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.
The only media access for this week's sessions is Thursday. James said Tuesday that Brady threw passes and did other activities during his first formal practice with the club since he suffered a torn left knee ligament midway through the first quarter of the Patriots' 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brady had surgery Oct. 6 and a subsequent operation for an infection in the knee.
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."
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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin is in the process of firing his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.
Boldin, in a long contract dispute with the team, informed the NFL Players Assn. in a letter that he intended to replace the agent. The players' union said it received the letter Friday, so with the required five-day waiting period, Boldin can sign with a new agent Thursday.
Rosenhaus issued a statement saying he has "great respect" for Boldin.
"I'm hopeful we can work things out and he will return to the Rosenhaus Sports family in the near future," Rosenhaus said.
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The NFL filed notice that it plans to appeal a federal judge's ruling in the case of two Minnesota Vikings facing suspensions over positive drug tests.
U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson last week threw out most of the claims by defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. He also dismissed a lawsuit brought by the NFL players' union on behalf of the Williamses and three New Orleans players also facing suspension.
But Magnuson sent the Williamses' two remaining claims to state court.
In Tuesday's filing, the NFL said it asked the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to review whether Magnuson misapplied federal law when he didn't dismiss those two claims outright.
ETC.
Garnett has knee surgery
Kevin Garnett is recovering from surgery on his right knee.
