SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Tom Brady was on the Patriots injury report yesterday, but it wasn't because of his sprained right ankle.
The Patriots put Brady, who suffered a mild high ankle sprain in the 21-12 AFC Championship game victory over the San Diego Chargers Jan. 20, on the injury report because of his right shoulder. The quarterback has been a staple of the injury report the last few seasons with the shoulder, but it hasn't caused him to miss a game. He's played in 126 straight.
However, wide receiver Jabar Gaffney was a surprise addition to the injury report. He had limited participation in practice because of a shoulder injury. An injury to Gaffney could cause the Patriots to activate Troy Brown as a precaution for Super Bowl XLII Sunday.
Brady had full participation in practice yesterday at Arizona State's Sun Devil Stadium, and according to the pool report, his right ankle was not taped outside his shoe, as it had been Monday.
During his media session yesterday, Brady was wearing low-cut Nikes and low-cut socks and his right ankle appeared neither swollen nor discolored, although the quarterback did descend the steps of the riser he was speaking at somewhat gingerly.
"The ankle feels good," said Brady.
Brady showcased better mobility in practice, which lasted two hours, than he did Monday, according to the pool report, but the passing game was described by pool reporter Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune as uneven.
When coach Bill Belichick was asked about Brady's ankle, he said, "Everybody practiced. They're fine."
The big catch
Wide receiver Randy Moss, who has just two catches this postseason, said he doesn't need to have a big game in Super Bowl XLII. He just wants to win."To be honest with you, the last couple of weeks, they've taken me out of the game and it's allowing other guys to do their thing," said Moss. "For this being my first Super Bowl, you'd expect me to say I want the ball or that I want to put up numbers, but at this point, I just want to win. So, not getting any balls and a victory, I'm fine with that as long as I've got that ring at the end of the day."
Moss, who will be a free agent after the season, also reiterated his desire to remain with the Patriots, but said he didn't know if that would happen.
"I think that's where I do want to be, and hopefully, we can work something out after the season is over," he said. "I really don't know if I'm going to be a New England Patriot, but to answer your question, I would love to retire a Patriot, yes."
Not surprisingly, Brady expressed his strong desire for Moss to remain in a New England uniform. "Randy and I are a package deal," said Brady. "I don't want Randy to go anywhere. If he goes, I go. Wherever he goes, I go."
Bruschi undecided
There has been speculation that if the Patriots complete their perfect season with a Super Bowl victory, linebacker Tedy Bruschi will call it a career.Bruschi said he hasn't made a decision.
"I'm 34 years old. I'm in my 12th year. After every season, I sort of reassess things," said Bruschi. "I look at people who put it off to this offseason already. What they do is they sit back, they sort of reassess and make decisions with their families. That's what I'll do."
Packers not for him
Moss revealed that he talked to Green Bay during the offseason before he was traded to the Patriots, but he didn't like what he heard."The Packers were really talking about the wrong things, and not the right things," said Moss. "When they started talking more about the wrong things, I just hung up the phone and didn't want to talk to them anymore. I thought at first it was something that could have worked, for the fact that Brett Favre was there, but I think as the conversations occurred throughout the day and the next day, I didn't really want to go to Green Bay."
Moss said he sensed the Packers were wary of bringing him on board.
"It was like they were telling me that they were going to somewhat take a chance on me: 'But if you do come here, be on your best behavior, and Donald Driver is the top receiver here, so don't come in and try to step on his toes,' and things like that," said Moss.
