SBLII: The Brady Watch

PedroKsBambino

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I haven't been too worried about Brady's availability for Sunday, but my hopes are not quite as high as before that press conference. I think it was when Brady took a few moments, and his voice cracked when he said "... it's going to be a great game..." and didn't seem to have the upbeat attitude we usually see from him. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's one of those gut feelings after watching Brady press conferences for 17 years. I dunno, I sure hope I'm wrong.

edit: 28 seconds in on this video twitter.com/Patriots/status/954425368357687296
I see him trolling and enjoying doing so more than anything else. But obviously, we're into the crazytalk when we try to interpret his body language and tone in a press conference, too
 

nattysez

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I haven't been too worried about Brady's availability for Sunday, but my hopes are not quite as high as before that press conference. I think it was when Brady took a few moments, and his voice cracked when he said "... it's going to be a great game..." and didn't seem to have the upbeat attitude we usually see from him. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's one of those gut feelings after watching Brady press conferences for 17 years. I dunno, I sure hope I'm wrong.

edit: 28 seconds in on this video twitter.com/Patriots/status/954425368357687296
I agree with all of this (as well as PKB's assessment that this is all crazy talk). I can't go back through the archives now, but I think in similar situations, Brady usually says "I can play." or "It's not that bad." or "Everyone's dealing with injuries at this time of year." This seemed distinctly different.
 

sodenj5

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I’m starting to think that too. I don’t know how I could possibly love Brady and BB more but if this is a minor injury and they are fucking with everyone that would do it.
Why would they hold him out of a practice leading up to the AFC Championship game just to try and mess with the Jags? You know they’re preparing to face Brady no matter what he says.

I think Brady plays but I think his thumb is a legit concern.
 

Ed Hillel

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Here’s close-up video.

Ed Hillel official verdict - Troll Job, he got hurt but was encouraged by how he felt today.

 

CoffeeNerdness

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100% troll job. He's smirking through the whole thing and adjusting his ridiculously Bieber sized hat with his left hand. I'm struggling to hear any cracked voices either, c'mon now.
 

savage362

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The smirk on everyone's face when talking about Brady is a delight to see as they all navigate their way around the questions.
 

DJnVa

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HE WAS WEARING A GLOVE ON HIS LEFT HAND AS WELL FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. HE'S FUCKING WITH YOU.
 

MarcSullivaFan

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Hoo-hoo-hoo hoosier land.
Why would they hold him out of a practice leading up to the AFC Championship game just to try and mess with the Jags? You know they’re preparing to face Brady no matter what he says.

I think Brady plays but I think his thumb is a legit concern.
Don’t know if he practiced today. There’s obviously something wrong with his thumb but it could be anything from a bad cut to totally fucked.

Anyway don’t get between me and my wishful thinking. It’s Friday.
 

DJnVa

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100% troll job. He's smirking through the whole thing and adjusting his ridiculously Bieber sized hat with his left hand. I'm struggling to hear any cracked voices either, c'mon now.
Yeah, a cracked voice? You guys are projecting.
 

Leather

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Yeah, that’s not a troll. He was very erratic with his left hand and seemed uncomfortable. I guess we’ll wait until game title to see what is really going on.
"very erratic"? He adjusted his hat once.

And Brady always has a sheen of discomfort when he's the center of attention. It's why his Deflategate statements were always misinterpreted as phony; he's an awkward guy off the field.
 

DJnVa

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Yeah, that’s not a troll. He was very erratic with his left hand and seemed uncomfortable. I guess we’ll wait until game title to see what is really going on.
Yeah...he was erratic with it because he was wearing a glove on it. For no reason.
 

drbretto

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Why would they hold him out of a practice leading up to the AFC Championship game just to try and mess with the Jags? You know they’re preparing to face Brady no matter what he says.

I think Brady plays but I think his thumb is a legit concern.
I don't think anyone thinks the injury is fake. I think some are just thinking that they're being so coy about it because they're trolling a bit.

Personally, though, I'm sticking with whatever DRS says, but hoping for the most minor version of it. If it's on the minor side of that scale, though, I can definitely see them pulling him from practice because there's no reason to put him out there to aggravate it more.
 

Captaincoop

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This is not a "troll job".

After that press conference it's probably more likely that they know Brady can't play and are trying to hide that than it is that this is some minor issue and they're playing it up.
 

Reardon's Beard

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I bet they are hard trolling the media after all the Kraft BB TB12 nonsense the last few weeks.

I'd do it if I were them. And for trolling, they are dominating print/digital, radio, television.

All three phases of the game.
 

DJnVa

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About 7:15 into first quarter Sunday the announcer will say something like "Brady showing ABSOLUTELY no problems with his hand there! Wow. A 24 yard strike to Gronkowski and the Pats are on the board."
 

DJnVa

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This is not a "troll job".

