Conference Championship Interview Series: New England Patriots QB Tom Brady

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

Tom Brady has been in a better mood. Amidst preparing for this Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the San Diego Chargers, news broke that his top wide receiver, Randy Moss, was being accused of assault and battery. Alleged, of course. Tom’s response was quick. It was the furthest thing from his mind. But it was enough to rock the boat that had been drifting peacefully along since early September’s “Spygate” scandal when head coach Bill Belichick was caught illegally videotaping the N.Y. Jets. Always the polite celebrity, Tom took a few minutes during a national conference call to talk with me about the Patriots’ (still) undefeated season and upcoming game vs. the Bolts.

One thing that has impressed me about the Patriots this season has been their ability to take one-game-at-a-time. This philosophy is very difficult in a society that thrives on instant gratification. In the NFL, however, looking ahead to what could be will only assure that you’ll never get where you want to go. So, New England took one-game-at-a-time and added them all up to 17 successes against zero failures so far. Makes me think this might work in real life, too.

DAVID: Tom, as you get closer to the ultimate goal of the Super Bowl, has your team’s one-game-at-a-time or one-week-at-a-time approach been harder to maintain as the season has progressed?

TOM: (pauses) I don’t think so. I think that’s really worked — how Coach Belichick really stresses the importance of preparation each week and to not look ahead. You can’t win a game two weeks from now. You can only prepare for the team that you’re playing this week. And you know, we had so many tight games this year. I really think the preparation we put in has been so critical to what we’ve accomplished. It’s extremely challenging this week when we play a team as dangerous as the Chargers, a team that has talent at every position. And they are one year removed from being 14‑2. It’s really the same team back. This has been the best team in the second half of the season. They’re averaging 30 points a game. They’ve only given up 13 points a game. They’ve forced 48 turnovers — five turnovers in the post‑season — and they have over 40 sacks this year. And guys like Gates and Tomlinson and Phillip Rivers are all Pro Bowlers. They can rush the passer and bombard you with interceptions. It’s really a dynamic group of pass rushers and linebackers on the defensive line and it will be extremely tough for us this week.

Still, a lot has happened to this team while piling up those 17 wins. There was the aforementioned “Spygate” scandal. There were the near losses to Philadelphia and Baltimore. The grind of simply getting through an NFL season is enough to consider, let alone winning every game you play. It’s darn-near impossible. In fact, I would call it impossible if the New England Patriots weren’t in the process of doing it.

DAVID: Have you had any time to reflect on what an incredible season it has been so far, or have you purposely not done that?

TOM: No, I think we really are at the same point we were last season and I wasn’t very happy with the way last year ended (AFC Championship loss to eventual Super Bowl winners Indianapolis). So, we are no better off than we were last year at this time. This game against San Diego is the most important game of the year. And we have to put as much as we can into it.

Some have suggested that because of “Spygate,” the Patriots’ season should be marked with an asterisk if they win it all. Even I said Coach Belichick should not have been named Coach-of-the-Year because he cheated. And I stand by that. I do think he’s a great coach, though. But when you really think about it, the Patriots have to feel their hard work is being undermined because of their head coach’s mistake. And that’s not fair. What this team has done is an unbelievable achievement. And they should be recognized accordingly.

DAVID: As a team, have the Patriots played this season angry — or with a chip on your collective shoulder?

TOM: No, I think we just try to play as hard as we can each week. We still have the high expectations that Coach Belichick set for us since training camp. And we go out there and try to be the best we can be. There’s plenty of motivation to do our job because if we don’t do our job — well — we get fired. I think that’s great enough motivation for all of us.

Tom Brady doesn’t need to worry about getting fired … 4,806 yards, 50 TDs and a 117.2 QB-rating. Enough said. This was my first of four Conference Championship interviews. Look for LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers), Ryan Grant (Packers) and Amani Toomer (Giants) to follow before Sunday’s games.

AP Photo/Stephan Savoia