Tom Brady sounded more sick than angry on Monday morning.
A congested Patriots quarterback called in for his Monday morning spot on Boston radio station WEEI and addressed the sideline undressing he gave to Patriots receivers Julian Edelman and Phillip Dorsett.
The internet’s lip readers took it as a rip job of Dorsett and rookie N’Keal Harry.
“A quarterback’s responsibility is to lead and motivate,” Brady said of the 10-2 Patriots, who fell behind Baltimore at the top of the AFC with Sunday night’s 28-22 loss to the Texans.
“We are often the voice of a lot of situations. … We are trying to motivate people and get them to pay their best. I love playing with Dorsett and N’Keal. I love what N’Keal is bringing. He’s working his tail off. You can’t expect someone to come out in his third game and dominate.”
The Patriots’ offense faltered for much of Sunday’s loss, and when they did rally late, it was with Brady throwing to veterans Edelman and James White. Dorsett finished with two catches for 15 yards, while Harry was essentially benched after being at fault for a first-quarter interception when he let Houston cornerback Bradley Roby break inside his slant pattern. Later in the game, Mohamed Sanu dropped a key fourth-and-1 pass.
Internet video expert Jomboy took his baseball skills to the NFL sideline to give a better understanding of what the 42-year-old Brady said.
Warning: Graphic Language
Brady was much calmer on Monday, but acknowledged the offense (14th in yards per game) is not quite where the team needs it to be as he searches for his seventh Super Bowl ring.
“Everyone’s working hard, we are trying to do the right thing,” Brady said. “There’s some good effort here. Guys are doing the best they can do. Sometimes it’s been good and other times there’s work we still have to do. Sometimes people figure it out early, other times guys figure it out as they go. … We’ll just put our best out there and see how it goes.”
Is their best good enough this season?