Brady welcomes this kind of battle
Patriots quarterback returns to work in a high-profile opener against the Steelers.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — After months of accusations, depositions, investigations and two kinds of courtrooms — federal and those of public opinion — a reminder arrives:
The National Football League is also about football.
That will be on display Thursday night when the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the league’s annual kickoff opener at Gillette Stadium.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell does not plan to attend the opener, which traditionally takes place on the home field of the previous season’s Super Bowl winner.
The Patriots are simultaneously feeling vindicated and under siege, as days after a federal judge stunned the NFL by wiping out the four-game suspension of star quarterback Tom Brady, ESPN and Sports Illustrated published lengthy investigative stories that painted Coach Bill Belichick and his staff as incorrigible cheaters.
“Things are going to be written, things are going to be said, but it’s up to us as a team to ignore the noise and just focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers,” New England receiver Matthew Slater told reporters. “Simple as that.”
New England is 15-1 on its home field the last two seasons, and has won 11 of its past 12 openers.
“It’s time for me to do my job,” said Brady, whose franchise will raise its Super Bowl XLIX banner at the game. “Anything that’s happened over the last seven months really wasn’t my job.”
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman ruled last week that the NFL overreached in its punishment of Brady for his involvement in an alleged football-def lating scheme and wiped out the penalty. When Brady’s suspension was lifted, the projected point spread favoring the Patriots increased from two to seven points.
The game remains the suspension bowl, as Pittsburgh will be without All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell and receiver Martavis Bryant, whereas running back LeGarrette Blount will be sitting for the Patriots.
The Steelers, who have made defense a cornerstone of their franchise, have slipped in that department. This off-season they swapped defensive coordinators, from the legendary Dick LeBeau to longtime linebackers coach Keith Butler.
The plan now is to take advantage of the youth and speed Pittsburgh has on that side of the ball.
Whereas Pittsburgh’s defense is a work in progress, the offense has flourished lately. The 2014 Steelers set franchise records for points, total yards, yards passing per game and first downs in a season.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he wasn’t surprised that Brady’s suspension was lifted, and that he expects the atmosphere to be “electric” for the game. He and Brady have won a combined six Super Bowl rings since the start of the 2001 season.
“It’s the way that NFL football should start, and maybe it’s one of the reasons I knew that Tom would be out there,” he said. “Because I know the NFL doesn’t want to start a game without him out there.
“Nerves will be running. Jitters will be running for everybody. For young guys, I think it will be fun that they get to experience this. Even old guys like myself, I am sure I will be nervous.”
The Steelers are making their third appearance in the kickoff opener, having beaten Miami (2006) and Tennessee (2009) at home.
The Patriots have beaten the Steelers three times at home during Brady’s career, winning those games by an average of 20 points, including a 55-31 pounding in 2013.
New England no longer has nose tackle Vince Wilfork or the cornerback tandem of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, but the team kept 11 defensive linemen through final roster cutdowns.
“They keep guys fresh,” Roethlisberger said. “They keep guys with high motors. They can be complicated at times, their defense and the front seven. They can also be very plain and basic. But even when they are plain and basic and just rush four guys, their motors never stop.”
Belichick didn’t put too much stock in that compliment when informed of it.
“That sounds like Ben buttering us up pretty good, you know,” he said. “Half these guys have never played against him, so — but that’s very complimentary of Ben to say that. We’ll see.”