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After Four Long Weeks, Tom Brady Excited To Be Back With Patriots

BOSTON (CBS) -- Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was indeed at Gillette Stadium on Monday, making his triumphant return from his four-game suspension.

For Brady, it was great to be back and focusing on the game he loves.

"It was great to be back in the building. It was certainly great to be back to work," Brady told Jim Gray during his weekly interview on Westwood One. "It's been a long four weeks for me, but I'm excited to get started on my preparation for Cleveland. I'm anxious for the week ahead. I want to get back out on the practice field. This is what I love to do, and now I have an opportunity to do it."

Brady rejoins his teammates as they look to bounce back from their Week 4 shutout loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots will be in Cleveland on Sunday, looking to take out their frustration on the 0-4 Browns, and Brady knows he has a little catching up to do to be ready.

"I'm going to take it day to day. I haven't played in four weeks," he said. "My teammates have been working their butts off and that's what they expect of me. I'll take the days as they come. I'll certainly need the practices to try to get on the [same] page as all the guys who have been practicing the last four weeks. But I'm really looking forward to it."

Brady didn't want to reflect on the DeflateGate saga that cost him a quarter of the 2016 season, saying it's been in his "rearview mirror" since he decided to drop his appeal in July.

"I'm just focused on the present, focused on this week, and that's what I'm going to be all season. It's certainly all in the past, and hopefully it serves me well this week," he said.

When Gray asked Brady if the ordeal would add more fuel to his fire, adding to that chip he's had on his shoulder since slipping to the sixth round in the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady quickly responded that he's never had a shortage of motivation throughout his career.

"I was motivated 17 years ago, and I'm motivated today," said Brady. "So I'm motivated to win for my teammates, and I'm motivated to go out there and represent our city well."

Tune in to Tom Brady's return on Sunday afternoon on WBZ-TV and 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship stations of the New England Patriots. Kickoff is set for 1pm, with pregame coverage beginning on 98.5FM at 10am and on WBZ-TV at 11:30am with Patriots GameDay. After the game, The Sports Hub will bring you three full hours of postgame coverage, and tune in to Brady's postgame press conference live on Patriots 5th Quarter over on myTV38.

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