Brady Back in Action to Silence Conspiracy Theorists

Tom Brady has put an end to a week of conspiracy theories and rumor surrounding the condition of his right ankle, participating fully in the New England Patriots' first practice session of Super Bowl week.

Brady had missed three practices last week after suffering a reported high ankle sprain during the Patriots' AFC Championship game win over the San Diego Chargers. He was photographed wearing a protective boot last Monday, but subsequent photos of him without the boot, combined with the refusal of Patriots coach Bill Belichick to discuss the injury, led to speculation that whole thing had been fabricated to trick their opponents, the New York Giants, into adjusting their preparations.

But the Chicago Tribune's Dan Pompei - designated as the written press's pool reporter at Patriots practice sessions (NFL rules permit only one reporter to attend each team's practices during Super Bowl week) - reported that Brady took part in all phases of training on Monday. Despite walking with a slight limp, Brady also jogged the length of the field twice at the end of the session.

Belichick, typically, remained coy on his quarterback's condition. "Everybody practiced," Belichick said. "The injury report will be out Wednesday."

Brady himself had spoken about the injury for the first time on Sunday, shortly after arriving in Phoenix, insisting it would not keep him out of Sunday's game. Nevertheless, wide receiver Wes Welker was pleased to see him back in practice. "Anytime the MVP of the league is back, it has to be a positive," Welker said. "He looks good - the same dimples and all."

The Giants, on the other hand, have endured a slightly more fraught arrival in Phoenix after rookie corner back Aaron Ross became the latest member of their squad to be struck by a flu virus. Six Giants have now displayed flu symptoms in the last four days, and their flight from New York had to be delayed after Ross was sick on the plane before take-off.

"I hope that's the end of it," said the Giants head coach Tom Coughlin after the team arrived at their hotel. "We had three guys missing last week, and some who were not quite as sick. But it didn't drain those players like the three that stayed home on Friday."