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SPORTS Saturday 20 January 2018
Brady mum on status for AFC

title game after hand injury

By KYLE HIGHTOWER He’s a warrior, he’s a com- be called,” he said Thurs-
AP Sports Writer petitor and there’s really day.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) only one reason why he’s The Patriots haven’t called
— Tom Brady is staying here, and that’s to play any QB’s name in the post-
mum on his status for the football. “ season other than Brady’s
AFC championship game Jacksonville is preparing since the 1990s.
after suffering a right hand like Brady will be in the Including the playoffs, the
injury earlier in the week. huddle as usual Sunday. Jaguars scored eight de-
Brady said a bit conten- Jaguars defensive tackle fensive touchdowns this
tiously only “We’ll see” on Marcell Dareus said typical season, three more than
Friday when asked whether methods of rattling a quar- any other team. Corner-
he would play in Sunday’s terback don’t apply when back Jalen Ramsey had
conference title game it comes to him. four interceptions during
against Jacksonville. “You can hit Brady, but hit- the regular season and
The quarterback wore red ting him isn’t what’s going also had one in the wild-
gloves and responded to to get to him. It’s constantly card win over Buffalo.
several other questions being that gnat in his face. He also fully expects to see
about how much he prac- He just hates that gnat just Brady on the field Sunday.
ticed or how he sustained always around,” said Dare- “He’s going to be out
the injury by saying “I’m not us, who might be more fa- there, he’s going to play, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speaks to the
talking about that.” miliar than any Jacksonville he’s going to play to his media, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots
host the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC championship on
Brady is listed as question- player with Brady, having best of ability and do what Sunday in Foxborough.
able for Sunday after be- spent six-plus seasons with he does,” Ramsey said.q Associated Press
ing a limited participant the Bills.
in practice Friday. He was “You sack him he’s going
also limited on Wednes- to get up and just keep
day. He sat out practice rolling. He’s that competi-
Thursday, but wore a glove tive spirit, like, ‘OK, you got
on his injured hand during me. Now I’m fixing to go
the stretching period open throw this touchdown the
to reporters. He usually only next play. Forty yards. You
wears a glove on his non- happy about that sack?
throwing hand. But there you go.’ That’s
One thing Brady was clear just his mentality. I like it. I
about was the test he ex- love playing against the
pects from a Jaguars unit guy. He’s phenomenal to
ranked second in the NFL in watch.”
total and scoring defense. If for some reason Brady
“It’s a very unique chal- can’t go — no, the Earth
lenge,” Brady said. “I think won’t stop rotating on its
their front three, their line- axis and New England still
backers, are very instinctive would show up to play —
and very fast. And great the Patriots would look to
cover guys in the second- backup Brian Hoyer. His
ary. Ball-hawking defense. last playoff start was the
They strip it off you, they antithesis of a Brady per-
sack you. ... So they’re a formance. For Houston
good defense.” in its 2015 AFC wild-card
Brady appeared on the Pa- matchup with Kansas City,
triots’ weekly injury report Hoyer completed 15 of 34
several times during the lat- passes for 136 yards, with
ter half of this season with no touchdowns and five
injuries to both his Achilles turnovers (four intercep-
tendon and his left shoul- tions) in a 30-0 loss.
der. The four-time Super Hoyer, a former Patriot,
Bowl MVP has never missed was acquired in midseason
a playoff start during his 18- when the Patriots traded
year career. Jimmy Garoppolo to San
“Tom always tends to show Francisco.
up in big games. This is a “I’m always preparing to
big game,” receiver Danny play because the truth of
Amendola said. “(He’s) su- reality is you never know
per tough. The toughest. when your name’s gonna

linda.reijnders@cspnv.com