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Belichick bristles at question about Brady, calls him one of the NFL’s toughest players

Divisional Playoffs - Houston Texans v New England Patriots

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 13: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots stands on the field with head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots prior to playing against the Houston Texans during the 2013 AFC Divisional Playoffs game at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

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A reporter prefaced a question to Patriots coach Bill Belichick by suggesting that Tom Brady’s toughness goes overlooked, and Belichick did not appreciate that.

Regarding the Patriots’ win over the Cowboys on Sunday, the reporter asked, “Bill, Tom took so many hits in the first half, what does a game like this say about his toughness, his resilience, things that are sometimes overlooked?”

Belichick looked taken aback and challenged the premise of the reporter’s question.

“I don’t think it’s overlooked,” Belichick said. “I don’t think anybody questions Tom’s toughness. Who’s ever done that?”

When the reporter again said Brady’s toughness could be overlooked, Belichick again asked, “By who?”

The reporter tried to continue to pursue the line of questioning, but Belichick shut it down by answering, “Tom is one of the toughest players in the league.”

Quarterbacks aren’t often thought of as the toughest players in football, but Belichick thinks his quarterback deserves that kind of recognition.