PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
August 16, 2018
Q: How’s the new helmet?
TB: I kind of like it, man. I’ve got to get the mask right, but I do like it. It’s very comfortable. Much better than my old one.
Q: Is it lighter?
TB: I think it’s a little heavier. But, I’d say like if the old one was like a Chuck Taylor, this is like one of those Under Armour HOVRs – so comfy. So, trying to make the switch, man – get ahead.
Q: What are your overall thoughts on your first preseason game this year and being out there with your teammates tonight?
TB: You know, it was good – challenged by a good team, a good defense, good front. You know, we did some good things, but I’m sure there’s things, a lot of things, we didn’t do very well. So, I mean, I think this is all just part of the building process. It feels good to win, but you know, there’s certainly a lot of things we’ve got to do better.
Q: How did you feel with a lot of new faces out there on offense?
TB: Yeah, you know, whoever is out there – whether the last three weeks – you’re just trying to get on the same page. You know, we’re not doing a ton of game-planning for these games, and it’s just some trust and the preparation is mostly about us. But, whoever’s out there we’ve got to go with, and I’m sure it will be that way at different points in the season. New guys will come in and got to try to get them ready. Obviously, all the reps we put in with Julian [Edelman], Hogs [Chris Hogan], Gronk [Rob Gronkowski], guys who have been here in the past are very helpful. But, everyone’s just trying to get up to speed and we’re trying to all do the right thing.
Q: What did you see from Cordarrelle Patterson tonight that you think will help you in the regular season?
TB: Yeah, I thought he did a great job tonight. He’s so dangerous when he gets the ball in his hands, and obviously over the course of his entire career, that’s the way it’s been. You know, he had a good touchdown there. He almost had the one at the sideline that I threw it to him, but he’s done a great job.
Q: How impressed were you with the way James White played tonight? Do you feel he has grown into one of the best offensive skill players in the league?
TB: Yeah, I mean, I don’t think you could ask any more of a teammate than what James provides us and the trust that everyone has in him. I mean, I feel like he never makes a mistake, and it’s pretty amazing to have that. You know, we’ve had some great sub backs and James is right in the mold of all those other guys – Kevin Faulk and Shane [Vereen] and Danny Woodhead. James has his own way of doing it, but what an incredible play he made on the screen play, amongst many other great plays, and I love playing with him.
Q: Your throw to Patterson was your only throw tonight to someone who was new in the offense. How do you balance working those guys in and getting them reps that might be helpful for them versus getting the offense as a whole running the way you want it?
TB: Yeah, I think the coaches are pretty good at that and they kind of decide a lot of those things. There’s a lot of rotations in practice and we’re all watching film together, we’re in the meetings together, we’re in the walk-throughs and so forth, so this is one element to getting to know people and preparation and so forth, and there’s a lot that goes into it. So, I’m in there a lot with a lot of other guys that may not be as much on the field, but those things – we’ve still got plenty of time left in camp to, as things take shape, to figure out who’s going to be out there and who’s going to try to help us win.
Q: What kind of protection does Trent Brown provide you and are you getting comfortable with him?
TB: Yeah, I think we’ve had such great players at that position between Matt Light and then Nate [Solder] for an extended period of time. You wish you could keep all the guys together, but it’s just not the case. Trent has come in and really gained everyone’s trust by how he’s approached that particular spot that he’s in, and I mean, he did a great job tonight. So, he’s working hard to get better. Obviously, that whole unit up front, we rely so much on them to set the tone in the run game and the pass game, and we’re going to need them to all be at their best. I mean, I love that group and the effort they’re putting in. We’ve just got to all try to keep getting better.
Q: You’ve always prided yourself on moving around in the pocket, and it looked like you were right at home there tonight. How important is that for you and does it come to you instinctively?
TB: Yeah, I know. It’s the first time I’ve kind of had to do that in six months or seven months. You know, I feel like my timing can be better in certain areas, but it’s – I mean, you have to get out there and play. And I’ve been doing it for a long time, so a lot of it is kind of second nature at this point, but still you’ve got to see yourself do it and kind of get the instincts back and the feel of the game and the speed of the game and so forth. But, anytime I can buy a little time here and there, it’s been good for us. I’m glad we made a couple plays tonight doing it.
Q: Some people were interested in whether or not you would be shaking hands with Nick Foles at some point tonight. Is that why you might have gone out to the field earlier than we normally see you tonight?
TB: I did hear that. I know that was kind of made up to me because that was never my intention that I would, you know, be a bad sport. But, I have a lot of respect for Nick and Carson [Wentz], all those quarterbacks, and that team and the way they played. They’re a great team. I know how hard it is to win that last game, and they did it and congrats to them. But, we’re on to 2018. We’ve got our goals ahead of us. We’re going to try to go out and put together a great year.
Transcript Provided by the New England Patriots Media Relations Department
Photo Provided by CLNS Media
