Apparently, no breaking news

Father says Brady is 'raring to go'

FOXBOROUGH - Tom Brady Sr. was surfing the Internet yesterday when he came across a report that his son had an MRI in mid-August that revealed a cracked bone in his injured right foot. The information ran counter to what the Patriots quarterback had previously discussed with his father.

"He did tell us that he had stress on the bone, and that's why he wore a [protective] boot for a day - one day," Brady Sr. said. "He has never told us that he had any broken bones or fractured bones in his foot. All I knew is that he had stress on a bone, and there is a difference there."

Brady Sr., who arrived Tuesday night in anticipation of the Patriots' season opener against the Chiefs Sunday, acknowledged that he has not directly asked his son anything further about his injury.

Based on their previous discussions, Brady Sr. said "to the best of my knowledge, there is nothing with his body right now that is going to keep him out of one game for one second." He also believes that "if there was a broken bone in his foot, they wouldn't have him doing agility drills."

Brady Sr. said he saw his son last night and that he is "in fine shape" and "this is nothing that is going to impact him at all."

"He's extraordinarily optimistic and raring to go," he added. "He's champing at the bit."

The Patriots released their injury report yesterday and Brady, who has a streak of 127 straight starts (regular season and playoffs), was on the report with the foot injury - and the obligatory right shoulder - but was listed as having had full participation in practice. During the time media members were present for the afternoon practice, Brady was seen jogging, running through agility bag drills, and working on three-step drops while throwing to a stationary target.

In his conference call with the Kansas City media, Belichick was asked if Brady, who didn't take a snap during exhibition games, would play Sunday.

"He's practicing and I expect he'll be ready to go," Belichick responded. When pressed further on Brady's status, Belichick said he expected Brady to be at practice yesterday and the rest of the week.

Meriweather practices

Second-year safety Brandon Meriweather practiced yesterday for the first time since he sustained a leg injury in the Patriots' second exhibition game, against Tampa Bay Aug. 17. Meriweather, who was not listed on the team's injury report, expects to play Sunday.

Even though they were just two exhibition games, Meriweather didn't enjoy being a spectator.

"Whenever you see your team playing you always want to be a part of it," he said. "It's just like everything else. When your kid takes his first steps you don't want to sit down and watch it on video, you kind of want to sit down in person and see if for yourself. That's what it's like. You always want to be on the field with your team to build chemistry."

Meriweather acknowledged he's a lot more comfortable heading into this season than he was last year.

"It's a lot different," he said. "I'm smarter you know, coming into a game plan that I actually know and not guessing and doing things on the run."

He's turned corner

Cornerback Deltha O'Neal said he was shocked to be released by the Bengals Saturday but thrilled to have landed in New England two days later.

"It's going to be fun. I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to be a part of something like this," said O'Neal. "I've been excited since Sunday. You see me at home walking around and I got a big cheesy grin on my face because I'm happy to be here. I just can't explain my words right now."

O'Neal, who has been cramming with special assistant/secondary coach Dom Capers and special teams coach Brad Seely, said it would be up to the coaches whether he'll play Sunday, but he's preparing as if he will.

"Yeah, exactly, most definitely," said the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback who also returns punts. "I'm just anxious to put this jersey and this helmet on and get out there and be a Patriot."

The Bengals cut O'Neal, who was due to make $2.85 million, after he was beaten out for the third corner spot by David Jones. The 31-year-old O'Neal said he didn't see his release coming.

"Not at all, not at all," he said. "It was a shocker to me, but that's the politics and the business of the game. As a player you're going to have to go through stuff like that, so you just got to move on."

O'Neal, who has 31 career interceptions, thinks he can return to the form of 2005, when he made the Pro Bowl and set a Cincinnati record with 10 interceptions.

"Oh, most definitely. That ain't nothing but one season away," said O'Neal. "I'm just going to try to learn as much as I can and take in as much as I can and prepare myself. I got my goals, but I'm not going to say it."

Vote of confidence

Ty Law played the last two seasons with Kansas City, and Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, who also had Law with the Jets in 2005, still thinks the free agent and former Patriots cornerback can play in the NFL.

"He's probably more of a role player now, and I think he knows that," Edwards said. "Ty Law is a smart football player. He keeps himself in pretty good shape. He knows what it takes to play out there, and he has a lot of moxie when he plays out there. He understands routes, and he understands receivers.

"I'm surprised that he hasn't signed yet with somebody. I think eventually, unless he just doesn't want to play anymore, somebody is probably going to pick him up if somebody gets nicked."

Sitting isn't restful

Guard Russ Hochstein was listed on the Patriots' injury report as having limited participation yesterday because of a groin injury. Hochstein, who was injured Aug. 7 in the first exhibition game and didn't play in the remaining three, admitted it was frustrating missing so much time. "Oh yeah, whenever you get a little banged up, things get a little frustrating," he said. "I think you just try to work a little harder. I'm excited now." . . . LaMont Jordan, who was primarily a third-down back during his first four seasons in the league with the Jets, would be a potential option to replace Kevin Faulk in that role Sunday. Faulk is suspended for the season opener for violating the league's substance abuse policy. "I've always been a back who feels like I can do everything - third down, goal line," said Jordan. "I think I'm an every-down back, and I think I've proven that within my seven years in the league. It's just a matter of making sure I know what to do; that way when I get my opportunity I can go out there and put my team in the best position to win." . . . Four Patriots didn't practice yesterday, all because of knee injuries - tight end Benjamin Watson, wide receiver Sam Aiken, reserve center Dan Connolly, and defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith . . . Watson's charitable foundation, One More, and Celebrities for Charity are holding an online raffle. The winner will receive tickets to the Patriots' eight regular-season home games this year, an opportunity to meet Watson, and an autographed Watson jersey. Tickets are $2 and the raffle will take place at www.netraffle.org. The raffle closes at 3 p.m. tomorrow.