Patriots notebook: Brady in serious mode as Super Bowl approaches

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Four days before Super Bowl LII, Tom Brady faces a challenge that has nothing to do with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The five-time Super Bowl winner of the New England Patriots believes he has a math problem.

With the game in Minnesota -- where Brady's mom, Galynn, hails from and several other relatives reside -- Brady received more gameday ticket requests than ever before.

"It's very special. Every time I've been back to Minnesota, I've had such great support from my family," Brady said. "In 2006 we played here in University of Minnesota stadium. It was much easier to get tickets for those previous two games. I'm trying to accommodate everybody. Being some of the great memories as a kid were coming here and hanging out, milking cows with my grandpa ... shooting his 22 in his backyard, catching sunfish with my uncle."

Brady said Wednesday at Mall of America during his media session after practice that he'll be dialed in when the ball is teed up this weekend. Last year in Houston, Brady said he participates in the meal the Patriots typically arrange for players and family but otherwise limits anything that could be perceived as a distraction.

That means any person or practice that wouldn't qualify as preparation for Super Bowl LII can wait until Sunday night.

"This isn't a week for me to go out and do much else other than football," Brady said, noting that he has changed the way he prepares in this his eighth Super Bowl appearance. "I definitely think it's different. It's improved. I'm more efficient. I know what I need to do to get myself mentally prepared. Now, I don't think there's any wasted moments in the day. Very focused -- on the daily task. I spend a lot of time watching film. If it's physical, I know how to prepare myself."

Brady referred to the Eagles as the best team the Patriots have played all season. The Patriots were on the practice field earlier in the day and will have two more afternoon workouts Thursday and Friday.

Brady was gloveless in practice -- wearing only black tape -- and did not cover his right hand at the media session Wednesday. The naked-hand look is a departure for Brady, who has covered his throwing hand since suffering a laceration four days before the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The injury required 12 stitches, and on Tuesday, Brady was wearing a custom-made Under Armour glove.

On Tuesday, Brady said he was "just trying to protect it the best way I can. It's obviously an important part of my body as a quarterback. Under Armour made it for me. It's a great glove. It's got a lot of recovery in it. It's what I need."

One topic Brady won't spend energy on this week is the notion he could soon retire. Even at 40, Brady responded rhetorically to a question from Boston-based reporter Mike Reiss about the franchise giving him the autonomy to determine for himself when it's time to hang up the cleats. The narrative was borne of a comment by owner Robert Kraft's son, Jonathan, that he could not envision a scenario in which the team pushes Brady to retire.

"Why does everyone want me to retire so bad? I don't get it. I'm having fun," Brady said. "The team's winning. I know I'm a little bit older than most of the guys. This has been obviously a dream come true many times over. It takes a lot of work to get there. I'm not thinking about retirement. I'm thinking about the Super Bowl and trying to win the most important game of the year.

"I've always wanted to play to my mid-40s. We'll see. Football is such a physical sport. Every game could be your last game."

--Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was limited in Wednesday's practice, the first on-field workout for New England since the team arrived in Minnesota on Monday.

Gronkowski said Tuesday he expects to play in Super Bowl LII on Sunday. He has not been officially cleared from concussion protocol, coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday.

Gronkowski is recovering from a concussion sustained in the AFC Championship Game in a high-speed collision with Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church.

--NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said during his State of the League address on Wednesday that the Patriots playing in a third Super Bowl in four years is not a bad thing for the league.

"It's really remarkable that they're going for their third Super Bowl in four years in this kind of a system, where keeping that group together, changing whatever they need to change -- whether it's players or coaches -- they do that in a way and still create success," he said. "I just marvel at that. I think our other clubs marvel at that. I think fans marvel at that. I think the balance of having new teams with having teams that continue to find ways to win is a great thing for the NFL. And I think it's a great thing for our fans, so you can continue to win, and there are also teams that can surprise you. That's what makes our game special."

--New England practiced Wednesday for the first time since landing in Minnesota on Monday. The Patriots are utilizing the Minnesota Vikings team headquarters in Eden Prairie, which is 15 minutes by bus from the Mall of America where both teams are staying this week.

--Belichick noted the offensive line rarely gets attention unless things don't go well. Belichick credited longtime assistant coach Dante Scarnecchia with keeping the Patriots' offensive line off of his list of concerns. The Eagles thrive on pressure, with 17 different players accumulating at least 20 QB pressures this season.

"Dante just does a tremendous job in every aspect of the job. He's a great worker. First guy there every day, has been since I first started working with him in 1996," Belichick said of a coach in his 34th NFL season and 46th overall. "He does a great job with the young players coming into the league. He's certainly a very experienced coach who provides great leadership for younger coaches on the staff. I think we all gain motivation and learn from Dante's work and final product. Day after day, year after year, he's fantastic."

--Brady said the Patriots miss slot receiver Julian Edelman, but after going 2-2 to start the season he credits the offense with showing resiliency and finding a new engine to make things go.

"It's a very mentally tough team, very resilient team, very close team, which is always fun to be a part of," Brady said.

--Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia arrived at the media availability Wednesday wearing a camouflage hat with a skull and crossbones on it. He said it's a hat he wears regularly to pay homage to a friend who is in the military.

"Just always trying to honor those guys that go out and fight for us and protect us and keep us safe," he said.

-- By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media