They downplayed it but the New England Patriots conducted their first practice since arriving in Arizona for Super Bowl XLIX with a quarterback feeling under the weather.
Tom Brady was a little worse for wear at Tuesday's Media Day and copped to a cold a day later when he spoke to the media at the Pats' team hotel in Chandler, Ariz.
"It's been lingering," Brady told the assembled reporters before the team's practice at the Arizona Cardinals facility. "I'm just trying to get some rest, and a lot of garlic. An old remedy, so I'm trying everything I can."
Brady said his kids were first struck by the illness, followed by his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, and he arrived in Arizona with the bug.
"It will be good to be back on the field," he said. "There is a lot that goes with Super Bowl week, so it will be good to get on the field and re-focus. We have our game plan set, so now it's refining it and making sure it's where we want it to be."
New England coach Bill Belichick said Brady "took all the snaps" at a two-hour session on Wednesday and claimed he wasn't worried about his QB's condition.
According to a pool report, after extensive individual drills, the Patriots' work included third-down situations, red-zone snaps and a series of down-and- distance tests.
"There's always things to work on, but we're grinding away," Belichick said.
On the injury front, starting center Bryan Stork, who wasn't able to practice when drills began last week due to a knee injury, was a full participant.
With 75 degree weather it's no surprise Belichick called the field conditions "great," and went with a Chip Kelly-like environment with music pumping during a large portion of the team drills, an effort to keep the players energized and also help with communication.
"In this game, you know, it's kind of a neutral field, so you've got to be ready for (a loud crowd)," Belichick said.
The Seahawks also started their preparation at Arizona State University with a full deck. All 53 Seattle players and its 10-man practice-squad were healthy enough to practice on what coach Pete Carroll calls "Competition Wednesday."
"Terrific work," Carroll said. "Terrific day. The energy was there, and guys got good work in. This was an unusual day for the guys, with the media stuff in the middle of the day. We had meetings in the morning, then the media, then more meetings to prepare for practice, and then came out here. But the guys worked hard."
Star cornerback Richard Sherman, who is dealing with a hyperextended elbow suffered in the NFC Championship Game against Green Bay, had his arm wrapped but worked regularly with the defense and made a leaping interception.
All-Pro safety Earl Thomas suffered a dislocated shoulder against the Packers but was also showing no real ill effects on Wednesday, while offensive guard J.R. Sweezy alternated with the first-unit due to a balky ankle.
"We're really fortunate to be this healthy," said Carroll. "If we can make it through practice (Thursday), we'll be in great shape."
[SportsNetwork.com]
