Brady says Rex may be right

Rex Ryan thinks that Tom Brady is helped by playing and preparing under Bill Belichick.

Brady's response? "Maybe he's right."

The Patriots quarterback, speaking on his weekly WEEI radio appearance in Boston, said he has no problem admitting that Belichick is a big reason for his and the team's success.

"I get a ton of help from our coach," Brady said with a laugh. "Of course we do. I think we have the best coach in the history of football. I think we've got a great offensive staff, a great defensive staff, ones that get all the players prepared. Coach talks about being a smart, tough, physical football team that plays well under pressure. Part of us being smart and prepared and ready to play is our coaches doing their homework. We use whatever we can to get ready to play."

Ryan, who was praising Peyton Manning at the time he made the comments last week, said no one in the league prepares like the Colts' quarterback (who the Jets beat on Saturday to advance and face the Patriots this Sunday).

"I know Brady thinks he does," Ryan said. "I think there's probably a little more help with Belichick with Brady than there is with Peyton Manning."

With the two rivals facing each other in Foxborough in a divisional playoff game this Sunday at 4:30 p.m., and plenty of verbal bluster sure to be blowing throughout the northeast region this week, Brady said that at this point in his career most comments go in one earhole of his helmet and out the other.

SEE PHOTOSJets-Patriots rivalry through the years

"I don't think anything that people really say has bothered me good, bad or indifferent over the years," he said. "Everybody has their opinion of people and things and places. All I know is that I feel really confident with our team and the way our team prepares each week. I'm sure we'll be prepared going into this game on Sunday."

And as for Ryan's statement specifically, Brady shrugged.

"I think everybody's obviously entitled to their opinion," he said. "And maybe he's right. He's a good coach. I'll just keep getting ready like we've done all year, and hopefully we'll go out and play well on Sunday night."