‘Let them deal with it’
Brady anti-violence but won’t rip NFL
FOXBORO — On yesterday’s weekly appearance on the Kirk & Callahan Show on WEEI, quarterback Tom Brady did his best to not criticize the league’s disparity in handing out suspensions.
If anyone could gripe, it’s Brady, who was suspended four games because of Deflategate. Meanwhile, Giants kicker Josh Brown was penalized for just one game at the beginning of the season for beating his wife in a case where the facts of his repeated assaults were previously known.
“You know, I think it’s the league’s issue. Obviously a lot of controversy with that. I’m trying to stay out of all that,” Brady said. “I’ll let them handle it. I think that’s their responsibility. But I certainly don’t condone any part of domestic violence. It’s a terrible, terrible thing, but I think the league, they’ve got to handle those type of things.”
Brady was forthright in his stance against domestic violence in general. “I grew up with three sisters and I was very fortunate to learn from a loving father and a loving mother how to treat and respect women,” he said. “I have a daughter of my own. I have no ... Domestic violence, it’s a horrible issue. It’s a tragedy when it happens. Any type of abuse or bullying, you know, people who can’t defend themselves and fight for themselves, I have no respect for that. Like I said, the NFL, they claim to take tough stances, but this is their situation. This is their situation to deal with, so I’ll let them deal with it.”
Support for Stephen
Stephen Gostkowski hadn’t dealt with any struggles during his professional career prior to his recent problems.
Now, before it becomes too costly, both he and the Patriots have to find a way to cure his ills.
From 2011-15, Gostkowski made 89.6 percent of his field goals and every extra point. A four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro selection, that elite level of consistency is nowhere to be found right now.
While it has to be taken into account that the PAT was pushed back to a 33-yard attempt last season, Gostkowski has now missed three in the last eight games, including last season’s AFC title game. He also has missed three field goals this season, and his accuracy rate is at 75 percent, the lowest of his career.
After Sunday’s 27-16 win over the Steelers, Gostkowski took a harsh perspective on it when he said, “Right now, I just stink.”
That blunt assessment isn’t exactly the tact his teammates will take with the situation, according to special teamer and captain Matthew Slater.
“We’re just going to be as positive as we can be with Stephen,” Slater said. “You don’t want to say too much, but you also want to let him know that we continue to have faith in him, continue to believe in his ability to perform and that we wouldn’t trade him for anyone.
“I’m just going to be as positive with Steve as possible, and try to be as normal as possible. I think when you start trying to act too differently and say things differently it just makes it even a little bit stranger.”
Slater maintains trying to act normal during an abnormal period won’t be as hard given his relationship with Gostkowski.
“I don’t think it’s tougher,” he said. “For one, everyone on their team has to worry about doing their job. We can’t be overly concerned with another man doing his job because everybody’s got a job to do.
“And then, secondly, you know, hey, a guy like myself, Steve and I have a great friendship. We’ve been teammates for nine years now. It’s not difficult to go through something like this with him.”
Strong team ‘D’
Two statistical battles won by the defense against the Steelers stood out. The Pats held Pittsburgh to just one touchdown on four redzone trips, and the Steelers only converted 5-of-16 (31.3 percent) third downs.
In his morning conference call, Bill Belichick praised the unit as a whole for its situational success.
“Well, you know, most all of those plays really revolve around team defense,” he said. “We had our moments, but yeah, certainly in the end the red area was a huge difference in the game. In a close game those points amount to a lot. Again, team defense.” …
The Pats released defensive lineman Anthony Johnson from the 53-man roster and defensive back Vinnie Sunseri from the practice squad. Johnson played in four games.