National Football League

PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK;Brady numb to business decisions

Published Oct. 8, 2010 10:24 p.m. ET

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FOXBORO - In his 11th NFL season, Tom Brady is no longer surprised by anything. Perhaps that's because he began his career by supplanting ex-franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe a season after Bledsoe signed a $100 million contract.

The Patriots quarterback rarely raises an eyebrow anymore. Yet the fact that his top deep-threat receiver, Randy Moss, was traded away four games into this season does force Brady to re-focus.

''We, as players, we deal with it, and we move on,'' said Brady, in his first comments on the Moss trade posted on patriots.com from an upcoming appearance on Patriots All-Access. ''The best thing that I can do is be the best quarterback that I can be for the team.''

Brady, whose interview can be seen in its entirety during tomorrow night's edition, also expressed a deep appreciation for Moss as a friend and teammate. The two helped engineer a record-shattering offense in 2007 that took the Patriots to the brink of a fourth Super Bowl ring.

''Randy really knows how I feel about him,'' Brady said. ''I love him, as a guy, as a person, as a player. He did a lot of great things for this team. At the same time, I think coach (Bill) Belichick feels that's what he thinks he needs to do for the team.''

Not Tom's choice

Belichick has called the decision to trade Moss to Minnesota ''complex,'' and he wouldn't detail those talks yesterday.

''Those are best kept private,'' he said.

But Belichick did clear up one misconception. He was asked if Brady had input on the deal.

''I made the (decision),'' Belichick said. ''Tom doesn't make personnel decisions.''

Has Brady lobbied on Moss' behalf? ''Tom is a player,'' Belichick said.

Moving on

Patriots players face the task of moving on without the electric Moss in the middle of the season, even in the bye week. Few knew how the offense would be shaped without Moss, but tight end Alge Crumpler summed up the optimum response.

''Everybody is looking for a reaction,'' said Crumpler, a veteran locker room presence. ''There's nothing we can do to bring him back. All we have to focus on is playing and staying together. The one thing I do know about this team is if we believe in each other in this locker room, we can go out and beat anybody. We showed that Monday night and we'll continue to show that.''

Crumpler added it is up to players ''like myself (to keep) the guys in the locker room together.''

Practice update

The Patriots practiced in shells inside, doing so with safety Brandon Meriweather on the field. He exited Monday's game with a minor knee injury.

Defensive lineman Mike Wright joined cornerback Terrence Wheatley, running back Fred Taylor, and offensive lineman Nick Kaczur among the missing.

Welcome back

The Patriots re-signed offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka to fill the 53rd roster spot left vacant by Moss. The versatile former Falcons player had come over in a trade during the preseason, but has yet to play.

In addition, the Pats added practice squad QB Brett Ratliff, a 6-4, 224-pounder former Utah star originally signed by the Jets.

Ratliff took the locker next to Brady that used to belong to Moss, ''but it's just a locker,'' he said.

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