Does QB’s glove have hand in his recovery?
‘It’s got a lot of recovery,’ cryptic Brady says
Near one of the entranceways to the 500- store Mall of America, a paragon of the f ree- market economy so gargantuan it reportedly could fit 258 Statues of Liberty inside, Tom Brady and a handful of New England Patriots on Tuesday gave us the goods.
Or at least as much as they ever do in the free speechcha llenged atmosphere of Bill Belichick’s Patriots.
After being scrum-stuffed into hearing what the fivetime Super Bowl champion quarterback had to say for half an hour, here are five things we learned:
1. DR. STRANGE- GLOVE OR HOW HE LEARNED TO QUIT WORRYING AND RE-THROW LONG BOMBS:
At Tuesday’s presser, Brady wore some concocted black glove on his injured right hand, provided to him by a sportswear manufacturer. Hmmmm. Black glove on right hand only? Reminded me of Peter Sellers’ third character — a mad, but brilliant wheelchair- bound German scientist — in Stanley Kubrick’s black- comedy classic Dr. Strangelove.
IT’S (TOM BRADY’S HAND) BEEN BETTER. IT’S NOT QUITE WHERE I WANT TO BE.
Over the weekend, Brady reportedly had the dozen stitches removed from his right hand, which was injured in practice four days before the AFC championship game.
Running back Rex Burkhead had rammed into it accidentally on a botched handoff.
“It’s been better,” Brady said of his throwing hand. “It’s not quite where I want to be. So I’m just trying to prepare the best way I can. It’s obviously a very important part of my body for a quarterback, so I just want it to be as healthy as possible for the game on Sunday.”
Brady showed no ill effects with hand usage in the AFC title game on Jan. 21 as the Patriots rallied from a 20-10 fourth- quarter deficit to jolt the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20.
Brady sang the praises of his specially made glove: “It’s got a lot of recovery in it and that’s what I need at this time.”
Who knew gloves could contain “recovery?” Some store here probably sells it. Might take three days to find it, though.
2. WHAT’S ON HIS PLAYLIST:
To help remain in the calmed state of mind Brady said he prefers — and is most often in — he listens to music. Especially to and from work.
What’s on his playlist, then?
“It j ust depends what I want to get up for,” the 40- year- old said. “A lot of Jay- Z, Coldplay, U2, Pearl Jam, Kendrick Lamar. A lot of guys in the locker- room are playing stuff, so there’s a lot of things I like.”
3. HE DIDN’T EAT HEALTHY AS A KID:
Brady is a renowned extreme health- food freak. You’ve probably heard about it. Avocado ice cream, no burgers, no j unk food, a mostly plant-based diet, etc.
Brady said his children — eight-year-old son Benjamin and five- year- old daughter Vivian with wife Gisele Bundchen — eat far healthier than he did as a kid.
“With my kids, I just try to be the best example I can be,” Brady said. “It’s one thing to say it, it’s another thing to do it. I obviously think my diet ... I eat pretty well and I think my kids do, too. We’re very fortunate to be able to do that.
“I was different when I was growing up. My parents did the best they could do, but when I was growing up, the things I ate when I was little … I can understand why I was a late bloomer.
“Oh man, some of the stuff, it was terrible. It was not what I would do today. But I’ve learned. I’ve grown a lot in different ways.”
4. HE LOVED GOING FISHING:
Brady’s mother Galynn grew up in rural Minnesota, about a two-hour drive northwest of the Twin Cities. Brady himself grew up in the highly populated Bay Area of California, but the family would spend time vacationing in Minnesota in the summer.
“I have a lot of great memories,” Brady said. “Some of my greatest are being out on the lake with my uncles and my grandpa, my parents and my sisters … a lot of fun.”
5. FATE OF THIS YEAR’S GAME JERSEY:
You’ ll recall a Mexican j ournalist made off with Brady’s game jersey after last year’s Super Bowl win until authorities recovered it. This year? “I’m taking it with me, man — if we win,” Brady said. “If we lose, I’m throwing it in the garbage. If we win, I’m taking it. So hopefully we can win.”