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Tom Brady on Patriots' WR changes: 'Certain things haven't worked out'

The Patriots have made plenty of changes at wide receiver this offseason, leaving Tom Brady with a reshuffled cast of pass catchers.
Credit: Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) speaks with wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (19) on the bench during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

(USA TODAY Sports) — While Tom Brady drew attention Monday for his decision to hang up and abruptly end a radio interview, the New England Patriots quarterback also expressed some disappointment with part of the team’s wide receiving corps.

In typical Brady fashion, however, he also stressed that – despite some average offensive performances thus far in the preseason – he’s looking to move forward with the players the Patriots have on their roster.

“You go into camp, and I think you’re hopeful of certain situations working out,” Brady said Monday morning in an interview with WEEI Boston. “And the competition has its way of weeding things out. And from the start of camp, the depth, and certain things haven’t worked out the way we would have hoped and certain players would have hoped, but that’s football. I’ve been around long enough to see that every year is different and you don’t know how things are going to work out.

“We’re at where we’re at. I don’t think anybody feels sorry for the New England Patriots, I’ve said that before, so we’ll just try to do the best we can do, and hopefully it’s good enough.”

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Over the past month, veteran receiver Eric Decker – whom the Patriots signed in the beginning of August – announced his retirement from the NFL and veterans Kenny Britt, Jordan Matthews and Malcolm Mitchell were cut. In March, Danny Amendola signed with the Dolphins. In April, the team traded Brandin Cooks to the Rams.

New England will also be without Julian Edelman for the first four games after he was suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Chris Hogan, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Phillip Dorsett will likely be New England’s top three targets in the regular season opening game against the Texans on Sept. 9, and Edelman is set to return to the team Week 5 for a Thursday night game against the Colts Oct. 4.

“I would say receiver is a very tough position in our offense,” Brady added. “We have a very graduate-type level offense and it takes a lot to learn. It’s not easy.”

Amid the reshuffling, speculation has emerged that the Patriots could look to add another veteran. Former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, who had fielded interest from the Ravens and Browns earlier this offseason, remains a free agent and is the biggest name available on the market.

“I know Dez just a little bit,” Brady said. “I think he’s obviously a hell of a player, but I don’t make those situations for our team. I don’t go in there and tell them who I want. That’s not a position I’ve ever played here. You just respect our team for what they’re looking for and our personnel people. My job is to play quarterback and whoever is here, that’s who I have to make it work with.”

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.

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