Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. ó Tom Brady practiced with the New England Patriots for the first time Tuesday since suffering a season-ending knee injury in last year’s opening game.
Brady and nearly the entire team participated in the first of four days of this week’s organized team activities, Patriots spokesman Stacey James said.
Brady had surgery Oct. 6 and a subsequent operation for an infection in the knee.
There have been numerous signs that the NFL MVP in 2007 would be ready for the season opener Sept. 14 against the Buffalo Bills.
In an interview for this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated, Brady said he has no pain or restrictions in his movement when he runs and cuts.
He was quoted as saying that he is “as confident as anyone could be that I’ll be ready to play, back to playing normally, when the season starts. I’ve done everything I could to push myself, sometimes too hard. Right now, I’m doing everything. Literally everything. There’s nothing I can’t do.”
ELLIS OUT
CARROLLTON, Texas ó Veteran pass rusher Greg Ellis won’t be back with the Dallas Cowboys next season.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that Ellis would be traded or released. Jones said the decision came after a meeting with Ellis.
Ellis, 33, has been with the team since his rookie season in 1998.
FAVREMINNEAPOLIS ó If the Minnesota Vikings were to put their roster decisions to a vote, quarterback Brett Favre would not be wearing purple next season.
Rasmussen Reports, a leading national polling firm, found that only 29 percent of Minnesotans want the Vikings to sign Favre. Some 42 percent questioned late last week said it’s a bad idea, and 30 percent weren’t sure.
BOLDINPHOENIX ó Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin is in the process of firing his agent Drew Rosenhaus.
BROWNSCLEVELAND ó The Cleveland Browns have signed free agent cornerback Rod Hood, a starter for Arizona in last season’s Super Bowl.
Hood spent the past two seasons with the Cardinals.