Tom Brady left the practice field Wednesday and for the first time this season, strode through the locker room to the media room podium rather than making the short jaunt to the sideline to address reporters.
The New England Patriots quarterback hardly minds the extra steps.
It signals the end of training camp and joint practices, and means the barometer that is the third preseason game finally has arrived, with the regular season looming around the corner.
But even the face of the franchise has no idea how much time he’ll spend on the field Friday night against the Carolina Panthers.
“He told us we’re going to get a lot of work. What that means, I don’t know. I don’t think anyone ever knows with him,” Brady joked of coach Bill Belichick. “But we’ll be prepared, ready to go for 60 minutes, and hopefully it’s a good 60 minutes.
“Hopefully we’re in good enough condition to play a half, hopefully we play a lot more than that. But it will be good to see where we’re at.”
After watching the preseason opener against Washington from the sideline, Brady got his first taste of game action last Friday night in a 42-35 victory over Philadelphia. He played two series and went 8 of 10 for 81 yards with a touchdown and an interception returned for a touchdown.
It’s all a process, though, a building block, as Brady likes to put it.
With only 16 or so practices under their belts, and maybe a dozen in pads, it’s too early for any team to gauge where it’s at or how much progress has been made.
“I think the coaching, the mental toughness, the discipline, the work ethic, those things don’t pay off in September. When you really see them is December,” Brady explained. “You’re going to see what kind of team you are in those moments, when your back’s against the wall and you’ve had to deal with all these different things that come up, and injuries, and bad bounces, and everyone telling you you’re great, and everyone telling you, you (stink).
“The spring camps lead to training camp and training camp leads to a good September, and September leads to a good October. You’ve got to build the whole way through.”
The third preseason game typically is the measuring stick for the starters, especially when facing one of the top-rated defenses from a year ago.
• Who: Carolina Panthers
(1-1) at New England
Patriots (1-1).
• Where: Gillette Stadium.
• When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
• TV: Channel 8.
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