FOXBORO -- There was an interesting back and forth that occurred with Tom Brady and reporters down at Gillette Stadium on Friday.
The Patriots had held three practices this week to that point. Newly-acquired receiver Josh Gordon was present for all three. People wanted to know how he and Brady had worked together -- if they'd worked together at all.
Brady indicated that he had thrown passes to Gordon -- though he didn't say whether that was in team periods or otherwise -- and he was asked how Gordon looked.
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"Like an NFL receiver looks," Brady said.
He added: "I think we're working at it. Look, he's been here for a few days. We're working at it every day. Every day you try to make improvements. We're out there. Everyone who's out there is working hard, doing what they need to do to understand the playbook, to understand routes, understand how we do things. We're just trying to work at it."
Gordon has been limited in practice this week with a hamstring injury, and I've been told that his workload has been down during team periods this week.
Brady was asked if he's been able to build a rapport with Gordon this week. The answer was not necessarily glowing.
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"I think different players work different portions of practice," Brady said. "Whoever's in there, I'm trying to work with. Any player that's limited...I'm going to try to throw to whoever's in there. If they're in there with me, great. If they're in there with someone else, they've gotta get their work in. We're just trying to get prepared to play."
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And if getting prepared to play means a small package of plays for Gordon, that's something the Patriots have done before.
"It's up to the coaches to decide those things," Brady said. "I don't think anyone's going to put anyone out there if they don't know what they're doing, if they don't know what to do on a play.
"You can limit the number of plays and try to do it that way. We've done that plenty of time. I'd say any time you get new players that's what you try to do."
Brady is now Gordon's locker mate. He hinted at the fact that he likes what he's seen behind the scenes.
"Really been eager to get in there and learn everything we've been doing," Brady said of his new wideout. "Just trying to acclimate himself to what the program is...
"If you're next to me or across or down or [with the] defense, I think it's just important to try to get to know everybody in whatever way you possibly can. We're all here to try to do the same thing...It's important for all of us to try to get on the same page."