Brady shrugs off injury fears, marriage proposal

GLENDALE, Arizona -- New England quarterback Tom Brady shrugged off injury fears and a bizarre marriage proposal as the countdown to Sunday's Super Bowl clash against New York Giants began in earnest.

His ailing ankle has been the subject of intense media speculation since he was seen visiting his supermodel girlfriend Giselle Bundchen last week wearing a protective boot.

"My ankle feels great," said Brady, the National Football League Most Valuable Player who has guided the Patriots to a recordbreaking 18-0 season.

"I'm glad we had the week off and I had the chance to rest a little bit. I really feel that by the game it's going to feel great, and there will be no issues.

"Not that I can run anyway, but hopefully I'll be able to skirt around some of those guys who are trying to tear my head off."

Despite his well-publicized relationship with Bundchen, it did not prevent a TV reporter from Mexico City making her bid for Brady's affections.

Wearing a short white wedding dress, veil and red pumps, the reporter blurted out her proposal.

"Marry me," she said. "I have a few Mrs. Bradys in my life," he answered neatly.

Brady, the star attraction at Super Bowl media day, was equally sure-footed in his handling of other questions.

"Thanks, Prime," he said after briefly bantering with former NFL legend Deion Sanders.

"Do the right thing," he earnestly advised a preteen boy who somehow got a credential.

"I'm rooting for England, my roots," he told a British journalist who asked about rugby.

While other players might regard media day as a chore, he seemed to savor every moment, turning the session into a variety show with Tom Brady as the handsome, dimpled host.

"Someone have a dumb question? I need a dumb question," he said.

Prompted, one of the 200 or so reporters clustered around him shouted out: "Who's your favorite band?"

"U2," he said without missing a beat.

For the record, Brady did talk a little about football. Just a bit, though, because he rarely got two questions in a row about the sport he plays.

"Either way, win or lose, this game is going to be history," Brady said.

Asked about his role on the Patriots, his status as the NFL's go-to guy and the belief by many that he's an American hero, he turned reflective.

"I throw a football. I happen to do that well enough to be on this platform," he said. "I don't think any of us cure cancer."

Humble, by all accounts.

"I love Tom Brady," Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said during his team's media session. "He doesn't put himself above the guys. He's one of the guys, even though he has all these other things going on for him."

Let's not forget the woman in the wedding dress. She was Ines Gomez Mont, an entertainment reporter for TV Azteca in Mexico City.

"He is very gorgeous. I know Gisele is very gorgeous," she said. "Good for them," the Brady charm clearly having worked again despite being "jilted." E-mail to a friend

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