Brady talks playoffs, pressure
FOXBOROUGH – Patriots quarterback Tom Brady held a press conference today at Gillette Stadium, and noted that the team is preparing hard for Saturday's playoff clash against the Jaguars. He feels as if the club “got off to a really good start today.”
Brady believes the Patriots have aced some important tests entering the playoffs, and noted the increased pressure of playing in the postseason.
“We’ve been tested on the road, at home, in poor weather. We’ve had to overcome deficits late in the games. We’ve needed to put together critical drives in those games. So hopefully we’ve learned from those, and hopefully we can deal with some of the pressure. We know there is going to be quite a bit of pressure this weekend," he said.
“There is pressure on us every week, but it’s different in the playoffs because you realize you’re going to bed [Friday] night that [Saturday] night could be it. You could be planning your vacations. That’s not a very good feeling. We’ve experienced that the last few years. Those are games you remember, that sit with you for a long time.”
Brady talked about the challenge of facing a Jaguars 4-3 defense that generally rushes four players and drops the other seven into zone coverage.
“They have a disciplined scheme and players that fit that scheme,” he said. “They have a big, physical defensive line with powerful linebackers, and cornerbacks and safeties who can all make plays and all hit. It’s all really centered around the fact they are a physical team.”
The Jaguars’ physical approach knocked Brady out of last year’s Dec. 24 game for one play, with linebacker Clint Ingram nailing him on a quarterback scramble. Ingram’s hit was deemed legal by the NFL but was close to an illegal spear, his helmet exploding into Brady's back as Brady dove headfirst on a scramble.
“[Matt] Cassel and I were joking about it this morning,” Brady said. “On the film, I run and dive, and I get hit, and the next thing you see is Matt right on the sideline buckling his chinstrap up. He knew right away he was coming in. I’m hoping to not get knocked out of the game this weekend.”
Mike, did Del Rio end up getting fined last year when he said that his players "should have speared" Tom Brady?
Belichick's response to it was a little less diplomatic than usual.
"Considering Tom's great games over the years against Jack Del Rio's defenses, you can understand the frustration," Belichick said. "I'm all for supporting your players, but it was a little surprising to hear he said that."
Tom Brady and the Patriots, when is the rest of the nation going to give both of them the credit they deserve, I mean I live in Miami, but all my teams are from Boston(having lived there from 1961 thru 1980). I listen to the sports personalities like Joe Rose, Sedano and they all are in denial, the only one to give credit to the Patriots and Brady is Syd from 790 the Tickett, i guess we will have to to run the table (19-0 to make believer of the rest of the nation, I mean the guy Collinwood he is patetic.
Go Patriots, Sox, Celtics and Bruins, to bad we did not get the MLS Championship, but we were almost there.
Mike, over the final weeks of the regular season, the Patriots seemed to employ a less than normal game plans. Do you believe this to be true and if so was it done to throw off the other playoff teams that are game-planing for them?
Was Bill Belichick hiding under the podium while Tom moved his mouth and Belichick spoke the words? The two of them are spending far too much time together.
Just kidding. Actually, watching Brady speak is like watching a class act, from beginning to end. The guy is not only a great football player, but someday he should run for President of the United States. He is a gifted athlete and a gifted speaker, and he certainly knows how to shmooze his audience.
That is one funny bit about Brady getting hit and Matt Cassell buckling up his chin strap strap while Brady is still down.
The defense is going to come up big on Saturday, especially since the Jags don't have a passing game. The D Line is going to stuff the Jags' running game, as a result. Brady is going to shred the injury-riddled secondary. Pats in a blowout, 42-14.
Use the Colts gameplans from this year and a win.
Luis, your team went 16-0. I think they have gotten all the credit in the world. The we don't get any respect card was officially killed when you guys beat the Giants.
Jaguars already bad mouthing The Patriots will these teams ever learn When They bad mouth The Patriots It gives them more Energy
Patriots really need to work on the 4 Quarters They seem to lay back in certian quarter then they seem to WAKE up in the 4th They need to stay awake for all 4 Quarters and we need to get Colvin back in the Game GO PATRIOTS WIN ANOTHER SUPERBOWL
The Patriots are a bunch of cheaters like their coach Belicheat and will be paid back in the playoffs when they don't win the Super Bowl
The Pats are going 16-0. Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Ben Watson, who can beat that offense. Tom Brady rules
Was Colvin IR'd? I don't recall.
No NFL team should need bulletin-board material to get hyped up for a playoff game... but no team uses bulletin-board material as well as the Patriots do for motivation. The Patriots take any perceived slight and blow it out of proportion amongst themselves while swearing to the media it doesn't matter what opponents say about them. If I were coaching a team that was about to play the Patriots, not only would I pray for divine intervention, I would order my players to take vows of silence ala Cosmo Kramer (and tell them to avoid Kathy Griffin).
