Q: What have you seen from Michael Floyd in the short time that he's been here?
TB: He's worked really hard to try to get up to speed. There's a lot to make up, there's a lot of time to try to make up, but he's worked pretty hard at it. It's been good to see his commitment and hopefully he can go out there and play confident, and like all of us, try to go get a win.
Q: What would you say is the biggest challenge for Michael Floyd to catch up to speed on?
TB: I think it's a lot of things. We're here so much over the course of the offseason and training camp talking about every detail and every play and to try to rush that is tough, but you have no choice at this time of year. We just try to focus on the things that he's confident in and we're just trying to, I guess, speak the same language. That's kind of what it comes down to.
Q: Given that it's been four years since the Patriots won a game in Miami, what makes it so difficult to play down there?
TB: Well, I think we haven't played very well, so that's been the biggest problem is just our ability to play two good halves of football. We didn't do it last year; we didn't do it the year before. It's a tough place to play for one reason or another. We had a streak there a long time ago - I think we broke it in 2003 or 2004 - where there were a lot of years we didn't win there. It's just been a tough place for us to play for some reason. I don't think it's the weather, I don't think it's Miami Beach or anything like that. I think the Dolphins have always challenged us and especially down there, so it'll be good to go get a win in a tough place.
Q: Eliminating rain and snow, do you like 35-degree weather or 75-degree weather?
TB: Seventy-five is pretty good. We were out there today, as you guys know - got that nice bubble we were all staring at, but none of us were in.
Q: Regarding Michael Floyd, can you tell instantly that a guy is a veteran and that he knows what he's doing aside from the technical things?
TB: Yeah, definitely. I think that's a big part of - we've had a lot of guys come here who have been veterans and played a lot of football and played in the NFL, and there's a big part of that too that you've got to gain confidence in. When you're a rookie or a second year player, there are a lot of guys who have been playing in the NFL for a long time. I think veteran players who know that they can play, they know the speed of the game, [and] they know how challenging it is on a week-to-week basis, so they know what efforts to put into it every week. That's part of it.
Q: It can still be difficult even for a veteran to learn a new playbook and make new adjustments. Have you already seen signs that Michael Floyd is coming up to speed?
TB: Yeah, I don't want to make predications because I think that sets the wrong expectations for a player. I think we're going to have to all wait and see. I think for all of us it's just how well we can all communicate, how well we can all be on the same page. I mean, I need to be able to anticipate and throw the ball with confidence; they need to run routes with confidence. Rather than predict, I think we've just got to go do it and see how it goes.
Q: How important is rest and recovery at this time of year especially?
TB: Yeah, every time of year it's important. This time of year, the games, they keep coming. I think for all of us, you've just got to try to take advantage when you're in there, and when you're not, stay sharp. But it's challenging for everybody.
Q: Does your body feel fresher and more prepared for the playoffs having missed the first four games of the season?
TB: I said before I don't think it's a benefit, missing games. I always feel pretty good going into these games. It's Week 17, I think everyone feels bumps and bruises, but I'm excited to try to, like I said, go win a tough game.
