FOXBORO -- The answer made sense, but taken in a vacuum it was kind of funny. And it was indicative of the relatively abbreviated answers that littered Bill Belichick's Friday press conference, which was dominated by Tom Brady queries and questions about quarterback play in general.
Will Brady be a game-time decision for the AFC title game because of his right-hand injury, Belichick was asked?
"Today," Belichick replied, "is Friday."
The inference is that he doesn't know the answer. Kickoff is more than 48 hours away, and a lot can happen before then. Plus, there's a practice in between, and Brady's performance during that practice -- if he performs at all -- could factor into determining his status.
Thus, "Today is Friday." As in, "We have to wait and see."
Belichick was asked if there was any update on Brady's status for Sunday earlier in the presser, and the response was, "We gave out the injury report yesterday. We'll update it today."
When that injury report came out later Friday, Brady was listed as questionable. It's the first time he's been questionable for a playoff game in his career.
New England Patriots
Has Brady's injury, and the fact that he missed Thursday's practice altogether, impacted the team's preparation for Sunday? That, too, was side-stepped.
"We're going to continue to get ready for Jacksonville," Belichick said, "all the way through up until game time."
Most are expecting Brady to play against the Jaguars in the AFC Championship. The only question is how effective he'll be. Should backup Brian Hoyer be forced into action, however, Belichick relayed that Hoyer has done everything he's been asked.
"Brian does a great job for us," Belichick said. "Works hard. Practices hard. Does a good job."