PHOENIX, Arizona (AFP) — New England quarterback Tom Brady, whose right ankle has been the subject of excited speculation for a week, returned to practice Monday as the unbeaten Patriots continued their Super Bowl preparations.
Brady, the National Football League Most Valuable Player, had his ankle taped and appeared to limp slightly, but participated "in all phases of practice, including jogging the length of the field twice at the end of drills," according to the pool report filed by the lone reporter allowed to watch the workout.
Brady has been crucial to making the Patriots the first 18-0 team in NFL history, setting a single-season record with 50 touchdowns and passing for 4,806 yards.
So it caused a sensation when he surfaced last week wearing a protective boot on his right foot, one day after the Patriots booked their Super Bowl berth with a win over San Diego in the American Conference championship game.
While Brady soon dispensed with the boot, he didn't work out with his teammates in New England last week.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick was characteristically terse when asked about Brady on Monday.
"He was out there like everybody else," Belichick said.
Pressed again, Belichick only repeated: "He was out there like everybody else."
Brady himself didn't meet the press on Monday, but said Sunday night he would be "ready to go" against the New York Giants on Sunday.
"Tom will be out there Sunday, don't worry about it," Patriots strong safety Rodney Harrison said.
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