| 1 | New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady looks for a receiver during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Green Bay Packers, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, in Foxborough, Mass. |
| 2 | (AP) -- Tom Brady wasn't on the practice field with the New England Patriots on Tuesday, a day before the court hearing for the NFL and the players' union. |
| 3 | Both sides are due in federal court for the hearing Wednesday in New York with Judge Richard M. Berman over the quarterback's four-game suspension by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. |
| 4 | Berman has been trying to move the sides toward a settlement of the dispute over deflated footballs. |
| 5 | If there is no settlement, Berman will decide whether Brady's suspension remains in place at the start of the season. |
| 6 | Brady participated fully in practice on Monday. |
| 7 | Second-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and recently signed veteran backup Ryan Lindley handled the snaps on Tuesday. |
| 8 | ''Brady is a key part of this team, a leader,'' said Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler. |
| 9 | ''There's nothing like having Brady out there. |
| 10 | Lindley was signed Aug. 10 after the team released veteran Matt Flynn. |
| 11 | ''He comes to work,'' Lindley said of Brady. |
| 12 | ''I think the biggest thing, though, that has impressed me is his leadership. |
| 13 | Butler took advantage of the no-Brady day, nearly picking off a pass during 11-on-11 walkthrough drills. |
| 14 | ''I was going to catch it, but then again I said, 'Ah, it's walkthrough,' and I moved my hands. |
| 15 | Butler said his near pick drew an on-field comment from coach Bill Belichick. |
| 16 | ''He just told me we needed that in a big-time situation,'' Butler said. |
| 17 | NOTES: Offensive lineman Bryan Stork was present at practice, but was not in uniform. |
| 18 | ... Wide receivers Julian Edelman and Aaron Dobson joined running back Travaris Cadet on the aerobic bikes at the practice field. |
| 19 | ... LeGarrette Blount, wearing No. |
| 20 | 74 in Monday's practice, switched back to his regular No. |
| 21 | 29 Tuesday. |
| 22 | ... Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Rutgers coach Greg Schiano was spotted at practice for the second straight day. |