league rules), and tweeted “Dad no disrespect but I don't agree with @mason_foster fine n I'll be reimbursing him personally. Please feel free to contact me.” “Dad” is NFL commissioner Roger Goodell…