Patriots quarterback Tom Brady conducted a rare sit-down interview with ESPN (to watch the video, click here), and touched on a wide variety of topics, including his knee, when he knew he was OK to return and the fact that he’s going to be a father again, this time with wife Gisele Bundchen (she’s due in December).

Brady said the time off helped him realize the game doesn’t stop for anyone.

“It doesn’t. You get hurt. The doctors come out. They wheel you off the field and the ref blows the whistle for play and the game continues,” he said. “That is exactly what should happen. This game is bigger than any player that has ever played this game, and you realize how fortunate you are to be a part of it when you can’t participate.”

The quarterback knew he was ready to return on Super Bowl Sunday when he started playing catch with friends.

“I knew it Super Bowl Sunday this past year. I was out there throwing the football around and watching the game. I knew that was something that I wanted to make sure that I was ready for that game,” he said. “I knew at that point I was going to be fine.”

And Brady confessed that he was going to be a father again. (“I told her no Sundays,” Brady said with a smile.) He said he’s full prepared to go through Lamaze classes with Bundchen.

“Well, it couldn’t be harder than this training camp, so I’ll be prepared,” Brady said. “The women are the ones who have to do the work, we just have to be there and support them, so it’ll be nice to do that.”

The interview will air Sunday on “NFL Countdown.”

Thanks to the Patriots’ PR staff, here’s the full transcript of Bill Belichick’s Q&A with the media Friday at Gillette Stadium:
Read the rest of this entry »

Buffalo Practice Participation and Injury Report for Friday:

Did Not Practice
TE Derek Fine (hamstring)
CB Drayton Florence (knee)

Limited Participation
DT Spencer Johnson (thigh)

Patriots Practice Participation and Injury Report for Friday:

Did Not Practice
WR Matthew Slater (elbow)
DL Myron Pryor (calf)

Limited Participation
OL Dan Connolly (back)
WR Julian Edelman (ankle)
RB Sammy Morris (finger)
CB Shawn Springs (knee)
WR Wes Welker (knee)
CB Terrence Wheatley (knee)

Full Participation
QB Tom Brady (right shoulder)
DB Bret Lockett (chest)
TE Benjamin Watson (hamstring)

FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots are warning the fans about traveling to Monday night’s season-opening game at Gillette Stadium.

Below is the official release from the team.

Since traffic for weeknight Patriots games competes with the evening work commute, Gillette Stadium officials are requesting assistance from local media in encouraging fans to leave early, carpool or take the MBTA commuter rail to the Patriots’ Monday Night Football clash with the Buffalo Bills.

The parking lots at Gillette Stadium open at 3:00 p.m. on Monday and gates to the stadium open at 5:00 p.m. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The largest, most accessible parking lots at Gillette Stadium are the P10 and P11 lots, located directly across Route 1 from Gillette Stadium. Access and egress to and from these stadium parking lots is much quicker if fans arriving on Route 1 from the north use the right lanes to access P10. Likewise, fans arriving from the south must use the left lanes to access P11 or P10. Read the rest of this entry »

According to voice of the Raiders Greg Papa, Oakland has sent Richard Seymour a “five-day letter,” indicating that the former Patriots defensive lineman has five days from receipt of the letter to report to the team or he will be placed on the reserve/left team list.

If Seymour fails to report for his physical within five days, he could be placed on the list. If that happens, the Raiders would retain his rights in 2010 at his 2009 salary, and Seymour would miss the entire season.

Papa said he was unsure when the letter was sent.

The five-time Pro Bowler was traded by the Patriots to Oakland last Sunday for a first-round pick in the 2011 draft.

The Bills understand the challenge ahead of them and have been preparing this week to take on the Patriots Monday night. Quarterback Trent Edwards and head coach Dick Jauron spoke to Buffalo reporters Thursday about the Patriots and what they are expecting in the season opener. Although not as entertaining as Terrell Owens, Jauron and Edwards both had some interesting things to say about the Patriots.

•There has been talk this week that there will be an element of surprise that the Patriots won’t be ready for because of the firing of offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, and because Terrell Owens hasn’t played much during the preseason. Dick Jauron addressed this issue during his press conference.

• Trent Edwards remembered his first game at Foxborough, and also spoke about all the changes that have been made with the Patriots defense.

Turn up the volume on your computer and click on the links below to listen to both Dick Jauron and Trent Edwards.

Jauron talks about trying to surprise the Patriots.

Jauron gives praise to the Patriots organization.

Jauron talks about the abilities of Tom Brady.

Jauron says that the Bills are excited to play the Patriots.

Trent Edwards comments about the changes that have been made in New England.

Edwards talks about season predictions.

Trent Edwards knows the Patriots play with a lot of intensity.

Edwards recalls his first time playing in Foxborough, and talks about some of the rookies who will experience Gillette Stadium and the Patriots for the first time.

Edwards talks about the firing of offensive coordinator Turk Schonert.