In 1972, Miami did not play a team that finished the season with more than eight wins. The 8-6 Giants and Chiefs were the toughest tests. There were six teams with 10 wins or more other than Miami in 1972, and through quirks of the schedule, Miami faced none of them. Incredibly, the '72 Dolphins faced none of the other seven NFL playoff teams during the regular season, then won all three playoff games narrowly -- by six, four and seven points.
My thoughts exactly on the limited game plan. I have asked several coach types I know about this theory and some suggested that there could be truth. Also, I think the weather was an issue to some degree on the last few games. Imagine the results for Brady and Moss if they played indoors like Manning and the Colts. It would have been good for 5 more TDs each.
PatriotHater...he of no sin should cast the first stone. You piece of garbage.
PatriotHater: Why don't you go to a board for your loser team? Your team is probably sitting at home right now.
Don't hate us because we are dominant.
PatriotHater...your handle should be whiny bitter.
Granted the Pats were caught cheating in the first ten minutes of a game they already had in hand. The league has doled out its punishment and there will be no asterix; nor will there be any complaints or objections form anyone who actually understands the game of football as to whether spygate actually gave the Pats any wins they didnt have already have in hand. Giving up a first round draft pick is more severe than nay peanlty that has been doled out to all of the NFL's previous cheaters from Shanw Merriman, to Ricky Williams, to David Boston...why do pitchers speak through their gloves, and volley ball players put their signals behind their backs etc....cause its strategically sound...is it morally right...no. but it did not produce any wins that would not have been had anyways nor does it deviate from any of the practices employed from most athletes, teames, honor societies, capitalist firms, military operations, en sum any operation trying to win in todays world....
I live in Missouri - and I like Tom Brady - but he is no Joe Montana. And I don't like the comparison. Belichick is no Lombardi, Stram, or Landry. So I am with most of America when I hope that the Patriots do not go undefeated.
Ohg.
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/01/08/new-england-patriots-love-or-hate/
Well - It won't matter what anyone here thinks or says. The game will be played on the field not in this media forum. Talk is cheap and Jags have absolutely no answer on D for these Patriot Wide Recievers. Brady reads Jags D like an English Proffessor reads Frost. Jags have an injured D- line and Pats Off. Line with blitz protection package will provide WR'S ability to get open. Brady SHOULD feast on Jags secondary and Pats play well in fast track surface where-as Jags game is best suited for Sloppy fields aka Steelers type field. Jags Off. although big up front with bruising RB'S have no real threat on passing game and Belichick will have D - packages that will confuse Jags QB. Pats 34 Jags 10 Only way they can lose - Is if Pats beat themselves. Pats Linebackers must have a good game vs the run. Quick in Pass coverage will force Jags QB into running decissions.
To the SHOW ME STATE - Does 16 & 0 and beating Dallas - Pittsburgh - Indy - San Diego - Giants & Washington ( not even the 72 Dolfins played teams like that. ) Joe Montanna his Great Coach Mr. Walsh, both whom have stated that Tom Brady is " Simply the best QB I've ever seen ". Well - does that have any significance with you. Major NFL experts such as Bill Parcells - Mike Ditka and many others So many that it would take up hours of commentary to try and convince you and just isn't worth it. These men to include Joe Gibbs have stated Belichick is the best and many say the best ever - Why is it so many players want to play for him? Why is it so many want to play and play for less money than they could get from other teams? Hmmmmm - Because they want to play for Belichick. Ya think!! Ya see - This is indeed historic and indeed a history lesson for years and years to come. Sit back, tune in and LEARN. Your education is continuing right in front of your eye's This from a 30 year vet. as a sportsofficial who has seen many historic football games. But none like this 07 - 08 Patriots season.
Well - It won't matter what anyone here thinks or says. The game will be played on the field not in this media forum. Talk is cheap and Jags have absolutely no answer on D for these Patriot Wide Recievers. Brady reads Jags D like an English Proffessor reads Frost. Jags have an injured D- line and Pats Off. Line with blitz protection package will provide WR'S ability to get open. Brady SHOULD feast on Jags secondary and Pats play well in fast track surface where-as Jags game is best suited for Sloppy fields aka Steelers type field. Jags Off. although big up front with bruising RB'S have no real threat on passing game and Belichick will have D - packages that will confuse Jags QB. Pats 34 Jags 10 Only way they can lose - Is if Pats beat themselves. Pats Linebackers must have a good game vs the run. Quick in Pass coverage will force Jags QB into running decissions.
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