PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY
Q: You've seen a lot of guys occupy lockers on either side of you. Do you ever request a guy if there's someone new coming in to go next to you?
TB: Coach decides on all those things so we just kind of show up. Those things happen.
Q: Why are the Patriots so good at bouncing back after losses?
TB: That's a good question and I'm not sure. I'm not sure, yeah.
Q: What are you impressions of Josh Gordon so far?
TB: Really been eager to get in there and learn everything we're doing and you know, just try to acclimate himself to what the program is.
Q: Do you like having a new guy's locker right next to yours when it's a wide receiver?
TB: Yeah, I mean, I try to get along with everybody. Even if you're next to me or you're across, or down, or defense, or - I think it's just important to try to get to know everybody in whatever way you possibly can because we're all here to try to do the same thing. So yeah, whether they're right next to you, or across, or on your side of the ball or the other side of the ball, I think just having a relationship with those guys is important for all of us. We're just trying to get on the same page.
Q: Do you remember what happened on November 23, 2000?
TB: When I went to Detroit? Yeah. Thanksgiving?
Q: Yes. What do you remember about that first completion that you had in that game against Detroit?
TB: Man, not much. Not much. I wish I remember more. But yeah, going back, that was - we played a - we didn't have a great year that year. That's what I remember mostly about the year 2000. It was just - it was a tough game and they beat us up pretty good. I got in there at the end and didn't do too much but it was still fun to play.
Q: When you go to Detroit, do you remember those sorts of things or other things from other games when you play in certain areas?
TB: Yeah, definitely. I think, you know, we played there quite a few years, there, on Thanksgiving, which are obviously a little more memorable than some other games, and a lot of preseason games there. Yeah, pretty familiar with that stadium and playing the Lions. They've got a good team and I know Matt [Patricia]'s got them kind of trying to play as well as they possibly can.
Q: The team has listed Josh Gordon as limited in practice the past couple days. How much has that affected your ability to develop a rapport and chemistry with him?
TB: Yeah, I mean, I think different players are on different work portions of practice. Whoever's in there, I'm trying to work with and any player that's limited, I'm going to try to throw it to whoever's in there. So if they're in there with me, great. If they're in there with someone else, they've got to get their work in. But we're just trying to get prepared to play.
Q: If a player's out there with a limited knowledge of the system or a small package of plays, does that increase any stress on you? Does that change the way you have to look at things when that player's on the field?
TB: I mean it's just up to - I think if they're in there, it's up to the coaches to decide those things. I mean, I don't think anyone is going to put anyone out there if they don't know what they're doing, if they don't know what to do on a play. Now you could limit the number of plays and try to do that, and I think we've done that plenty of times. That's any time you get new players, that's what you try to do.
Q: Have you thrown Josh Gordon some balls in practice?
TB: Yeah.
Q: How did he look?
TB: Like an NFL receiver looks.
Q: How about speed? Everything looks great?
TB: I think we're working at it. I mean, look, he's been here for a few days so we're working at it every day and every day you try to make improvements. We're out there - everyone who's out there is working hard, trying to practice, doing whatever they need to do to understand the playbook, to understand routes, understand how we do things. So we're just trying to work at it.
Q: Rob Gronkowski was on the injury report yesterday. How important is it for all the receivers to step up if he's not feeling 100 percent?
TB: I think any time Rob's out there playing hard, it's such a big impact on our team. When he's not out there, particular plays, I mean, it's just different. He's one of the best players we have and he's got to play like it and we all have to play like it if we want to be productive. Obviously the best players have to play well and then everyone else in their role has to play well too. So that's what we're counting on.
Q: Do either of you or Matt Patricia have an advantage heading into this week's game?
TB: He knows us pretty good. Obviously we know that defense, we practiced against it for a long time, so it'll come down to execution. I think he's a great coach. He'll have those guys ready to play. They'll scheme up a bunch of different things to keep us off-balance. We saw that for a long period of time.
Q: Do you also have to throw in a few wrinkles on offense that he hasn't seen?
TB: I think so, yeah. I think so. I mean, I think we always try to do that from week-to-week and try to figure out some advantage. But it's going to come down to how well we execute.
Transcripts are provided by the Patriots media relations department as a courtesy to the media and are edited for readability. All press conferences are posted and archived in their entirety at patriots.com.
