Doctor gets passing grades

Brady, who said last week that he's been able to do everything in the Patriots' offseason program since it started, told the Times that neither he nor Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed the surgery last Oct. 6, ever thought Brady wouldn't be able to play in 2009, even after his rehabilitation was delayed by the infection, which was treated with two surgical irrigations and a six-week course of antibiotics.

"Neal was dead-on with what he was doing," Brady told the Times. "I felt he got dragged into a lot of stuff that wasn't his fault at all. He kept his composure."

Brady credited the LA-based ElAttrache with catching the infection.

"I remember when we came out of the original procedure and five days later things weren't going the way that we hoped, and I think it was his instincts and quick decision-making that got me in there before anything really bad could happen," Brady said. "If you misdiagnose something like that, then you have big problems. It was his judgment and instincts, and then him assuring me that everything was going to be OK.

"Obviously, with how I feel now, he was 100 percent right in what he did. It's great for me to have so much trust and to know that hopefully nothing ever comes up again but if it does that I have somebody like him in my corner."

Speaking publicly for the first time since he performed the surgery and with Brady's permission, ElAttrache, a friend of Brady's and occasional golf partner, said the quarterback's recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn medial collateral ligament has exceeded his expectations.

"With regard to his recovery of strength, I've never seen anything quite like it," ElAttrache told the Times. "With an average person, it would have taken probably twice as long to get range of motion and strength back."

Media members are expected to get another look at Brady and his knee today, when the Patriots go through another organized team activity practice that is not open to the public.

There was criticism of ElAttrache when news of the infection surfaced and it led some to question whether Brady had made the right choice in bypassing Boston-area specialists to have ElAttrache, an orthopedic surgeon at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic, operate on his knee.

"I chose Neal because that was my decision," said Brady to the Times. "There are great doctors all over the world, and Neal was right for me."

After suffering a season-ending quadriceps tear in his right leg Oct. 20, the outspoken safety worked for the NFL Network and was part of NBC Sports' Super Bowl coverage. He has retained the services of Maxx Sports & Entertainment to represent him for broadcasting opportunities.

When reached yesterday, Mark Lepselter of Maxx Sports did not indicate which way he thought Harrison was leaning.

"I have no comment other than to say Rodney is weighing out all his options at this time and hopes to make a formal announcement by week's end," said Lepselter. "Certainly, networks have shown interest, and I'm sure that is all weighing into Rodney's decision."

In comments last week, Brady made it sound as if Harrison would not be returning to the Patriots, as he wished Harrison and Mike Vrabel, who was traded to Kansas City, well.

Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com.