At this time of year, when the hits start adding up on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the strain from throwing 576 passes builds, a day off can help. He got one Wednesday. No cause for alarm, but considering how much Brady wants to practice and invests in the weekly process of preparing for the next opponent, it does register as more than a passing note. So, too, does the image of what some saw following Saturday's victory over the Miami Dolphins, when Brady dressed slowly at his locker and seemed to be cautious with his non-throwing left shoulder. One report, from Comcast SportsNet, indicated that Brady had X-rays after the game to check for a separation and was told he was "all set." Officially, the Patriots said Brady missed practice Wednesday for non-injury related reasons, and it's not the first time that's been the case late in the season. It's likely just the Patriots managing their most important asset and Rich Gannon, the former NFL quarterback and current CBS analyst, understands why. Read more: http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story...-brady-reportedly-x-ray-non-throwing-shoulder
