FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Has Tom Brady given the boot to the boot?
Hours after being photographed with a walking boot on his right foot as he followed girlfriend Gisele Bundchen into her New York apartment on Monday, other pictures showed the New England Patriots quarterback wearing black shoes - and no boot - when he showed up at a New York hotspot.
The Web site PageSix.com had two photos -- credited to INFDaily.com -- that showed Brady wearing blue jeans and a black sweater with the black shoes and no boot. In one photo, he was followed by Bundchen as they arrived at the club Butter in New York, the Web site said.
Earlier Monday, several Web sites had photos -- credited to infphoto.com -- that showed Brady wearing a walking boot on his right foot. A video of Brady walking with a slight limp from an SUV to Bundchen's home is also available on TMZ.com.
Brady, this season's NFL MVP, and the New England Patriots are headed to the Feb. 3 Super Bowl against the New York Giants.
The chief of the foot and ankle division at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston said Brady doesn't appear to be seriously injured.
Dr. Chris Chiodo, who is not treating Brady, said he has used a boot to treat several ailments, including a sprain, a strain, a bone bruise, tendinitis or overuse of the foot. He said he strongly doubted Brady had a displaced fracture.
"I don't think he'd be walking on it if that were the case," Chiodo, an orthopedic surgeon told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
Patriots spokesman Stacey James said the team had no comment. Brady's agent, Donald Yee, did not return a phone call or e-mail seeking comment.
Brady did not appear to be limping during Sunday's game before he was sacked by Igor Olshansky and Stephen Cooper with just over eight minutes to go. He had thrown three interceptions before that. After the sack, he completed all four of his passes.
Brady has been extremely durable in his NFL career. He started his 126th consecutive game Sunday when the Patriots beat San Diego 21-12 in the AFC championship. In that game, the Chargers' Philip Rivers took all his team's snaps and threw for 211 yards despite arthroscopic surgery on his right knee six days earlier.
The Patriots backup quarterbacks are Matt Cassel and Matt Gutierrez. Cassel has thrown 39 passes in his three NFL seasons, all with New England. Gutierrez, a rookie, completed the only pass he threw this season.
Coach Bill Belichick was not available for comment Tuesday. He was not asked about Brady's physical condition during his news conference Monday. Players were given three days off after Sunday's game and were not available.
During his weekly radio appearance on WEEI on Monday, Brady was asked if his leg was injured.
"Ah, you know, there's always bumps and bruises. I'll be ready for the Super Bowl," he said before the photos and video emerged. "I'm not worried about that. I'm not missing this one. I'd have to be on a stretcher to miss this one. There will be treatment this week. In games like this, you get a little nicked up. It's nothing serious."
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
