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Brady's take

Comments from quarterback Tom Brady's press conference:

Q. Earlier this week you talked about Miami coming from behind and playing tough the whole game. It looks like they did it again.

TB: Yes. It was what we expected. I was pressured a lot. I mean it's a great defense so it is obvious, the way we played, we didn't play as well as we were capable but we got the win and we got some help from the defense a bunch of times, which really helped us out a lot offensively because we didn't move the ball very well. I think everyone is feeling good after a tough win.

Q. Tom, on Asante's (Samuel) two picks, was there may be a little more emphasis on how we need to get it in here because Miami is playing real tough defensively?

TB: Yes. You feel like you can gain so much momentum when you do that. It really puts them in a hole and we were fortunate to do it a couple of times. The pass interference call we got, I think, was a pretty good call on our end. But we took advantage of it with Lonie (Paxton) and we made tough on the guys. In the Jets game we did it, I think in the first game against Buffalo we did it, so three to five games, I like that.

Q. Is that just a matter of trust when you go to Troy (Brown), when you are third and seven and maybe the rush is bearing down on you, you maybe have a higher level of trust where you can get the job done, he is going to be there for you?

TB: Yes, he has been that way for a long time so he is so dependable out there. I mean I always know where he is going to be. And part of it is just I think he is a big clutch player. He has played in a lot of big games for us, so you try to get the ball to guys like that. All the guys out there are doing well. The frustrating part is we had guys open. They get their hands up and jump up. Our offensive line was fighting hard. They just made some very good plays. And like I said, you come out of the game, you realize you get the win, but it is back to work tomorrow.

Q. Tom, I know it is only a short game on fourth down, but hooking up with (Reche) Caldwell on that holding pattern, how big is that to be able to start getting the timing down?

TB: It's great, it's great. We've been working hard on it. The receivers are doing a great job. They are competing out there hard for the football. And like I said, I think we didn't play as well an offense as we would've liked to, but you know, I think the important thing is the critical spots we are making some good plays, fourth down, third down, we are converting third downs, we are scoring in the red zone. We are doing some good, playing some good situational football and that is what I think has taken us, that and the defense playing as great as they have done, you know, the last five games, it is really keeping us in the game.

Q. Tom, the touchdown pass to Heath Evans, was he your primary target?

TB: Yes. It was nice to get him the play ball. He actually made a nice catch with people right at the sidelines. It was a big play in the game and nice for Heath to do well against the Dolphins.

Q. Tom, considering where the break comes and where the team is right now, is the break at a good point or is the break not at a good point for you?

TB: It's always a good point when you finally get a week off. Everyone is tired. It's just a grind. It is long and hard for you guys, it is long and hard for us. It is everyday. It’s constant pressure to do the right thing, constant pressure on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday is a buildup, Sunday there is pressure to play and perform, and Monday is a big letdown and you try to build yourself back up. So it is very much of a cycle and it is nice to be able to get that week off to try to rejuvenate yourself and hopefully come back with a little more energy, playing against Buffalo in a few weeks.

Q. Is it different going into the break with a win this year, as opposed to last year?

TB: Definitely. We were 3-3. 3-2, 3-3, and then I think we got to five. I don't remember.

Q. It was 3-3 and then you lost to Denver.

TB: Yes. So sitting there at 4-1 with a tough loss to Denver, but we are doing some better things and I think the important thing is we are winning the close games and winning the games and finishing the games that we need to, making critical plays and we are still growing as a team. I mean, like I said, it is probably not for another four or five games that we are going to figure out who this team really is. I like our work ethic. I like our attitude, our toughness. I liked Reche (Caldwell’s) play last week, he got hit so hard against Cincinnati and made that tough play. That is the toughness we are talking about. That is who we are trying to become.

Q. As much as you have to rest and recover during the bye week, do you and the receivers have to use this to continue to build this communication?

TB: Definitely, definitely. And we are taking steps each day and I think it has been a concerted effort to spend more time and communicate more and talk through things and spend more time on film and spend more time on the field. That is the only way we are going to get better to try to accelerate this learning process as fast as we can. Like I said, today some guys did some very good positive things. It is just a matter of us continuing to trend upward.

