FOXBORO Was it just coincidence that Tom Brady made an Ed Reed reference on Tuesday, or is there more to it?

During his weekly meeting with reporters at Gillette Stadium, Brady was asked about Luke Kuechly, the former Boston College linebacker who has rapidly developed into a star since being drafted by Carolina in the first round last year.

"He's a really solid player. He has great instincts. When you have that type athleticism that he has, as well as the instincts, not only in the run game but the pass game, he just really goes sideline to sideline. He just has a knack for knowing where the ball is going to be and that's hard to teach," Brady said of Kuechly.

Then he went on.

"There are guys you play against, like Ed Reed, who are great players Ray Lewis, Zach Thomas, guys that I've had the chance to play against that have just a knack for the ball and he has a great knack for the football. That's a great trait for a defensive player," Brady said.

What made it so interesting is that only minutes before the news had broken that Reed, the veteran safety who spent his career with Baltimore before moving on to Houston this season, was being cut by the Texans. Reed has seen limited playing time with Houston and after Sunday's loss to Arizona made comments about how he felt Houston was outcoached by the Cardinals.

When the Pats have played against Reed in the past, both Brady and coach Bill Belichick have gone out of their way to praise him as one of the greatest players they have ever had to deal with. When Reed was a free agent last offseason, there was talk about whether New England would be interested. Reed said he would love to play for Belichick.

The Pats did sign a safety, but it was Adrian Wilson, who signed a three year deal, was injured in training camp and lost for the season.

The timing is all the more interesting because the Pats lost one of their starting safeties, Steve Gregory, with a broken thumb in their last game. Brady did all he could to deflect the question about Reed becoming a Patriot.

"Those things are so far out of my control. I have a lot of other things to worry about. Coach [Belichick] cheap nfl jerseys always makes those decisions," he responded.

The question could be moot because a team lower in the standings would have a chance to select Reed before the Patriots could get their chance as Reed moves through waivers.

One final point that makes the possibility that much more tantalizing: Two of the games New England has left are against Houston and Baltimore, the two teams Reed knows so well.

Not 2nd rate

There will be much talk about quarterbacks this week, what with Brady squaring off against Cam Newton for the first time. Interestingly, another quarterback was brought into the discussion at the start of the week, Pats' backup Ryan Mallett.

Mallett has yet to get a chance to show what he can do as a starter. But with so many teams losing quarterbacks to injury, there is a chance he could be needed. The Patriots have to make a decision on whether he could be the replacement for Brady in the future or whether they want to trade him. Mallett's rookie contract expires at the end of next season.

For what it is worth, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Brady spoke very highly of Mallett when asked about him this week.

"Ryan comes to work every week with a great attitude and a great approach. He prepares as if he is playing," McDaniels said. "I think he has continued to try to work at what it means to be a quarterback in this league; prepare hard, go through you daily preparation of segment of the game plan. He has really done a nice job of trying to give our defense a good look each week, which I think is an underrated part of a backup quarterback's preparation. But it is important nonetheless because it is an opportunity to go back there, make reads, and throw the ball accurately and work on your fundamentals, get better and lead that team.

"Even though it might not be the first team offense all the time, you get a chance to do those kinds of things as a quarterback on the scout team," he went on. "I think he has really done a nice job and taken a lot of leadership and responsibility there. So, I think Ryan's doing a good job of continuing to try to push himself to get better and improve. We have a lot of confidence in him."

Brady also gave Mallett his endorsement.

"I love Ryan and his attitude, what he brings to our team and the role that he plays. Not only as just a backup quarterback, but he also does all the scout team reps every cheap jerseys single day, and gives our defense a look at what the other team is trying to do," Brady said. "Ryan's got a ton of skill. When he gets his opportunity, I know he's going to take advantage of it.

"I always tell him, 'You never know when you're going to get it, just like I didn't know when I was going to get it.' Like you said, this is a game of attrition. It could be the first play of the next game. You've got to be just as prepared as I am to go out there and play. He's done that. He takes that challenge on," Brady said.

"It's a tough role for a backup quarterback, because, look, you're always on the edge of your seat, trying Wholesale NFL Jerseys to prepare while you're not getting all the reps. He brings it every day, I'll tell you that. He brings it every day to work. He's one of my best buddies on the team, and I look forward to the chance," Brady said.

Flexed out

The switch is part of the NFL's flex scheduling to allow networks to move more attractive games into the later time slots. The game is being replaced in the 4:25 time slot by the Broncos Chiefs contest.