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Is Tom Brady Hurt?

BOSTON (CBS) – Questions have arisen regarding the health of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Brady has been wearing a black band below his right elbow, pointing to a possible case of tendonitis. One report has suggested the Pats QB has a bone bruise near the elbow.

Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald spoke with Brady's quarterbacking mentor Tom Martinez, who has been with Brady since the quarterback was a youngster, and admits his pupil has something ailing his throws.

"I think it does take him a while to get warmed up. He's kind of holding back a little bit on some of the throws," Martinez told Guregian. "It's like sticking your hand in hot water. You know you've got to do it. You don't want to do it. You stay away from it as long as you can, but you know you need to. Sooner or later, you've got to stick it in there. You know it's going to hurt. You know it's too hot. And yet you've got to do it if you want to win. I think that's a good analogy of where he is."

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"The first quarter (against the Chiefs), he's not as sharp as he is when he's normal," Martinez said. "You can see a couple of the throws, he doesn't have the same velocity. One of the things I would tell him, put a little more extension on the throw, so you're extending your arm more toward the target. I think when he's hurting, he pulls his arm down quicker. When you pull your arm down quicker, you don't have the same velocity or hang time that it does if you can extend. So he's probably having trouble with extension."

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Brady was eight for 16 in the first half Monday night against Kansas City, and was just two for seven in the first quarter. He finished the evening 15 for 27 for 234 and two touchdowns, throwing the ball just 11 times in the second half.

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Brady's mechanics have suffered enough where #12 tried to get Martinez, who lives in California, to take a trip East before the Patriots game against the Jets last week. But with Martinez battling health issues related to complications from diabetes, the two spoke over the phone.

"I know he's a very tough person. Obviously, the pain is affecting some of his throws," Martinez said. "But it seems to me, the longer he gets into the game, the more it looks like it's not a factor. Then I think the competitiveness in him comes out. He's such a warrior, he doesn't allow the pain to distract him from doing what he has to do. Where, in the beginning, when you're not warm and you're not into it, you're liable to hold back."

If Brady is hurt, the Patriots will not say anything about it. It will be brushed under the carpet and kept quiet until the offseason, much like his foot injury last year.

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