Those who tuned into Canadian radio tonight hoping to hear Tom Brady reassure Patriots Nation that he'll be ready for the start of next season were disappointed.

Because he wasn't asked the question.

Other than a generic "How's the rehab going?" -- which prompted a just-as-generic "It's going really, really well" response from Brady -- the conversation stayed clear of Brady's knee injury. He was making the appearance to promote a pain reliever, and he was asked about the Pats' season, about the upcoming Super Bowl, about the product . . . but very little about the topic that has consumed conversation about the Patriots, and nothing about reports that Brady's rehab has been stalled by infection and that he might not be ready for the 2009 opener.

Shalise Manza Young will have more later tonight.