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Tom Brady is shown with a walking boot, then without, and reportedly has a minor sprain.

The Associated Press January 23, 2008

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England quarterback Tom Brady walked in New York without the protective boot that he had worn on his right foot, increasing the likelihood that his injury wasn't serious.

The Web site, TMZ.com, posted a video Tuesday showing Brady walking without the boot and without a noticeable limp through a group of photographers in New York and getting in a cab. The video, lasting 1 minute, 11 seconds, then briefly showed his girlfriend, Gisele Bundchen, leaving a residence.

Several Web sites had photos Monday credited to infphoto.com that showed Brady wearing a walking boot on his right foot. A video of Brady walking with a slight limp from an SUV to Bundchen's home also was available on TMZ.com.

Later Monday, other pictures showed him wearing black shoes and no boot when he showed up at a New York hot spot.

Brady, this season's NFL MVP, and the Patriots are headed to the Feb. 3 Super Bowl against the New York Giants.

Brady has a high ankle sprain that is "mild," according to the Boston Herald. The Boston Globe characterized it as a "minor" high ankle sprain.

A Patriots spokesman said he had no information about the injury. Brady's agent, Donald Yee, did not return telephone calls or an e-mail. Coach Bill Belichick wasn't available for comment Tuesday. He wasn't asked about Brady's condition during his news conference Monday.

Players were given three days off after the Patriots' 21-12 win over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC championship game.

The chief of the foot and ankle division at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Dr. Chris Chiodo, said Brady doesn't appear seriously injured.

"I don't think he'd be walking on it if" he had a displaced fracture, said Chiodo, who is not treating Brady. He said he has used a boot to treat several types of ailments, including a sprain, a strain, a bone bruise, tendinitis or overuse of the foot.

Brady didn't appear to be limping during the AFC championship game before he was sacked by Igor Olshansky and Stephen Cooper with just over eight minutes to go. He had thrown three interceptions before that. After the sack he completed all four of his passes.

Brady has been extremely durable. He started his 126th consecutive game Sunday. In that game, Philip Rivers of the Chargers took all of his team's snaps and threw for 211 yards despite arthroscopic surgery on his right knee six days earlier.

The Patriots' backup quarterbacks are Matt Cassel and Matt Gutierrez.

During his weekly radio spot Monday on WEEI, Brady was asked if his leg was injured.

"Ah, you know, there's always bumps and bruises. I'll be ready for the Super Bowl," he said before the photos and video emerged. "I'm not worried about that. I'm not missing this one. I'd have to be on a stretcher to miss this one. There will be treatment this week. In games like this you get a little nicked up. It's nothing serious."