Tom Brady may have a Hall of Fame resume under his belt, but that doesn't mean he holds any more sway when it comes to who he gets to play with.
Over the last week, the Patriots cut several players who have worked well with Brady in the past, the most notable being wide receiver Deion Branch and center Dan Koppen. Former quarterback Brian Hoyer was also let go, and two wide receivers who have played in New England before — Donte' Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney, with whom Brady had particularly good chemistry — also did not make the opening day roster.
Brady said Wednesday that he's learned to grow accustomed to cuts, and he doesn't see any reason to share who he thinks should make the team before the roster moves are handed down.
"I think in some ways you become a bit desensitized to it," he said. "It's not my decision, so I can't really think about it too much other than supporting your friends and what they're going through. But it's not like I can go in and lobby for guys — it's what decisions have been made or what coach always feels is in the best interest of the team. You just try to worry about going out there and doing your job."
Brady said it isn't just 12 years in the league that's made him turn the other way when it comes to teammates being cut. He said he learned early on that his football knowledge, as strong as it may be, is sometimes lacking compared to that of coaches who see the team from a big-picture perspective.
"I think you realize at a young age that you really don't know what you don't know," he said. "So, you see guys in the springtime that have great spring camps. I remember my second year, we had a receiver, Aaron Bailey, that was pretty good. I thought, 'Man, this guy is really good,' and then we released him, and I couldn't believe it. 'Man, we released that guy. He's the one that made all the plays.'
"That's just what happens. You see a lot of players come and go, and you just learn to deal with it, learn to live with it, and you understand, like, what my job is — it's challenging enough as it is. I don't have to worry about too many other jobs."
The Patriots were rumored this week to be finding a way to bring back Branch, who not only connected with Brady last season but was also his key receiver in the Patriots' Super Bowl runs.
