Tom Brady New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during a joint training camp for the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints football teams in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Nobody really likes preseason games. Except maybe for the Browns defensive back who injured Odell Beckham Jr. with a nasty hit earlier this week.

He can join New England quarterback Tom Brady, a.k.a. the GOAT, who can’t wait to hit the field for the Patriots’ preseason matchup Friday against the Lions.

From the Boston Herald:

“For me, it is just feeling the rhythm of the game, and it is different than practice,” Brady said yesterday. “The rhythm of practice is very different, and the only way to simulate the game is to play. I can draw on a lot of experience, but it is nice to get out there and actually do it. It was fun being out there last week, and it will obviously be fun being out there this week.”

Brady didn’t disclose how many snaps he will take but said he needs the work. The quarterback cited a list of deficiencies that require rectification before the Pats’ season opener against the Chiefs on Sept. 7 at Gillette Stadium.

Chill out, Tom. You opened as favorites in every single game of the 2017 season.

Brady got his first taste of the 2017 season last week in the Patriots’ loss to the Texans. He finished 6-of-9 with 67 and one touchdown, which went to new dual-threat back Rex Burkhead.

The Patriots have plenty of new faces on offense between Burkhead, wide receiver Brandin Cooks, running back Mike Gillislee and second-string tight end Dwayne Allen. If you ask Skip Bayless, Brady is playing for his job this year. That may be ridiculous, but Brady begins his quest for a sixth Super Bowl ring in a few weeks, so you can understand why Brady wants to get in as many reps as possible:

“The snaps you are taking with new players are really important,” Brady said. “And it was nice to get Rex a touchdown pass and just for him to feel what it’s like for all us to look at another guy’s eyes in the huddle during the course of a game and saying, ‘Look, this is where we’re at. This is football. This is exactly what we’re going to be doing when the season kicks off.’”

Hey, you don’t become the greatest of all time by slacking off. Brady’s new book reportedly focuses on training and diet, but hopefully we get a whole chapter on preseason prep.

[Boston Herald]

About Jesse Kramer

Jesse is a writer and editor for The Comeback. He has also worked for SI.com and runs The Catch and Shoot, a college basketball website based in Chicago. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Follow Jesse on Twitter @Jesse_Kramer.