Tom Brady Interview Transcript 1/12/11

On Wednesday New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady addressed the media.  Here is the transcript courtesy of the Jets.

On his reaction to Antonio Cromartie’s comments…

“Someone asked me today and I said I think I’ve been called worse. (Coach Bill) Belichick has called me that, our offensive coordinator has called me that. I know that they (the coaches) like me, so maybe he (Cromartie) really likes me, because there are people who have called me that a few times.”

On if the comments provide any extra motivation for him…

“I don’t think it has much impact on the game. I know the way it turned out when we played Pittsburgh that year and those plays just kind of came up as they did, I don’t think that is us playing from the call sheet to go after a particular player, I just think that’s the way the reads went and he (Anthony Smith) happened to be there in those situations. No of it really means anything. I think what’s most important for us is how we’re practicing, yesterday, today, tomorrow and Friday and how prepared we are for the game because that’s what is going to determine who wins this game, the preparation that we put in and ultimately how we go out and execute under the pressure on Sunday.”

On Coach Ryan and Cromartie’s comments that he pointed to the sidelines after scoring a touchdown…

“I don’t remember that. I’m very emotional as I play, I don’t think I’ve ever pointed at anybody, that’s definitely not my style. I think there is definitely an emotional aspect to the game. I’m sure I’m excited and certainly excited when we score touchdowns. I really think that it’s a damn good defense that we played and I’m excited when we can score against one of the top defense’s in the league. (They have) certainly given us a lot of problems over the last few years since Rex (Ryan) has been there and Rex gave us problems when he was at Baltimore. It’s a great scheme with some great players, so I do get excited when we score against that team. That gets me more excited than anything.”

On if he feels he is being disrespectful when he points after scoring a touchdown…

“I hope not. That’s certainly not my intent. I don’t remember ever pointing. I’m sure there are 50,000 cameras on the game, I’m sure if there was a problem doing that then they would show that. I have a lot of respect for those players and for their scheme and their coaches and the way they get their team prepared. Maybe that’s just a source of motivation for them but I certainly don’t feel that way. There is enough for me to worry about. The skill of the players and the coaches, that’s where my energy is spent this week.”

On expecting to see a different Jets team from the one they beat 45-3…

“I’m sure (the Jets) looked at the game and think, “These are the things we need to do better.” We looked at the game and think that there are plenty of plays where we need to do better ourselves. We’re going to make our corrections from the last game, just like they are going to make their corrections from the last game. We’re putting together a plan that we think takes advantage of some of the things that we think we can exploit and they are doing the same thing. It’s going to be a very different game in many respects. Certainly the stakes are much higher than they were the last time. How well we are able to play under pressure. Each can execute, certainly, at a very high level against great competition and that’s going to be part of the reason why there is going to be millions of people tuned in for the game on Sunday.”

On if Cromartie saying he wanted him to throw 10 balls in his direction…

“I try to just throw where the guys are open. I don’t think I pick out players. I look at the match ups that we have and the routes that we have versus the defense that’s called and I determine where I am going to throw it based on the reads. More so than anything, that’s my job as quarterback to find the most open guy. I don’t think it’s, ‘Man, I’m not going to throw at this, I am going to throw at this guy.’ That’s not normally the way that I’ve ever played.”

On the change in their offense without Randy Moss…

“I don’t think it’s changed a whole lot. I think we just execute it a little bit better. We try to run it, we try to throw it, we try to play action, we try to throw it quick, throw it deep, screen people, draw people and trap people and we do pretty much everything, we always have. I just think we’re executing better. The line is blocking great. They’ve played tremendous all season. That’s where the work starts from, those guys up front and how well they’re able to perform each week. They’re very consistent, they’ve been a very durable group and we rely on them so much to keep our offense going in the right direction.”

On his reaction to the disapproval of him playing the entire game the last time the Jets faced the Patriots…

“I don’t think we were trying (to rub it in). Our job on offense is to get the ball in the end zone. They put us out there to score points. They don’t put an offense out there to run three plays and then punt the ball. The object of football is to score points. That’s why we’re out there playing. I’m just trying to do my job and that’s really all we were trying to do out there.”

On if he was surprised he played the entire game regardless of the score during the last game against the Jets…

“No. That’s my job to play football and to play quarterback for this team. There are 45 guys on the active roster and everybody is in there playing. We’re going to play until there is no time left on the clock. We’re trying to make improvements as a football team and trying to execute under pressure. The more snaps we have as a unit the better and more consistent I think we try to be. I don’t think we are trying to do that at all. We’re just trying to get better at what we try to accomplish all season.”

On Darrelle Revis…

“Since he’s come into the league, he’s been an incredible player. In his rookie season, I remember playing against him and realizing how talented he was. He’s had a great year and last week, holding Reggie Wayne to one catch was a great performance. He’s everything you look for in a corner. He has incredible skills, discipline, great hands, he makes the offense pay and he takes away great receivers. He’s a great player.”

On Coach Ryan saying that Peyton Manning would have watched the Jets game instead of going to see a Broadway play…

“Maybe Rex is right. Maybe Peyton would have been watching.”

On if the Jets defense has simplified…

“I don’t think things have simplified for them. I think they have a variety of calls each week. For example, in the Indy game they felt they could play a little less blitzing than they have in the past, but for us, I think when you play a blitzing team, you have to expect blitz on every play. Going back and watching all their games this season, they’re very much the same defense they’ve been all season. What we need to do as far as our level of execution, I thought we executed much better in the second game than we did in the first, obviously, which led to us scoring more points. I think the execution is what’s going to determine this game as well. They have a bunch of players who have played well and executed well for them all season. That’s why they are in the position they are in. That’s why they’ve won these big games. We have to go in there and match that level of execution and that’s where we work on spending our time.”

On if he has spent one-on-one time with Coach Belichick this week…

“Yes. We did. We went through our last game against the Jets and the first game against the Jets again. I enjoy getting his perspective on the games and what he sees from a defensive perspective. He sees the schemes of defenses. No one is better at it than him.”

Tyson Rauch

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