Tom Brady

AFC East Notes: Brady, Watkins, Bills, Revis

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady says that playing until he’s 45 years old is a “great goal” of his, as WEEI.com’s Ryan Hannable writes.

I think that — they kind of brought that up and I said that would be a great goal,” Brady said. “I certainly think I can do it. It’s just about how long I want to make the commitment to doing the things that get me ready to go. Look, I love playing. I would love to play the game for as long as I can. There are a lot of things that aren’t up to me, but I am going to do everything I can to keep playing at this level for as long as I can. I think I can do it. Why would I stop now? I’ve worked to get to this point and this is I think when I can really capitalize and really try to make the most of everything that I have learned over the years with who I have been fortunate to be around. If I can keep doing it, I certainly think I can.

Brady is signed through 2019, when he will be 42 years old. Will the Patriots sign him to another deal? That depends on a lot of factors, including his performance and whether they have a succession plan in place involving Jimmy Garoppolo. Last year, we saw Peyton Manning decline sharply in his final season when he was only 39, so Brady will have his work cut out for him.

Here’s more out of the AFC East:

  • Speaking to reporters – including Mike Rodak of ESPN.com – on Wednesday, Bills receiver Sammy Watkins implied that the team could fire head coach Rex Ryan with a loss to 0-13 Cleveland on Sunday. “We know if we lose, something crazy might happen immediately,” he said. “We need to go out there and win this game.” A loss would drop the Bills to 6-8 this year and 14-16 during the Ryan era.
  • It has been speculated that the Jets could eventually move Darrelle Revis to safety, but it won’t be happening this season, coach Todd Bowles says (link via Brian Costello of the New York Post). Revis says he would consider moving to safety, possibly as soon as next season. But Bowles says that’s not a transition that should happen in the middle of the season. “It’s not a thought process right now,” Bowles said. “That’s something we may talk about in the offseason. It ain’t going to happen in the next three games.” Revis is under contract through 2019 thanks to the ill-advised deal given to him prior to the 2015 season. Already, Revis has declined sharply and the Jets have to be giving serious thought to taking a dead money cap hit and releasing him before the start of the 2017 season.
  • The Jets need a quarterback and they reportedly have their eye on UNC signal caller Mitch Trubisky.
  • This week, the Dolphins passed on activating Dion Jordan.

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Brady, Harvin, Bills

Football is a strange business and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is aware of how quickly things can change. In the wake of the surprising Jamie Collins trade, Brady was asked if he knows he could be traded at some juncture. “Absolutely. You can’t be around this long and not realize the world will keep spinning,” Brady said (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN). Of course, there’s no reason to expect the Patriots to move on from Brady anytime soon.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

Patriots Activate Tom Brady, Rob Ninkovich

It’s time for pure, unadulterated excitement, Patriots fans. New England activated Rob Ninkovich on Saturday in advance of the Patriots-Browns game. He will be set to return to his place at left defensive end after his four-game PED suspension concluded.

The team also activated Tom Brady, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).

While these moves aren’t surprising, they officially mark the return of the iconic quarterback and longtime edge player to the field for the AFC East-leading Pats.

In addition to the suspension, Ninkovich suffered a torn triceps muscle in August. Both Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long have played more than 70 percent of the Patriots’ snaps at defensive end, so Ninkovich might not return to the starter’s role he held immediately, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald estimates. The 32-year-old veteran has started since the 2010 season for the Pats and has been the longest-tenured performer on their defense, starting in all 16 games in each of the past five seasons.

Both Long and Sheard have five quarterback pressures, and the former Browns edge presence leads the Pats with three sacks.

For the record, Brady returns from his four-game Deflategate suspension to stabilize what’s been a chaotic Patriots quarterback position.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

14 Players Returning From Suspension

Fourteen players will return from four-game suspensions this week, according to Howard Balzer (Twitter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). The most high-profile returnee, of course, is quarterback Tom Brady, who will re-join the 3-1 Patriots on Sunday against the Browns.

The following players have completed their suspensions:

The club that employs each player will receive a short roster exemption that ends the day following the team’s Week 5 game. that means the 49ers’ exemption for Lynch ends Friday, the Panthers’ exemption for Scott ends next Tuesday, and the rest end next Monday.

Sterup, meanwhile, was on the Chiefs’ practice squad when he was banned, but he hasn’t completed the PED reinstatement requirements, according to Balzer. So although he can sign with a new club, Sterup can’t practice or play until he’s approved by the league.

NFLPA, Brady Won’t Push Deflategate Further

The NFL’s defining saga of the mid-2010s will conclude its relevancy once Tom Brady returns from his four-game suspension Monday. Brady and the NFLPA decided to decline to pursue the Deflategate case any further, Tom Pelissero of USA Today reports (on Twitter).

