Brady, Manning return to practice

Did anyone really believe Tom Brady and Eli Manning wouldn't play this weekend?

I sure didn't, but evidently some people did given the way the stories of them missing practice yesterday made national headlines. Manning reportedly left Wednesday's workout early due to a stomach bug. Brady took the day off to rest his non-throwing shoulder. Both Brady and Manning were back at practice today.

OK, so there was at least some chance Manning would be sick enough that he couldn't play Sunday against the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. I heard a story from a Giants reporter on a Chicago radio show this morning about how Manning started out taking first-team reps yesterday before he had to, erm, head for the bathroom. Backup David Carr was summoned from the scout team to take the first-teamers the rest of the way. Even Carr thought yesterday that Manning would be fine, and it seems he is.

There was never a bit of doubt in my mind, though, that Brady would be fine. His coach is Bill Belichick! Let's just say that Belichick tends to be less than forecoming with the Patriots' injury report. His idea of fun seems to be listing Brady as "probable" on the report every single week, although Brady's injuries are almost never anything more than normal wear and tear.

Today's news is good for football fans. Though I don't want either the Giants or the Patriots to win Sunday, I also want to see great football between teams at their best. The football wouldn't be as great and the teams certainly wouldn't be at their best if Carr and Brian Hoyer were quarterbacking in place of Brady and Manning.