ESPNBoston.com has reported that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had surgery Thursday to repair a fracture in his foot.
Brady reportedly had a screw inserted into his foot to prevent the stress fracture from becoming a full fracture and is expected to be healthy and ready to go when training camp starts this summer. According to the same source, Brady could even be ready for mini-camp in the spring.
Brady apparently played most of the season while suffering from the fracture but neither he nor the team was using the injury as an excuse for his performance during Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets.
Brady and the Patriots ended the season in disappointing fashion.
Early reports suggested Brady would still play in the Pro Bowl but the NFL acknowledged yesterday that Brady will not appear in the game, selecting former Patriot and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel as Brady’s replacement.
Brady had been listed on New England’s injury report for most of the season with an injured foot but CSNNE.com reports that the extent of the injury was not fully known until the Patriots held their end of the season physicals. The decision to have surgery was made Thursday morning and Brady went under the knife.
After going 14-2 and looking virtually unstoppable down the stretch, Brady and the Patriots fell flat against the Jets, losing their third consecutive playoff game. The concern with Brady is whether or not the soon to be 34-year old quarterback can fully come back and find his game next season. Brady and the Patriots have struggled to win in the playoffs but the team is hoping that their six picks in the first three rounds of the 2011 NFL draft will help them address some of their lingering issues.
