National Football League

Brady denies Moss mess;QB declares: `I love the guy as a person, as a player'

Published Oct. 14, 2010 10:16 a.m. ET

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Tom Brady flatly dismissed a pair of rumors about him and Randy Moss during his weekly paid appearance yesterday on WEEI radio.

Brady, in his first public comments since the Moss trade, replied "certainly not" when asked how much truth there was to a report by Charley Casserly of CBS Sports that he and Moss had an argument the week before playing the Dolphins Oct. 4.

"I don't know why these things come about, but they do," Brady said. "I think it's just a competitive media culture out there now. There's certainly, between Randy and I ... I love the guy as a person, as a player.

"I don't think I've ever had an altercation with a teammate. I think you command a certain level of respect in the locker room. I think that's the culture of our team. I don't think I've ever seen any players in our locker room fight. That's just not the way it is."

Brady also confirmed what coach Bill Belichick insisted Monday, that the quarterback wasn't consulted prior to trading Moss to Minnesota.

However, Brady appears to have lent his support to the Deion Branch deal.

While Brady said he never had a conversation with Belichick about reacquiring Branch, "you obviously hear stuff and maybe you'll say something."

Not fazed by headlines

It's been one story after another around here this season, the two latest being the trades of Moss and Branch. None of it fazes the Patriots, if you believe center Dan Koppen.

"This is our job," the eighth-year pro said. "We're not the ones making decisions. None of the guys in here really care about what decisions are made, we just want to go out and play football. Whatever is made is made, and we deal with it. It doesn't really affect us."

Asked whether the players talk among themselves about all the comings and goings, Koppen chuckled and said, "We're too busy looking at film."

Kaczur makes it nine on IR

To make room for Branch on the roster, the Patriots placed offensive lineman Nick Kaczur on season-ending injured reserve.

Kaczur suffered a back injury on the second day of training camp, July 30, and never returned. He reportedly underwent surgery in August.

The Patriots had held a roster spot open in hopes he would make it back this year.

Kaczur started at right tackle his first five seasons here. He was shifted to left guard at the start of camp, taking the place of Logan Mankins, who remains embroiled in a contract dispute.

Journeyman Dan Connolly has since taken over that spot, while Mark LeVoir has become the primary backup at tackle behind starters Matt Light and Sebastian Vollmer.

The Patriots now have nine players on injured reserve. That's three more than all of last season.

Branch's number is up

Branch is wearing No. 84, which was last sported by tight end Benjamin Watson. Branch was No. 83 during his first stint with the Patriots, but Wes Welker has dibs on those digits.

Branch didn't bother trying to get it back.

"I think Wes came in and did a great job," Branch said. "He deserves it. I'm just going to get one number higher. Since I'm taller than him, that'll work."

Both Branch and Welker are listed at 5-foot-9, but the edge - ever so slightly - goes to Branch.

Wheatley back; Taylor isn't

Cornerback Terrence Wheatley returned to practice for the first time since suffering a foot injury late in the preseason. Running back Fred Taylor wasn't out there.

Taylor hasn't practiced since injuring his toe in the third quarter against the Bills in Week 3.

It's worth noting that when the Patriots signed running back Thomas Clayton off the Browns' practice squad Sept. 30, they became committed to keeping him on their roster for a minimum of three weeks. So it would seem they were envisioning Taylor returning later rather than sooner.

Whether Taylor misses a second straight game against Baltimore Sunday has yet to be determined, but don't be surprised if he doesn't return until the following week against San Diego.