Q. Tom, what would you like to do better after the break, you personally?

TB: I just have to continue to become more comfortable with all the players out there and continue working my reads and throws. I don't think we are getting the ball down the field as much as I would like. I think last year, when you lead the league in passing, we made a lot of big plays; and it doesn't feel like we made as many big plays on offense this year. We are going to need to find ways to separate the field vertically rather than just horizontally, which we have done quite a bit. Like I say, this offense is continuing to evolve and really fit the scheme and the abilities of the players that we have. And we are all just going to have to continue to work hard to continue to grow.

Q. Is there any more added motivation to win knowing you are getting an extra day off from Belichick to go to New York or whatever you do?

TB: Yes, yes. It was proposed by the captains on Friday, in the captain's meetings, and I think Richard (Seymour) brought it up. He said, ‘Coach, you know, I know what the schedule looks like. If we win, what do you think?’ And he said, ‘Yes, sure that will work.’ So Richard was firing everybody up before the game. And it is always a little extra bit of motivation.

Q. Hey, Tom, I have to ask you about Matt Cassel, your sidekick.

TB: Yes.

Q. Because what went on this week between the two of you guys? What happened?

TB: Yes. Matt and I fight like teenage girls.

Q. You do?

TB: Yes, we do.

Q. What happened?

TB: We are always slapping each other around and wrestling and slap boxing and [messing] around with each other in the weight room. And so I decided to take that to the next level. And we were messing around in the quarterback room one day and he walked in with a milkshake, and I kind of put my foot by the door, and I kicked the door and the milkshake splashed up and went all over him. So he sat down, and I was laughing. So I said give me the towel, because I wanted to clean up the wall. So I threw the towel at his face, and it had shake all over it. He had a little shake in his mouth and he spit it all over me.

Q. So Cassel spit on you?

TB: Yes. So we had all this shake all over us. I smelled terrible. So I just laughed. I said I don't get mad, I get even. So the next day, I had one of my friends remove all the tires from his car and leave them right at his locker as he walked in off the practice field. So it was pretty good. He had to walk home that day.

Q. So let me get this straight. You had his car up on cinderblocks?

TB: Yes. It was up on cinderblocks, sitting right out in the parking lot. It was pretty funny.

Q. What did you do with the tires?

TB: I had three of them, and I made him search for the fourth one. I didn't tell him where the fourth one was. But all three of them were stacked up. So he was getting undressed after practice undoing the tape on his ankles, sitting on his tires. It was pretty funny.

Q. Did Cassel do anything to your car?

TB: No. I think I scared him. I don't know if you guys have ever seen the movie "Braveheart," but at the end when Mel Gibson is lying there and the king is laying on his death bed and the guy who is torturing him says, you just claim your allegiance to Long Shanks, so I made him call me Long Shanks. And after that we called a truce. So he knows that now I am willing to go to any, any depths to make him pay. So I think Matt Light was involved and I'm still looking for a confirmation on that. He filled my car, the entire car with Styrofoam peanuts, which he did the following day. And it was a rainy day, he opened the sunroof, and filled the entire car with it.

Q. Who did?

TB: Matt Light, and he blamed it on Cassel. But I know Cassel is way too scared to do anything. Matt Light is still claiming that he didn't do anything, but I've got confirmation from several different sources. So I am still waiting to get him back. But Belichick kind of called a moratorium on pranks at this point. But it's nice, keeps the team loose.

Q. What color was the milkshake flavor?

TB: Chocolate Myoplex. It was so nasty. It was all over me. Yes, you got to do something. We're around each other so much that we just try to…

Q. What day was that, Tom?

TB: Wednesday (September 27).

Q. And what day was the tires?

TB: Wednesday. No. Thursday (September 28), Thursday. And Friday (September 29) was my car, so yes. And finally it was called off. So it was pretty funny.

Q. Who cleaned your car off?

TB: I didn't. I've got a few friends around here, so 20 bucks goes a long way to a bunch of different guys.

Q. Did (Media Relations Director) Stacey (James) help?

TB: No. The little guys should learn not to mess with guys with more money than them.