Tom Brady talks about being a part of the rivalry with Peyton Manning and the Colts.
Yeah, I'm always keeping up on Peyton. We talk from time to time. I have a lot of respect for him as a player, and for the role model that he is, the way that he carries himself, the way the he leads the team, and the way he's a representative for the league, and all of those things.
It was his third year in the league when I was a rookie and it was pretty much my first start came against the Colts. Peyton came over on our field and said, ‘Hey, I'm Peyton Manning.' I said, ‘No shit.' We ended up winning that game, but it's a great contest for us. I think the great thing about playing the Colts is that you really see where you are as a team. We've made some improvements, we all feel that we've made some improvements over the last five, six weeks and this is really where you get put to the test, with a team that can play well in all phases. They can score points. They're leading the league in defense. So it's a lot of fun for us.
Erik Scalavino notes the handmade "DO MY JOB" sign at Vince Wilfork's locker, and the positive reactions from his teammates.
"It’s easy to come in and forget what you’re here for. A lot of things going on earlier with me and with my contract, that was one thing I wanted to make clear to myself. So every time I come to my locker, I remind myself what I’m here for. That’s to do my job. I have to sit at this locker every day, so I have to see that every day. Every time I see that, it reminds me what I’m doing, why I’m here, it makes me get in my playbook even more."
"I’m pretty sure a lot of guys on the team see it, too," Wilfork said of his sign. "They say stuff about it. It just reminds me why I’m here, and that might be rubbing off on some of the other guys. Do your job. It’s gonna stay there, long as I’m here."
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino Vince Wilfork and Jake Ingram talk shop; plus news and notes from the New England locker room and Wednesday's practice.
- Wednesday Pressers: Bill Belichick (15:15 min. video) and Tom Brady (15 min. video) Plus Transcripts.
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Patriots Today: Patriots-Colts, Brady-Manning, practice notes and more. (9:29 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Adam Kilgore reports Brady and Manning are the best of their era.
- Jim Donaldson will be reliving the 13 games played by the Patriots and Colts this decade. Here are Part 1(2000) and Part 2 (2001).
- Christopher Price offers his five favorite moments from Patriots-Colts.
- Karen Guregian reports Vince Wilfork just wants to do his job and refuses to let himself be distracted by his contract situation.
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Ian Rapoport reports how Peyton Manning helped Tom Brady out with some treatment advice after Brady's knee caught the same infection Manning's did. Who knew it would help to 'rub some dirt on it'?
- Shalise Manza Young helps us get to know Colts' rookie head coach Jim Caldwell, saying he's been keeping the Colts on a consistant winning path.
- Christopher Price offers the Q&A Transcript of NBC analysts Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy talking Pats-Colts.
- Karen Guregian captures the highlights from Rodney Harrison's and Tony Dungy's NBC Conference call with the media. Harrison talks up the Patriots' secondary and tells Brady to fire away.
- Chris Gasper chatted about the Patriots online yesterday. Here is the transcript with some terrific points. Worth a read.
- Shalise Manza Young notes although the Colts are 1st in the league in passing and 29th in rushing, but make the most of what they do best.
- Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Jonathan WIlhite returns from illness; Pat Chung was fined for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Miami QB Chad Henne; Practice updates, a whopping 11 players missed practice yesterday.
- Mike Reiss offers the Patriots penalty breakdown through the first eight games.
NATIONAL NEWS
- NFL.com Bill Belichick mic'd up during the Miami game. (4.51 min. video) Way cool.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Midseason Report: Patriots.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots DBs see 'best chance ever' against Manning.
- Judy Battista (NY Times) Colts game should provide test of Brady's health.
- Rich Cimini (NBC Sports) Patriots-Colts greatest NFL rivalry of 2000s.
- Andrew Das (NY Times) Team of the 2000s: Patriots, Colts or Steelers?
- NBC Sports Dan Patrick, Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison highlight QB play as the decisive factor in whether the Patriots or Colts will win in Week 10. (1:15 min. video)
VIEW FROM INDIANAPOLIS
- Mike Chappell (Indy Star) Patriots' Brady is back to normal.
- Bob Kravitz (Indy Star) Here's what you need to know for Sunday. Trots out the "evil genius" humor.
- Phil Richards (Indy Star) Pats make it a mental game.
- John Oehsner (Colts.com) Another tough test.
- Matt Dollinger (Colts.com) Q & A with Dallas Clark.