Back to business for Brady
FOXBOROUGH -- Tom Brady is the James Bond of NFL quarterbacks -- men want to be him, women want to be with him -- but behind Brady's polished exterior lies a petulant prankster.
All week Brady and his understudy, Matt Cassel, traded pranks like they were on an episode of MTV's ``Punk'd." It started on Wednesday, with Brady spilling Cassel's chocolate protein milkshake, which the backup QB then brazenly spit on the two-time Super Bowl MVP. Brady then had the tires removed from Cassel's car the next day. Then Cassel -- or offensive lineman Matt Light, depending on whom you believe -- filled Brady's car with Styrofoam peanuts Friday.
``Matt and I fight like teenage girls," said Brady.
Brady may not have gotten the last laugh against Cassel and Co., but he did against the Dolphins defense, leading the Patriots to a 20-10 victory yesterday at Gillette Stadium. Brady's numbers weren't overwhelming -- 16 of 29 for 140 yards and two touchdowns -- but he delivered when it counted, turning two Asante Samuel interceptions into touchdowns.
After Samuel's first pick in the second quarter gave the Patriots the ball at the Miami 10, Brady connected with Troy Brown to extend the New England lead to 13-0. With Miami within 13-10, Brady delivered the knockout blow in the fourth after Samuel's second INT, hitting little-used fullback Heath Evans for a 1-yard score on first-and-goal with 9:47 remaining. (That play was set up by a 21-yard pass interference penalty Doug Gabriel drew on Miami's Will Allen.)
``Tom Brady made the plays when he had to and that's what he usually does," said Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas.
Unlike Cassel, the Dolphins defense wasn't joking around with Brady. Entering yesterday's game, Tom Terrific had a 74.2 passer rating in 10 games against Miami. Instead of a punch line, Brady was a punching bag for a Dolphins defense that harried, hurried, and harassed him through the first three quarters, after which he had just 79 yards passing and had completed less than 50 percent of his passes (10 for 21).
``The frustrating part is that we had guys open," said Brady. ``They'd get their hands up, jumping up. Their defensive line got a lot of push and our offensive line was fighting hard. They made some very good plays.
``I think we didn't play as well on offense as we would've liked, but I think the important thing is in critical spots we are making some good plays."
Brady said the Patriots still need to find a way to pass the ball downfield with greater efficacy. His longest completion yesterday went for just 15 yards, and New England hasn't registered a pass play longer than 35 yards this season. Rediscovering the big play and continuing to develop chemistry with his new receivers are Brady's priorities for the bye week.
``[It's] just guys getting more familiar with each other and with Tom," said Brown, who had five catches for 58 yards. [It's] just getting in a rhythm and getting it going and being more consistent. We have come a long way from Day 1. Doug has been here what, five weeks. Reche [Caldwell] has been here just since the offseason. It takes time. I see us improving."
Don't worry about anymore unscripted hijinx between Cassel and Brady during the bye week. Brady said coach Bill Belichick put an end to that Friday.
Plus, putting Cassel's car up on cinderblocks, leaving three of the tires at his locker and then forcing him to search for the fourth one taught the backup a lesson -- that just like on the field, Brady will do whatever it takes to win.
``After that we called a truce," said Brady. ``So, he knows now that I am willing to go to any depths to make him pay."
But Brady couldn't resist one last parting shot at his young protege.
``These young guys should learn not to mess with guys that have more money than them," he said.
