Fears that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is less than 100-percent were stoked anew today with pictures released from practice showing the MVP wearing some sort of protective headgear.

            “Clearly, the Patriots are worried that Tom Brady can not sustain a blow to the head,” said NFL analyst Boomer Esiason. “There appears to be heaving padding more than an inch thick inside a hard plastic shell all around his brain, and continuing down to his jaw line. And then there is a sort of protective mask directly in front of his face. It definitely raises questions.”

            Others were alarmed by the markings on the outside of the protective headgear.

            “Why were Patriots logos put on each side of the headpiece,” wondered NFL analyst Mark Schlereth. “Does he need a reminder about what team he plays for? Is he so concussed that he can’t even remember that simple piece of information? That must be why they have his head so excessively protected.”

            With the protective helmet sighting coming on the heels of Brady being spotted wearing a protective boot, Patriots fans are understandably worried that their longtime hero and leader is no longer up to the task.

            “From his head to his toes, literally, Tom Brady is now covered in some sort of protective gear,” said a caller to Boston’s WEEI sports radio. “I hate to say this, but we should just put him out of his misery. We should do the humane thing and kill him like Barbaro. No one wants to see him suffer anymore. And no one wants to see the Patriots go to even more desperate measures to protect him. What’s next? Protective gear on his shoulders? On his hips? On his thighs? No. It’s gone far enough. Belichick needs to take him out into the woods and put an end to it all.”