Look Out League, Tom Brady's Back

There is only one professional athlete who should be called The King these days and he's not playing in Cleveland.

Tom Brady returned to practice this week for the Patriots. Brady is the same man with three Super Bowl titles, two Super Bowl MVP awards and four Pro Bowl berths. Say what you want about Peyton Manning being the best quarterback in the league -- all Brady does is win games.

He is one of four men to win three or more Super Bowls and earn multiple Super Bowl MVP awards. Brady has a better career winning percentage than Roger Staubach and Joe Montana in the Super Bowl era. Before his season-ending knee injury in last year's opener against Kansas City, he had started 128 consecutive games, the second-longest streak among active quarterbacks and third-longest all-time.

Whether or not Brady can return to form following his terrible knee injury is uncertain. Brady joked with reporters on Thursday that nothing is guaranteed -- he might not get home on time because of Boston traffic, or he could get struck by lightning. Anything.

"We'll see," he said. "I mean, like I said, talk is cheap. I could sit here and tell you guys I'm gonna play til I'm 80, but that doesn't matter. I'm gonna do the best I can do to be the best leader and the best teammate and supporter of the guys on my team."

The Patriots need Brady. Last year they won 11 games and still missed the postseason. You could argue that Brady's absence was the difference in losses against San Diego, Indy and Pittsburgh.

The game has changed since then for the Patriots and Brady. Gone is cornerback Ellis Hobbs and popular linebacker Mike Vrabel. Also, more importantly for Brady, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has left the building. Brady said he will miss McDaniels but will move on.

Brady practiced this week, during the Pats' organized team activities, with a brace on his left knee. He doesn't like it, but has to wear it. It's been a long time since Brady threw a football competitively and he said he was rusty in doing so.


An infection in his left knee set his rehab back, but Brady isn't too concerned about that anymore. He said the goal now is to be ready for training camp, though it's likely he'll be held back at the beginning.

The real aim is to be ready on Sept. 14, when New England hosts Buffalo in the regular season's first week.

"Part of the surgery and the rehab is you have setbacks and you just deal with them," Brady said. "It doesn't always go how you plan it, life doesn't go how you plan it. It's a matter of dealing with it and understanding what you have to do to get back on the right track."

Brady is excited by the additions to the Pats. Veteran Joey Galloway should add more speed to the receiving corps, and veteran running back Fred Taylor can give Laurence Maroney a break from time to time.

One thing that was interesting to hear during Brady's 25-minute interview session with a gaggle of reporters was that he moved on from his injury quickly.

"I felt bad for myself that night and I moved on after that," he said. "Since then, it's about trying to get better, and since it happened there's nothing you can do. You got to find ways to move on, and like I said, I'm grateful to be out here."

The Patriots know what they have in Brady, but the AFC East has gotten better. T.O. is in Buffalo, Miami's defense improved with Jason Taylor, the Jets defense also got better just by having Rex Ryan in charge.

Brady's return keeps the Pats the favorite in the AFC East. But his injury last year forced him to think about his career coming to an end.

"The reality is in this sport you never really know," Brady said. "Any day can be your last day in football. You come out and it's a very physical game, and I think you're just grateful for having the chance to compete and practice and be on a team and have a great job."