Brady defends his personal health coach
Tom Brady calls it “ridiculous” to suggest the suspension of Patriots receiver Julian Edelman is tied to the quarterback’s personal health coach.
The questions about Alex Guerrero on Saturday prompted Brady to abruptly end his first media availability of training camp.
“I have no comments, just ridiculous. I’m out,” Brady said before walking away.
Edelman brushed aside a similar question in his first comments since receiving his four-game ban for a drug-policy violation.
“What’s in the past is in the past. I love Alex and ultimately I’m worried about just going out here and playing football,” Edelman said. “I’m not here to talk about or make a headline or something.”
Edelman, tight end Rob Gronkowski and former Patriots receiver Danny Amendola are among several Patriots who have also worked or consulted with Guerrero.
Edelman will begin serving his suspension at the start of the regular season. He can practice with the team and play in preseason games.
Brady provided another short response when asked if there was tension between him and coach Bill Belichick this summer.
“I have no thoughts,” Brady said.
Brady has relied on a fitness and nutrition program developed by Guerrero since 2004. The pair also partnered in opening Brady’s TB12 Sports Therapy Center, which is adjacent to the Patriots’ Gillette Stadium facility.
In January, Patriots CEO Robert Kraft, Belichick and Brady released a statement calling an ESPN report “flat-out inaccurate” that said there had been disputes between team officials and Guerrero regarding player-medical affairs.
Brady will turn 41 next week and has credited Guerrero’s program with helping to extend his NFL career, which is entering its 19th season.
Darnold still a no-show
There’s still no sign of Sam Darnold.
The No. 3 overall draft pick sat out of New York Jets camp for the second straight day in a contract impasse that has already lasted longer than most expected.
Darnold is expected to compete with Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the starting quarterback job once he’s under contract.
But he and Chicago linebacker
Roquan Smith, the No. 8 choice, remain the only unsigned picks from the entire NFL draft.
“I’m just worried about the guys that are here,” coach Todd Bowles said after practice Saturday. “The guys that are here are going to play and we’re going to get ready for the season. And, when he comes in, he comes in.”
Darnold will receive a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $30.247 million, including a $20 million signing bonus — when he signs. But the dispute seems to hang on contract language.
Vikings turn attention back to field
As the Minnesota Vikings conducted their first full-team practice of training camp, the offensive linemen, once again, found themselves in the spotlight.
The center of attention is precisely where these players would prefer not to be, and their position coach’s sudden death was about the worst circumstance imaginable. The day after the starters served as pallbearers at Tony Sparano’s memorial service, they turned their focus back to the field while carrying forward those lessons learned about the game and about life.
“He took me to places I couldn’t go as a player and as a man,” center Pat Elflein said. “It wasn’t just football with him. He really cared about his players, the wellbeing of his players, and it hurts.”
Sparano’s personality in practice was gruff. He was simply aiming to help his players improve, and once they realized the passion behind his motives they quickly gained a deep appreciation for his presence that’s been dearly missed.
“It’s still there,” Elflein said. “You can still sense it in the room, that Tony’s not there, but he is.”
Other league news
• The Seahawks and left tackle Duane Brown reached agreement on a multiyear contract extension that locks up the protector of Russell Wilson’s blindside for the next few seasons. Brown tweeted that he looked forward to spending the rest of his career in Seattle. NFL Network reported the new deal is for three years.
• Washington first-round pick Daron Payne is expected to miss two to three weeks because of an ankle injury. Coach Jay Gruden said the defensive lineman was stepped on during practice Friday and will be in a walking boot for about a week.