Brady bragged about the Pats doing it also this off-season.
"Do you love to see the defense’s physicality, even though it might go beyond what’s acceptable?
Brady: Yeah, they are a physical defense. I think all of those guys are veterans. They know how to get away with certain plays. Like holding, for example – it happens every play, so if you look close enough you’re going to find holding. There is an edge that you can always push it to. If you look at the offensive line, there’s holding on every play. That’s just the way football is. You’ve just got to do it in a way where the refs don’t see it and don’t call it. But that same thing goes for the defensive backfield. If there is a way to gain leverage on a particular route, then you’re going to use it. The veterans know how to do it better; they know right where the limit is.
I think the best defenses I’ve ever played against – they get their hands on you, and they don’t let you get into your route, and they disrupt the timing. Our corners, Kyle Arrington, and linebackers in coverage do a great job of that, too. But we’ve got to learn to be just as physical. We’ve got to learn to push off in the right way and get our leverage because that’s how it’s going to be when it matters."
