New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (No. 12) talks with wide receiver Chris Hogan (No. 15) during Wednesday’s practice. Brady wore a bandage over his injured right hand
After wearing a protective glove on his injured right throwing hand during Tuesday’s practice, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady practiced on Wednesday with a small, black bandage covering the scar where he recently received 12 stitches.
Brady required the stitches after suffering a cut on his throwing hand in practice leading up to the AFC Championship Game two weeks ago. He has been coy about the injury since, regularly wearing gloves on both hands, including during Media Night on Monday.
‘It’s getting better,’ Brady said of the hand on Tuesday. ‘I’m just trying to take care of it.’
He even arrived to Tuesday’s press availability sporting a glove on only his throwing hand – one specifically made for Brady by Under Armour that he said ‘has a lot of recovery in it.’
But Brady wasn’t the only Super Bowl player to address the media with a new accessory this week.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox wore a Mexican wrestling mask that was recently given to him.
‘This mask was a gift from a guy in Mexico,’ Cox said Wednesday, according to Newsday. ‘He told me if I put this on, I’d have super powers and he said if anybody asked me what kind of power I had, don’t tell them because I probably make them disappear.’
When asked if the mask makes him more powerful, Cox told the reporter, ‘All you got to do is grab me and I’ll show you.’
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox wears a wrestling mask as he takes part in a media availability for the NFL Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis
(Left) Fletcher Cox wears a mask while answering questions. (Right) An unmasked Cox talks with reporters. The veteran defensive tackle says the mask has super powers
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady catches a ball during a practice Wednesday
A regular topic this week has been Brady’s playing future. The 40-year-old has stated in the past that he plans to play several more years, but Brady continues to be reflective as he prepares for his eighth Super Bowl.
Brady and wife Gisele Bundchen have two children, and the quarterback plans to spend a lot of time at home following Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.
‘When the season ends, they deserve all of my time and energy, and they’re going to get it,’ said Brady, who acknowledged that the pulls of family life get more difficult each year. ‘We still have a lot of life to live. I’m sure [Gisele] is looking forward to me being home more. A lot falls on her plate, so I’m very, very lucky.’
Noticeably absent again on Tuesday was tight end Rob Gronkowski, who remains in the league’s concussion protocol.
‘Rob’s a tough guy, but this isn’t something you can just fight through,’ said Brady. ‘We’re hopeful [he’ll play Sunday].’
Brady and his teammates provided a timely reminder of their never-say-die approach in their AFC Championship victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this month, overturning deficits of 14-3 and 20-10 to win 24-20.
Tom Brady still managed to guide the Patriots to a comeback win in the AFC title game despite receiving 12 stitches in his throwing hand only days earlier. On Wednesday he wore a bandage
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (No. 12) warms up during a practice Wednesday
The decisive drive in the victory over the Jaguars was textbook Brady, marching upfield and threading a pinpoint pass to pick out Danny Amendola in the end zone.
It completed the 42nd fourth quarter comeback of Brady’s glittering career, and was the 40-year-old’s 53rd game-winning drive.
But Brady told reporters Tuesday he would prefer to lead from the front this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles, rather than come from behind as they were forced to do against Atlanta last year.
‘There’s a great belief in this team that no matter what the circumstance, that we have enough to overcome it,’ Brady said.
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski gets off the team plane on Monday in Minnesota
‘But I don’t think we want to have to overcome that again this year. That was tough to do. We would prefer to get a lead, play ahead, play on our terms.
‘It’s something that we talk about every week.
‘But I realize it’s a 60-minute game. And however it shakes out, ultimately you’ve got to figure out how to win in the fourth quarter.
‘And if it comes down to that, we’ve got the confidence that we can go down the field and win the game.’
Brady’s sentiments were shared by Bill Belichick, who could claim a sixth Super Bowl ring as head coach of the Patriots this weekend.
Asked if he relished the pressure of having to overturn late, fourth-quarter deficits, Belichick replied: ‘No.
‘Nobody wants to be behind 28-3 and nobody wants to be behind 14-3. Whatever the situation we’re in we will try to prepare for it the best way we can.
‘But we don’t want to be behind by two or three touchdowns in any game that we play.’
Brady, who could also win a record sixth Super Bowl on Sunday, said regardless of how the game unfolded he expected to maintain his composure.
‘I’m pretty calm all the time,’ he said. ‘I have my moments but for the most part, I’ve been around football for a long time and I know this game. Focus and composure is pretty important for a quarterback.’
Tom Brady, who has an endorsement deal with Under Armour, says the protective glove the company made for his injured right hand ‘has a lot of recovery in it’