Tom Brady isn't quite sure if he will play in the Patriots' preseason finale against the Giants, but he hopes that he will.
The Patriots quarterback joined WEEI's Dennis and Callahan show Monday morning to talk all things preseason, including his availability for Wednesday's game.
"Coach hasn't told us anything," Brady said. "He always says be prepared to play and play for as long as it takes for you to be out there, and he'll take you out when he wants to take you out. As far as I know, I'm playing. That's what I'd expect, and that's what I'd enjoy, to tell you the truth. I'd love to get out there and play again."
Though oftentimes stars around the league will sit out of their teams' fourth preseason game, there is precedent that says Brady may be back under center later this week. After a lackluster third exhibition against the Lions last season, Brady did get some time in the preseason finale.
But Bill Belichick couldn't be blamed for resting Brady this week, especially after the offensive line has shown it has had trouble in pass protection. Brady's been sacked three times this preseason in 30 dropbacks. The quarterback told WEEI, however, that some of those plays during which he's getting croaked are partly his fault.
Offensive football, 11 guys need to be on the same page, Brady said. When the offensive lines expecting me to get the ball out quick and I hold on to the ball and I get sacked, then people may blame the offensive line, but really its the quarterbacks fault. Sometimes theres coverage sacks, where the defensive coverage, theres just not a place to find to throw the ball, and the offensive line, like I said, is expecting a certain rhythm of a play and it doesnt come out that way. It could be a number of things.
Theyre out there giving everything theyve got," Brady added. "From a quarterback standpoint, weve got plenty of time to throw the ball and find the right guy. We have to do a better job of doing our job, which is getting the ball out when we need to get it out, get it to the open receiver and let our guys do something with it.
New England Patriots
Here's more from Brady's Monday morning conversation...
On Brady's connection with Brandon Lloyd, who has one catch this preseason:
"It's about timing, it's about anticipation, it's about body language," Brady said. "With a guy like Deion Branch and Wes Welker, who I've thrown tens of thousands of balls to, I just know by the way they change their speed or stride length or shoulder dip that they're about to make a particular move, which allows me to throw the ball to a certain place, so when they make their cut they turn around and the ball is where it needs to be.
"Well, every receiver does it a little bit differently, and every quarterback throws it in a little different place. Part of the anticipation is throwing the ball before the receiver breaks and before the receiver is into his route, so that the defensive back really doesn't have a chance -- when there is separation, the ball is already in the receiver's hands. That's the kind of chemistry that you look to develop as an offense, as a receivertight end combo. That really is the passing offense. The more you do it, the more comfortable you become.
"Everyone wants it to click right away. At the same time, there's really a foundation that you've got to put together, that we've been trying to do here over the last few months. Sometimes it shows up, and sometimes you realize you've got a lot more work to put in. Coming off the Tampa game, we realized that we've got a lot more work to put in. As long as we're willing to commit to that, then you know that there's going to be improvements made, and that's where you gain your confidence.
"Brandon has done a great job, coming in and been really willing to learn and do whatever the coaches have asked him to do. It's certainly not from a lack of effort that he hasn't caught many passes. It's just a matter of getting the reps in. The more reps that he and I have gotten together, the better it's shown on the field. I'm excited for Brandon and for what he can add to our offense."
On if Lloyd's start with the team is reminiscent at all of Chad Ochocinco:
"I enjoyed working with Chad. It just didn't work out with Chad," Brady said. "He was a great guy and a great teammate. Brandon has shown a lot of things in practice, through the spring -- like I said, his commitment, his work ethic. Anyone who has come down to training camp has seen what he is capable of.
"I'm not going to sit here and make predictions. I'm not a fantasy football picker, either. You guys sound like my best friends calling me, asking me what round they should pick Rob Gronkowski in. Lloyd is going to be a part of the offense. His role is going to be whatever he makes of it. He's shown that he can compete out there on a daily basis, and that's all that you can expect."
On why the Patriots (unlike the Red Sox) don't have locker room problems:
"Our locker room is run by one man. And he expects a certain level -- an attitude, a work ethic, an enthusiasm, an accountability that you have to bring to work every day," Brady said. "Those are the kind of players that he brings in. If you're not prepared to work or if you're not mentally tough, then he gets rid of you. Really, when you look around the locker room, you're surrounded by a bunch of guys that are very similar, and a bunch of guys that really care about the team and are committed to the team. That's what the foundation of our team is built on.
"You realize when you're in that locker room, when you look around the environment, you don't fit in if you're worried about how many rush yards or how many sacks or how many yards you throw for. At the end of the day, none of that matters. The only thing that matters is winning. That's why he brings us here -- to win. That's the expectation we try to fulfill. That's on a daily basis."
On new teammate Jeff Demps:"He's only been out there two days. He got in there -- I said after the game, I was pretty impressed. From training the way he trained for as long as he did and then just to put shoulder pads and a helmet on and run out there and work on our plays. He's asking us, 'What does that mean? Where do I go.' He's obviously a great athlete.He's off to a great start."