As usual, Pats remain mum on Brady’s status

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Reporters looking to get meaningful information on the condition of Tom Brady’s throwing hand came away, well, empty-handed from Friday’s news conference.

In typical Patriots fashion, Brady revealed absolutely nothing. His media availability opened with the following exchange: How is your hand?

I’m not talking about it. Thumbs up or thumbs down Sunday? for the for

We’ll see. Did you throw any footballs today? I’m not talking about that. Did you practice today? I was out there. Were you out there practice? entire

Yeah. How was practice?

It was fun. The Hall of Fame-bound quarterback didn’t practice Thursday, was limited Friday and was listed as questionable for Sunday’s AFC championship game against the Jaguars. But does anyone actually believe he won’t be out there?

According to Mike Felger of WBZ-AM in Boston, Brady received four stitches in his right hand after accidentally striking a teammate’s helmet in practice Wednesday, and the injury should not have a big impact on his availability.

Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson is operating on the theory the Patriots are sandbagging and Brady isn’t actually hurt.

“I remember (Bills running back) LeSean McCoy said he had a high ankle sprain and came out there cutting and stuff,” Jackson said last week on PFT Live. He suggested the same might be true of Brady throwing.

Jaguars rookie running back Leonard Fournette briefly had to leave last week’s game against the Steelers because of a chronic ankle injury.

It’s vital for him to stay healthy against the Patriots.

Quarterback Blake Bortles is far more effective with Fournette on the field. According to NFL research, Bortles had 15 touchdown passes and three interceptions with Fournette in the game. But when Fournette was out, the touchdowns dropped to seven and the interceptions ballooned to 10.

This is not a good matchup for the Patriots, particularly with the pressure the Jaguars can bring up the middle against Brady. If the Jaguars can avoid turnovers and play keep-away with Fournette, they can shock the world.