Dodging trainer inquiry, Brady exits live interview
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hung up during a live radio interview Monday after being asked multiple questions about personal trainer Alex Guerrero.
Brady acknowledged Guerrero’s presence on the team’s plane last week in an interview with WEEI-FM in Boston. When asked why Guerrero was allowed to be with the team after being kept away last season, Brady answered, “I’m not getting into all that.”
After dodging two follow-up questions, Brady said, “Yeah. All right, guys, have a great day. I’ll talk to you later,” and hung up.
In other Patriots news, guard Shaq Mason, 25, agreed to terms on a fiveyear, $50 million extension, with $23.5 million guaranteed. contract was not fully guaranteed. The Raiders experience a good amount of cash and cap savings with his departure.
Rookie left tackle Kolton Miller and Penn are set to start the Sept. 10 opener versus the Los Angeles Rams.
Penn is very much still working to be ready for Week 1. He admitted Monday that he’s still acclimating to the position and getting into game shape. He underwent right foot surgery in December for a Lisfranc fracture and did not resume practice until Aug. 14. He appeared in his first exhibition Friday against the Green Bay Packers, allowing a stripsack following a bull rush.
“I wish I could have done some things a lot better than I did,” Penn said Monday. “I saw some things I need to fix and need to work on. The biggest part of it was I’m trying to get some confidence in this foot and pushing off of it.
“The biggest thing I need for myself to get to where I want to be is just more repetition, more practice. The good thing is time is on my side. … I feel like I’ll definitely be ready.”
Bargain hunting
Dominique Rodgers-cromartie will count about three times more against the New York Giants’ salary cap in 2018 than he will the Raiders’.
The cornerback joined Oakland last week on a one-year deal worth $1.015 million, a source familiar with the contract said Monday. The contract’s value is the veteran minimum.
As such, he’ll count only $630,000 against the Raiders’ cap.
This deal, which included no guaranteed money, pales in comparison to Rodgers-cromartie’s last negotiation. In 2014, he signed a five-year deal with the Giants worth up to $39 million. Of that, nearly $14 million was guaranteed, including a $10 million signing bonus.
Rodgers-cromartie was unsigned for five-plus months before accepting a minimum contract.
“I just use it as motivation,” Rodgers-cromartie said Monday. “When I get an opportunity, they’re going to see.”
Notable
Rodgers-cromartie’s signing was announced last Thursday. He appeared on nine defensive snaps Friday. “I was praying (defensive coordinator Paul Guenther) would just call Cover-1,” he said. “Just man-to-man (coverage) where I wouldn’t have to think too much.” Guenther did.
The Raiders plan to rest veterans en masse Thursday at the Seattle Seahawks. Needing a couple bodies for the game, they signed cornerback Jarell Carter and defensive tackle Connor Flagel. They can compile game tape as an updated resume to show NFL teams before being released Friday or Saturday. All 90-man rosters must be reduced to 53 players by 1 p.m. Saturday.
Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Gehlkennfl on Twitter.