After that press conference it's probably more likely that they know Brady can't play and are trying to hide that than it is that this is some minor issue and they're playing it up.
No way. They would have had another QB in the building today if they knew that.
 

Masamune42

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When he first gets to the podium someone asks "How's the hand?" and he just kind of smiles and it sounds like he says "It's not that bad."

I'd guess he got it whacked and it hurts/got cut, but it's not the end of the world.
 

Ed Hillel

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This is not a "troll job".

After that press conference it's probably more likely that they know Brady can't play and are trying to hide that than it is that this is some minor issue and they're playing it up.
And they’re rolling into Sunday with one QB on the roster?
 

drbretto

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When he first gets to the podium someone asks "How's the hand?" and he just kind of smiles and it sounds like he says "It's not that bad."

I'd guess he got it whacked and it hurts/got cut, but it's not the end of the world.
I heard "I'm not talking about that"
 

Leather

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No way. They would have had another QB in the building today if they knew that.
I don't think he's saying he can't play. I think he's saying it's more likely that's the case than it's some out-of-character charade.
 

Captaincoop

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I don't think he's saying he can't play. I think he's saying it's more likely that's the case than it's some out-of-character charade.
Thank you, sir.

If you think they're sitting their starting QB out of AFC title week practices just to fuck with a team that they are favored over by more than a TD...I don't even know how to finish that.
 

Average Reds

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I don't think he's saying he can't play. I think he's saying it's more likely that's the case than it's some out-of-character charade.
The Pats are notoriously tight-lipped about injuries, and the Pats players have been part of the act this week. Seems perfectly in character to me.

I'll bow out of this thread now, since it's not my team, but I keep shaking my head at the reaction of some here. There is simply no way he doesn't play.
 

DJnVa

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You think B.B. will let the Jags prepare mentally? If Brady is too injured to play, he is still the backup qb on Sunday and we find out he’s not playing when the Patriots receive the ball.
You think if he can't play he'll somehow still be listed as a the backup? Against a team that hits the QB a lot? We roll with just Hoyer?

Come on dude.
 

Average Reds

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Thank you, sir.

If you think they're sitting their starting QB out of AFC title week practices just to fuck with a team that they are favored over by more than a TD...I don't even know how to finish that.
No one is suggesting that they are sitting Brady out of practice to fuck with the Jags. He sat out yesterday because he was, in fact, injured and they are using an abundance of caution. (Edit: it appears that he practiced today, if reports are to be believed.)

The people who are getting fucked with are the media. And the Pats seem to be enjoying it.
 
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DJnVa

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Thank you, sir.

If you think they're sitting their starting QB out of AFC title week practices just to fuck with a team that they are favored over by more than a TD...I don't even know how to finish that.
No. That's not what I said. I said he got "hurt" and it makes sense that he didn't practice yesterday. But he did practice today. But I was responding to people that said they think it's likely he's not playing yet they haven't signed another QB.

That is insane. Not even Rex Ryan would do that shit.
 

4 6 3 DP

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The Amendola PC makes me feel better.

Q: Do you think Tom is going to play? A: Tom typically shows up in big games, and this is a big game. Shit eating grin on face.
 
Apr 7, 2006
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Hurt. Definitely, imo. Not a troll job, that idea is ludicrous to me. Playing it up? Maybe. But I agree with those saying there's no way he misses prep time if he doesn't need to. I think everybody is hoping for improvement over the next couple days and praying he plays well through this injury, adding to his legacy. But I think it's major wishful thinking to interpret what we just watched as even remotely a troll job from TB12 and the team.

I also think, FWIW and that ain't much, that the team will find a way to win.
 

Ed Hillel

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Hurt. Definitely, imo. Not a troll job, that idea is ludicrous to me. Playing it up? Maybe. But I agree with those saying there's no way he misses prep time if he doesn't need to. I think everybody is hoping for improvement over the next couple days and praying he plays well through this injury, adding to his legacy. But I think it's major wishful thinking to interpret what we just watched as even remotely a troll job from TB12 and the team.
Playing it up = troll job. Nobody denies he was hurt. Amendola is playing along too now. Big smile on his handsome face.
 

drbretto

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Ah shoot, just listened again with more volume. You're right.
Still, though, he didn't look concerned at all. It looked to me like he was already laughing because he knew there would be nothing but those questions and he's having fun keeping them in the dark.

It doesn't take a conspiracy theory to think they're trolling the media a little bit here. Again, it doesn't mean it's not a real injury. It just means they're intentionally being all secretive about it because the writers are all over the place with their speculation and that does nothing but help the pats.

Brady had a full on shit eating grin when he walked in there with those gloves.
 
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I went back and watched press conferences that Brady gave while wearing a winter hat. He never touched the hat in any of those, but he did wipe his nose once using his left hand. That made me feel MUCH better.