After consultation with Tom Brady and our appellate counsel, we have decided to not pursue additional appeals in this matter,” the NFLPA said, regarding what would have meant taking the case to the Supreme Court.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk categorizes the move as a surprise after the NFLPA and Brady’s decision to bring aboard former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson to the legal team. However, Florio also notes the high court accepting this petition may have been a long-odds proposition that could have still featured it ruling against Brady in what ended up being a 21-month saga. Sunday’s step, though, represents a win for Roger Goodell‘s discipline power.

Nevertheless, the 39-year-old quarterback already served his suspension. He will be back to stabilize a chaotic Patriots quarterback position next week in Cleveland.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Tom Brady Suffers Thumb Injury

Quarterback Tom Brady was supposed to start the Patriots’ preseason game against the Bears on Thursday, but the 39-year-old ended up leaving Gillette Stadium beforehand. It turns out Brady sliced his right thumb with a pair of scissors prior to the game, reports Tom Curran of CSNNE.com.

Tom Brady (vertical)

It’s unknown whether Brady needed stitches, per Curran, and there’s no timetable for his return. Via text, agent Don Yee informed reporters – including Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link) – that Brady “will be okay in time.” That’s a vague statement from Yee, whose client is already set to miss the first four games of the regular season as a result of a suspension for his role in the Deflategate scandal.

Brady’s temporary replacement, third-year man Jimmy Garoppolo, got the start and finished the first half 12 of 16 for 123 yards and a touchdown. He went 11 of 18 for 168 yards in the Patriots’ preseason opener against the Saints last week.

Brady also didn’t face New Orleans, and in the event he misses New England’s remaining two exhibition contests, it would mean a wide gap in game action for the four-time Super Bowl champion. Brady last took the field against another team Jan. 24, when the Pats lost the AFC title game in Denver, and his debut this year is set for Oct. 9 versus the Browns. In the meantime, he’ll sit out regular-season matchups against the Cardinals, Dolphins, Texans and Bills.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

QB Notes: Patriots, 49ers, Jets

In an interview with the Patriots Radio Network on Thursday, team president Jonathan Kraft exalted Tom Brady and expressed frustration over the quarterback’s season-opening four-game suspension for his role in the Deflategate scandal.

Of Brady, who has won four Super Bowls with the Patriots, Kraft said (via Ryan Hannable of WEEI), “From our perspective, he’s the type of professional athlete that you want to celebrate, hold up as an example, not only to other players in the league but hold up to kids that are playing the game, and just as somebody you want to model your life off of, not only as a professional athlete but how he is as a father to his children, a husband, a son to his parents, a brother to his sisters. He is as good of a human being as you can get.”

After praising Brady, Kraft took aim at the NFL, stating that the league’s treatment of the 39-year-old “eats at” the Patriots organization. “And there’s still a tremendous amount of, there’s frustration around how the pure facts of science and lack of any type of tangible, hard evidence that certain people can look at those circumstances and then try to taint him or his legacy without that type of evidence,” he continued.

A few items on Brady’s fellow quarterbacks:

  • Colin Kaepernick is vying for the 49ers’ starting job, but shoulder tightness is currently preventing the sixth-year man from competing with Blaine Gabbert, as Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group writes. It’s important to note that Kaepernick’s right shoulder – not the left shoulder that required November surgery – is the one bothering him. The 28-year-old is “not too concerned about” the issue, he said Friday, and classified it as “just tightness.” Nevertheless, Kaepernick’s inability to garner first-team reps isn’t helping his cause in a battle that Gabbert looks primed to win, according to Inman.
  • Despite going in the second round of this year’s draft, Christian Hackenberg was unable to get into the Jets’ preseason opener against Jacksonville on Thursday. Head coach Todd Bowles offered an explanation afterward, telling reporters (including Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday), “We wanted to take a look at Geno (Smith) and Bryce (Petty). And to play Hackenberg with minimal reps in practice would be doing him a disservice to play him with minimal reps in a game.” Bowles went on to state that it “remains to be seen” whether the former Penn State signal-caller will appear in either of the Jets’ next two preseason games. “It’s not like we’re forced to play him right now,” added Bowles, whose club has two veteran options in starter Ryan Fitzpatrick and Smith, a fourth-year man. Petty was a fourth-rounder last year who hasn’t yet appeared in a game.
  • If any Jets quarterback is in jeopardy of the team handing him a pink slip this summer, it’s likely Petty. But Tara Sullivan of USA Today opines that New York should take the rare route of keeping four passers. Indeed, with Fitzpatrick and Hackenberg not going anywhere, Smith possessing substantial experience, and the Jets having made a somewhat significant investment in Petty just over 15 months ago, they do look like strong candidates to employ a quarterback quartet.
  • In the biggest QB-related news of Friday, the Bills inked starter Tyrod Taylor to an extension.

