Super 'Duper'? How Bad is Brady Hurting?

Jan. 23, 2008 — -- The New England Patriots have sauntered through the rest of the league this year. But on the verge of perfection, their leader came up gimpy.

Photographs and video show quarterback Tom Brady wearing what appears to be a walking boot on his right foot while in New York on Monday. A video of Brady in the cast is available on TMZ.com.

The Boston Herald reported that Brady -- flowers in hand -- was visiting the apartment of his girlfriend, supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

Since the photographs of Brady in the walking boot were taken, he has been spotted wearing both cowboy boots and black dress shoes. He did not appear to be limping while walking.

During his weekly radio show on WEEI, Brady, this season's NFL MVP, did not deny that he suffered some sort of injury during Sunday's win over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship Game.

"Ah, you know, there's always bumps and bruises. I'll be ready for the Super Bowl," Brady said. "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."

Sources told the Boston Herald on Tuesday that Brady had suffered a high ankle sprain against San Diego, but the injury was not considered serious and he was expected to be ready for the Super Bowl on Feb. 3.

Tom Brady Sr., the Patriots' quarterback's father, told 1050 ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand that Tom "tweaked his ankle a little bit."

Brady Sr. said it's not a big deal. If it were he said he and his son would have spoken about it and "anybody that thinks a little tweak is going to stop him is just wasting ink."

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

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Dr. Chris Chiodo, who is not treating Brady, said he has used a boot to treat several ailments, including a sprain, a strain, a bone bruise, tendinitis or overuse of the foot. He said he strongly doubted Brady had a displaced fracture.