Tom’s thumb
The secret saga continues, but it looks like Brady good to go
FOXBORO, Mass. — The overriding issue heading into this game? The secret adventures of Tom’s thumb, of course.
The New England Patriots’ superstar quarterback, Tom Brady, injured his right throwing hand at Wednesday’s practice — a blood-gushing cut on the thumb that required stitches, according to NFL Network.
Not that Brady, head coach Bill Belichick nor anyone in Foxboro was willing to shed definitive light on the nature of the 40-year-old’s injury, or on his ability to function against the Jaguars
Numerous reports by Thursday morning agreed that Brady “should be OK” to play, with his performance affected “only slightly.”
ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss on Saturday morning updated this assessment by adding that, “if anything, that belief only strengthened after Friday’s practice” at which Brady threw “well,” Reiss’ sources said.
Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston reported Friday night that running back Rex Burkhead was the player who accidentally jammed Brady’s hand at Wednesday’s practice — and bent Brady’s right thumb “back badly.”
Curran added that Brady did not take snaps in his limited participation in Friday’s practice.
NFL teams never speak to the press the day before a game, so the Patriots did not confirm, deny or amplify any information in the reports. The team on Friday officially listed Brady as questionable.
The Patriots have only two quarterbacks — Brady and ninth-year veteran Brian Hoyer — on their 53-man roster, and none parked on the practice squad.
That the team by late afternoon Saturday had not signed an emergency third quarterback might be a further strong indication that Belichick and the Patriots doctors are confident in Brady’s ability to play.
Pats lost only one home playoff game pre-Brady.
POST-SEASON TURNAROUND
FOXBORO, Mass. — Before Bill Belichick and Tom Brady joined the New England Patriots, would you believe the franchise over four decades played host to only four playoff games?
The Pats went 3-1 in those games. The only loss — meaning the franchise’s only home-field playoff loss ever without Brady at QB — came in December 1978, when Bum Phillips’ Houston Oilers won 3114 in an AFC divisional matchup.
Under B&B, the Patriots are 18-3 in home playoff games. The losses: to Baltimore in 2009, to the New York Jets in 2010 and to the Ravens again in 2012.