Tom Brady Authorized NFLPA To Continue Fight

Last week, after the Second Circuit denied his request for a rehearing, Tom Brady announced that he would not pursue his case any further and would accept his four-game suspension from the NFL. Soon after, the NFLPA released a statement explaining that they could still petition the Supreme Court to hear the case, even though Brady had elected against taking that step himself. As it turns out, that’s only half right. Tom Brady (vertical)

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In actuality, Brady has authorized the NFLPA to proceed with the appeal on his behalf, sources tell Mike Florio, who penned a guest column for The MMQB today. Without Brady’s OK, the NFLPA would not have the option of continuing the legal battle.

If the NFLPA does take Brady’s case to the SCOTUS, they probably won’t be able to keep Brady from missing the first four games of the 2016 season. However, a successful appeal could restore Brady’s lost pay (~$253K) and reduce the Commissioner’s power in future disciplinary cases. None of this is possible without a greenlight from Brady, however.

The four-game suspension means that Brady won’t be eligible to return to regular season action until Sunday, October 9th against the Browns. The Patriots will be without their No. 1 QB for games against the Cardinals, Dolphins, Texans, and Bills, leaving understudy Jimmy Garoppolo in the starting role for the first month.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Notes: Broncos, Colts, Titans, Brady

Following news of Von Miller‘s record-breaking extension with the Broncos, we’ve started hearing reactions from several of the player’s teammates.

Cornerback Chris Harris appeared on NFL Network earlier this week, and the veteran said he believed Miller’s threats of holding out.

“I believe him,” he said (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post). “You’ve got to take his word for it. It would be hard for me to sit out, missing out on $14 million, but I think Von is serious in what he’s saying. I think he truly, this whole time just talking to him, he hates the franchise tag. I definitely think he won’t sign it.”

Meanwhile, offseason addition Mark Sanchez stated his excitement for Miller’s return

“Happy the deal was done in time for camp,” the quarterback said. “I knew both sides had the same goal and now we can start camp with the whole squad.”

Let’s check out some more notes from around the AFC…

  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com says safety Mike Adams‘ two-year, $4.3MM contract (with $1.2MM guaranteed) is the best on the Colts. Meanwhile, tight end Dwayne Allen was said to have the team’s worst contract at four years and $29.4MM (with $11.5MM guaranteed).
  • After Delanie WalkerCraig Stevens, and Anthony Fasano, the Titans could keep up to two additional tight ends, writes Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. Phillip Supernaw is currently slotted as the team’s fourth tight end, but Wyatt notes that the team will be eyeing the waiver wire for reinforcement.
  • Meanwhile, Wyatt doesn’t envision undrafted kicker Aldrick Rosas unseating starter Ryan Succop.
  • When it comes to the ‘Deflategate’ fiasco, Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe writes that “the Patriots dug their own grave by behaving like a guilty party from the jump.” The writer notes the hypocrisy of owner Robert Kraft, who initially touted Roger Goodell as commissioner. Quarterback Tom Brady announced yesterday that he wouldn’t be appealing his four-game suspension.

Tom Brady To Drop Deflategate Appeal

12:22pm: Brady is done fighting the suspension, but the NFLPA might not be ready to throw in the towel:

After careful consideration and discussion with Tom Brady, the NFLPA will not be seeking a stay of the four game suspension with the 2nd Circuit. This decision was made in the interest of certainty and planning for Tom prior to the New England Patriots season. We will continue to review all of our options and we reserve our rights to petition for cert to the Supreme Court,” the union said in a statement.

11:57am: Tom Brady announced that he will no longer pursue an appeal of his suspension via the court system (Facebook link):

I’m very grateful for the overwhelming support I’ve received from Mr. Kraft, the Kraft family, coach Belichick, my coaches and teammates, the NFLPA, my agents, my loving family and most of all, our fans. It has been a challenging 18 months and I have made the difficult decision to no longer proceed with the legal process. I’m going to work hard to be the best player I can be for the New England Patriots and I look forward to having the opportunity to return to the field this fall.” Tom Brady (vertical)

Brady‘s chances at again avoiding the four-game suspension for his role in the Patriots’ Deflategate controversy dwindled again on Wednesday, with the Second United States Circuit Court of Appeals denying the quarterback’s request for a rehearing. After that happened, Brady was left with one final legal option: petitioning to have his case heard before the Supreme Court. Given that the SCOTUS handles some of the most important legal matters in the country, Brady’s chances of getting a new trial seemed slim. While Brady still could have filed for that hearing with the hopes of effectively deferring his four-game ban, he has elected to put the circus behind him.

Now that Brady has reluctantly accepted his four-game suspension, he won’t be eligible to return to regular-season action until Sunday, October 9th in Cleveland. The Patriots will be without their franchise quarterback for games against the Cardinals, Dolphins, Texans, and Bills, leaving understudy Jimmy Garoppolo in the starting role for the first month.

Brady will be docked four games worth of pay, which equals out to just $235K. During the ban, he will be prohibited from having contact with the team.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.