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Updated: September 9, 2010, 9:04 AM ETReports: Tom Brady in car accident


BOSTON -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was involved in a car accident Thursday morning, according to reports out of Boston. An official told The Associated Press that Brady was unhurt.

The accident occurred on the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Gloucester Street in Boston, according to the reports.

A source told ESPNBoston.com that Brady headed to Gillette Stadium after the accident. He did not require hospital treatment.

Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald told The Boston Globe that a sedan and a passenger van collided at 6:34 a.m. MacDonald told the newspaper that a traffic light was also struck.

Sources told The Globe that Brady was driving the sedan and was treated at the scene. Sources told the newspaper that Brady got out of his car but that the "Jaws of Life" had to be used to free a passenger in the van.

Brady has been in the news this week as numerous reports said he was close to finalizing a contract extension with the Patriots.

Contract discussions between the Patriots and Brady escalated Tuesday to the point where a deal could be completed before New England opens its regular season Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, a source close to the situation told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Discussions between the two sides have focused on a four-year deal. The previous two contracts that Brady has signed have been for four years, and the expectation is this one also will be for four.

The value of Brady's new contract is expected to be between $18 million and $20 million per season, which means it likely would be valued between $72 million and $80 million.

Brady deflected questions about a potential contract extension, repeatedly saying his focus instead was on the season opener.


"I don't want to get into it," Brady said during his weekly appearance on Boston sports radio station WEEI on Wednesday morning. "For me, it's the same as it's been. I'm trying to find a way to score some touchdowns against the Bengals. I didn't spend five minutes yesterday thinking about my contract or future."

Brady would like to finalize the deal this week, before the Patriots open the season Sunday against Cincinnati. This is logical. In the Patriots' opener two seasons ago, then Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard rolled into Brady's knee, injuring it and ending the quarterback's season.

"I think everybody on our team would [like to have a new deal before the start of the season], every coach would. That's not the way things work," Brady said.


One source told Schefter he thought a deal could be done this week, but it would not surprise him if it were next week.

In his afternoon news conference, Brady acknowledged that injuries have helped to shape his approach toward the business side of the game. Interestingly, he also acknowledged having four surgeries during his career.

"That's a big part of it," Brady said. "This is a physical game. I've had four surgeries in eight years -- my shoulder and my knee and my groin ... and another one, too. But, pretty much every other year you're having a surgery. Some are major ... all surgeries are major as far as I'm concerned now.

"You count your blessings when you come off the field; I think you have a new appreciation when you do come off the field, win or lose. You're trying to win every time out, obviously. But I think you also pinch yourself every time you walk off the field healthy and say, 'Man, at least I get a chance to go out next week and play also.'"

ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss contributed to this report.
 
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