QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY

Press Conference
January 4, 2018

Q: In your 18 years here, can you remember a day of practice with these conditions?

TB: Yeah, it's pretty nasty, but it was nice being in the bubble. But, yeah, these conditions – this is that kind of year here. It's been abnormally cold, but I think it's been good for us to get out there and practice in it. So, I think today would have been impossible.

Q: Was it a difficult walk getting to the bubble?
TB: I know, that was a lot of wind. It would be interesting if we'd played today. I mean, I don't know what would have happened, but it would have been tough – kind of like Buffalo had that one against Indy this year.

Q: Can you use this bye week to get ahead?

TB: I think it's just trying to stay sharp. You know, it's still football season, so it's not a week off at all. We're trying to stay sharp and we've worked hard to get to this point, but there's still a lot more to go. You know, we're still writing our story, and hopefully we write a good one.

Q: After living in Massachusetts for so long, have you been able to adapt to how the shoveling process works?

TB: It's pretty tough. The car is tough, everything's tough this time of year, especially in the cold. Everyone in New England is probably having a crappy day today. That's part of it. That's why we're all happy around here all the time.

Q: What does it say about the accountability of the guys having to get up early, get to work on time before the storm starts and put in a good day of work?

TB: Yeah, you know, I think we got in here before it started, so that was good. And then it's just kind of developing, but it will be good for everyone to get home and just the weekend's full of football and kind of get ready to go for next week. So, everyone's worked hard to get to this point, and I think it's got to be a good, productive couple days. Hopefully everyone gets their body a little rest, but our mind's got to stay sharp. Whoever we play is going to be a damn good team, and we're going to have to go out and play really well.

Q: With the number of guys that will be making their playoff debut next week, particularly in your receiving corps, do you have a special message for them or do you pull them aside and tell them what to expect in a playoff game?

TB: I think Coach [Bill Belichick] does a great job of that, so there's not much for us to say. I mean, I think he does a great job kind of preparing everybody, and he's been hitting that hard all week.

Q: Where are you at physically right now after a long regular season?

TB: Good. I mean, I'm hoping next week I'll feel just great and be 100 percent ready to go. So, I'm excited for that.

Q: It's been reported that Josh McDaniels has received interest from teams around the league for open head coaching jobs. How do you feel like Josh would be as a head coach at this point in his career?

TB: Yeah, I love Josh. I think I've said a lot of things about him over the years. So, I mean, I think those things take care of themselves. So, I want nothing but the best for him always.

Q: Devin McCourty talked about how this bye week gives you guys a chance to work on some things that maybe you didn't have a chance to work on during the season because you've been game planning every week. Do you feel like in the past that's helped you, especially with playoff runs?

TB: I think it's always valuable to evaluate where you're at and what you've done and kind of what you're doing well and what you're not doing well. So, to have that luxury is great because usually you just don't have time. It's a tight squeeze anyway to get the whole game plan in for the week, and man, we go right up to the very end. And then, to have a week where you can just kind of focus on what we've done, I think that's been real positive. So, just got to take those things and go use them to our advantage. That's what we're trying to do.

Q: This offense looks like it will be getting several key pieces back for the playoffs. What are your thoughts on those players coming back at the right time, and what can they do for your group?

TB: We'll see. So, not sure – to be determined by everybody once we're out there and what we do. I'd rather go out there and do it and not talk about it, so that's what our focus is going to be on.