Brady earns some passing grades.

Byline: Rich Garven

FOXBORO - Tom Brady arguably has played better, but he apparently has never felt better.

Brady said in radio interview Monday he feels as physically fit as he ever has at any time since entering the NFL nine years ago. The 32-year-old quarterback reiterated that point yesterday while meeting with a phalanx of reporters, photographers, bloggers and video types in front of his locker.

"Why do I think I'm feeling better?" Brady asked in response to question No. 1. "I think, like I said, I don't think I've been hit a whole lot this year. It's just been one of those seasons where there haven't been many sacks.

"I understand how to take care of my body and get the treatment I need. It's been a good year thus far."

The surgically repaired left knee courtesy of Bernard Pollard's low blow last September? Fine. The right shoulder Albert Haynesworth drove into the turf in August? Ditto.

So Brady is feeling good. Not so coincidentally, it's reflected in his fine play as of late.

After an uneven September that featured one discouraging loss, two close wins, and numerous displays of sideline frustration, Brady had himself an October for the ages as the Patriots won three of four games to improve to 5-2 and move into first place in the AFC East.

Brady was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month after completing 92 of 131 passes (70.2 percent) for 1,161 yards and 12 touchdowns with two interceptions. Those numbers are particularly impressive considering the state of flux of the receiving corps and a running game that spent most of the month in traction.

It all comes down to execution. The Patriots killed themselves in September. They spent October slaying the opposition.

"If you're a quarterback and you drop back and you have guys open and overthrow them by about five yards, you know you're not going to score points," Brady said. "That's understanding plays that we had where we haven't done what we're coached to do. That's just not the way you can play football.

"In times that we go out and execute well - like what we did against Tennessee, what we did against Tampa - we scored points. I think it's just a much more concerted effort in practice and the concentration to get those things done."

The Patriots have outscored their last two opponents, 94-7, heading into Sunday's showdown against the always-pesky Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium.

New England enters the game coming off the bye week. Brady and his bride got in some R&R in Miami over the weekend, but not before he did some R&D here.

"I think we did a lot of stuff to self-scout and evaluate where we're at to really improve and get better," Brady said. "For the most part, guys are in the spots where they need to be. We have a pretty good understanding how we're going to attack people. I think everyone's excited for what's ahead."

There has been much critiquing of Brady thus far. Every move has been dissected, analyzed and debated, always with an eye toward that brace-protected left knee.

Brady claims to have not "heard a whole lot of criticism" and pointed out "it's been pretty good for me over the years." That said, he's his own harshest critic.

"Like I've always said, I have pretty high expectations for myself," Brady began. "If there are guys that are open and I don't hit them, it's usually not a very good week for me. That's kind of how you judge your performance. Did I do my job? Did I do what the coach asked me to do? Did we win the game?

"You're always happy when you win the game, but as a quarterback, you want to be a great contributor, you don't want to throw three interceptions. When you win, you're feeling good. That's not how I ever feel. I want to go out there, and when the play is called, go out there and execute it as well as I can."

Brady hasn't been perfect this season, but he's feeling perfectly fine. And that should only mean good things for both him and the Patriots as they enter the second half of the season.

NAME: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady tells a group of reporters yesterday in front of his locker that his availability is over.

PHOTOG: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS