Belichick puts usual gag order on Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Wide receiver Deion Branch was asked about Tom Brady's preparation and study habits Tuesday.

"Why do you say that?" he asked back with a big grin.

The Patriots know that there is a war of words between them and the Jets this week. It's just that their marching orders call for a cease fire. Jerod Mayo said Bill Belichick had already reminded the players not to engage in the verbal back-and-forth by the time reporters were able to get to them late in the morning.

"That's why I'm hoping no one asks me those types of questions," Mayo said with a smile.

The third-year linebacker said Belichick told the players to let him handle all of the chirping with the Jets. On Monday, Belichick gave a surprisingly amusing answer to questions about Rex Ryan's making Sunday's playoff game a personal battle between the head coaches.

"He does a good job of it," Mayo said of Belichick's return game.

Newer, less-established players are careful not to partake in the fun and step outside of Belichick's mandates, and even veteran running back Sammy Morris had little to add to the bluster other than pointing out the obvious differences in approach.

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"That's just how they do it," he said of the tongue-waggers on the Jets. "Part of it is personality, part of it is the coach and the players around him. That's just not what we do . . . In our opinion, it's outside the context of the game."

Given that Belichick has told players to let him handle the chatter aimed at the Jets this week, does Morris think the coach will come out swinging with some Ryan-like one-liners and zingers?

"I don't foresee that," he said.

Of course he already did, in his own dry, Belichickian way. Branch, who said he did not hear the comments between the coaches until Tuesdaymorning, thought they were amusing but ultimately pointless.

"All of it's funny," he said. "I think the thing is that coach Belichick isn't playing coach Ryan; the New England Patriots are playing the New York Jets Sunday at 4:15. I think all the stuff that will be said up to that point won't make a difference."

Still, the players hear it. All of it. Which is why Branch gave his sly answer in the form of a question about Brady. And why Mayo has become a quick study on giving answerless responses.

"I really don't pay attention to that stuff, to be honest with you," Mayo said of the noise, hype and trash talk coming from the Jets. "I let coach Belichick handle all of that stuff."

Then he paused and grinned at his own vanilla comments.

"I gave you a 'Belichick' answer."