All captured, of course, on camera.
Now the New England Patriots' globe-trotting quarterback is back in Massachusetts with teammates at informal workouts.
"Oh," wide receiver
Just 20 miles north of his home stadium in Foxborough, Brady helped lead the session at Boston College's Alumni Stadium on Thursday.
More than 40 players, including several draft choices, attended. There was no hitting -- since injuries wouldn't be covered by the team -- uniforms or football pads. Most players wore T-shirts and shorts. Still, they were together while the NFL lockout kept them from practicing at Gillette Stadium.
"We're running around, and we're just doing some basic stuff," linebacker
The workouts began Wednesday and were expected to continue Friday.
While many players have regularly worked out in the area, Brady has done it elsewhere.
The quarterback returned for the workouts and activities of Best Buddies International, which supports programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He'll participate in a Friday touch football game at Harvard and a Saturday charity bike ride that Patriots coach Bill Belichick is expected to attend.
On Thursday, though, there weren't any coaches -- the lockout forbids them from running team practices. So Brady took charge of the offense, and linebacker
"The best thing about it is just that we get to hear some plays again," running back
There were positional drills, pass routes run at slow speed and sprints from sideline to sideline on a sunny, breezy morning.
Brady walked without a noticeable limp 4 1/2 months after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture on his right foot. At one point, he dropped back, pumped his arm toward the middle, then threw a completion on the right side to another quarterback,
Hardly typical of a disciplined Belichick practice.
"It's just good to be around all these guys," Hoyer said. "That's the main thing."
During the closed workout, several reporters stood behind a locked gate and peered through binoculars at the players.
While Hoyer conducted a 23-second interview as he left, Brady passed by, smiled and said, "Come on, Hoy, no media interviews."
Among those attending were wide receiver
Several players who were sidelined for most of last season -- running back
Faulk has spent 12 seasons with the Patriots, although he played in just two games in 2010 because of a torn ligament in his right knee, and is unsigned.
"I'm fine, just trying to get back into form, that's all," Faulk said. "Right now, you can't say anybody's ready. We're just trying to get back into football."
Ninkovich said he has regularly worked out with Mayo and about 10 other players who remained in the area after the season ended with a 28-21 playoff loss to the New York Jets.
The large turnout this week showed "team camaraderie," Ninkovich said.
"Last year, we didn't end it the way we wanted to, so this year, we've got to start all over again," he said. "I'm just getting ready to play ball, and whenever they tell me to play, I'll be ready. That's all you can do."
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
