Theiis is one of Jim Boeheims best offensive teams in years. The Orange can beat teams inside and out.POLL I

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady looks just fine. His fans and teammates are relieved. The key to the success of the New England Patriots participated fully in the teams walkthrough Thursday. He jogged with other players at the start. He dropped back normally to throw passes. And he didnt limp. An alarming situation -- he had left Wednesdays practice with an apparent left knee injury -- was just a false alarm. "Im good," was all Brady told waiting media members as he walked off the practice field Thursday after removing the black brace he wore during the workout. "You can all go home." Then, after signing some autographs and posing for pictures, the star quarterback walked back into Gillette Stadium where he may or may not play in Friday nights exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Patriots coach Bill Belichick didnt speak with reporters after the third and final day of joint practices with the Buccaneers. Brady was knocked down by left tackle Nate Solder after releasing a pass midway through Wednesdays session. Solder had been pushed into Brady by Buccaneers defensive end Adrian Clayborn. A person with knowledge of the situation said Brady sprained his left knee and an MRI was negative. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Patriots did not make an announcement about Bradys health. But players knew quickly that their two-time league MVP was OK. "Right after practice, actually. We got the news pretty quick," running back Stevan Ridley said. "It was a scary moment, but really, with Tom, I know hes a competitor and hes going to do whatever to get him out there. Im just glad they took him out, checked him out and made sure he was good. So ... my hearts at peace knowing that hes OK and knowing that nothing majors going on." Brady suffered a season-ending injury to the same knee in the 2008 opener but hasnt missed a game since that year. "Thats our leader, man," Ridley said. "We ride with Tom Brady all the way and anytime you see somebody go down like that, kind of everything stops in front of you. But, for us, we just have to move on and hope for the best and thats what we did and we found out later that day at team meetings that he was OK and that was all the news that we needed to know, that our quarterback was going to be with us." For a while, with no information coming out, fans wondered if Brady was hurt badly. Many of them expressed their concerns on Twitter. "I think there were a lot of fans at home probably pulling out their hair," safety Devin McCourty said. It was a big story until reports surfaced that the injury wasnt serious. "I think you guys had more communication and more opinions than we did," McCourty told reporters. "We actually got to see him in the locker room and all that, so it wasnt as crazy as, I think, the media made it seem." Solder even had a restful night, despite his role. "I didnt let it affect my sleep," he said. "Its part of the game." The brace Brady wore Thursday was heavier than the one he had on a day earlier and similar to what he wears in games. He moved smoothly through the slow-speed walkthrough. During a hurry-up drill, Brady dropped back and completed two passes to tight end Zach Sudfeld and one to Aaron Dobson against minimal coverage. There was no sign that his knee was hindering him. After practice, he spent about a half hour on the field with his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, their son Benjamin, 3, and Bradys son Jack, with actress Bridget Moynahan. He turns 6 on Wednesday. She threw a pass to her husband. He ran with his children. Jack threw the ball to her. Then Brady walked the length of the field and past the cameras and reporters, with a football tucked under his left arm and a steady stride. Belichick will decide whether he plays on Friday night. Its only an exhibition game, but Ridley said it matters whether Brady plays or not. "Its all a different ballgame when Bradys in the game," Ridley said. "I think it matters for everybody whos watching sports as well as the team thats out there on the field." Wholesale Shirts Free Shipping . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Cheap Nike Shirts China .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. http://www.cheapshirtschina.com/ .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Clearance Shirts China .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Cheap Nike Shirts . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Andrew White says its way too early to call himself an X factor for No. 18 Syracuse. The fifth-year transfer from Nebraska may just be the difference maker, however, for a team that looks like it may be one of the nations elite.White, who shot 41 percent from 3-point range a year ago, signed with the Orange the day before fall classes started. He gives the Orange a dimension they appeared to be lacking entering the season.I definitely think hes a difference maker, said fellow fifth-year transfer John Gillon. The way he spreads the floor and how quick his release is theres really not five people who can shoot like that in the nation.White scored 19 points, Tyler Lydon had 17, and Syracuse went on a 14-0 run in the first half to take control and overpower Holy Cross 90-46 on Tuesday night.Syracuse (2-0) shot 58 percent from the field and was 13 for 25 on 3-pointers. White went 5 of 10 from beyond the arc after going 2 of 7 in the Oranges season opener against Colgate.Hes a huge piece of this team, Lydon said. He can do a lot of great things on the court. Adding him was huge for us. Anytime you have a guy who can space the floor like thats huge.White, a modest sort, preferred to let his teammates do the talking.Id rather that question be answered by my teammates, White said. Theyre the ones evaluating what my value is. I just try to come in and take care of business, take pressure off my teammates. I think thats what Ill do most.And just two games into the season, White says talk of his importance is a tad premature.I think were all critical. I think were all X factors. As far as me being the X factor I think its a little early now to be saying that. Im just trying to come in and do my job.And his job is knocking down 3s, a skill in which he has supreme confidence.My motto is if a shoot a shot its supposed to go in, he added. Thats why I dont get too excited when I hit a three or celebrate too much. My coaches and teammates expect the shot to go in when I attempt it.Coach Jim Boeheim praised White.He was geared up tonight. He was ready to go. He was focused in, Boeheim said. Hees a shooter.dddddddddddd Obviously thats what he does. Were happy we have him here.Tyus Battle was 3 of 5 from long range, while Gillon made two while adding 15 points, nine assists and just one turnover off the bench.Anthony Thompson had 12 points, while Robert Champion and Malachi Alexander had eight apiece for the Crusaders (0-2). The Crusaders shot just 31 percent for the game.Asked what he would take away from the game, Holy Cross coach Bill Carmody had a succinct response: Nothing.Besides their 3-point attack, the Orange tallied 18 second-chance points, had 32 inside the paint, and scored 31 points off Holy Cross turnovers. The Orange outrebounded the smaller Crusaders 39-27. At one point in the first half, Syracuse had a 16-3 advantage on the boards.The Orange led 22-14 when they went on their 14-0 blitz to take control. The run featured four 3-pointers, two by White and one each by Frank Howard and Battle. Syracuse led 49-23 at the half.BIG PICTURE:Holy Cross: Its not fair to judge Holy Crosss outlook for the 2016-17 season based on Tuesdays outcome, but we may know more after Fridays matchup against UMass.Syracuse: This is one of Jim Boeheims best offensive teams in years. The Orange can beat teams inside and out.POLL IMPLICATIONS: With the nations top teams playing each other this week, the Orange could find themselves moving up in the rankings.SOPHOMORE SLUMP OVER: Tyler Lydon was 0-for-8 from beyond the arc in Syracuses two exhibition games and 0-for-3 in the season opener but he was 2-of-3 Tuesday.MICROWAVE: Gilllon is proving to be quite the spark off the bench for Boeheim. The transfer from Colorado State now has 28 points, 15 assists and just one turnover in two games.NO TREY, NO WAY: Holy Cross was just of 9-of-32 from 3 for 28 percent.UP NEXT:Holy Cross tries for its first win of the young season when the Crusaders host UMass on Sunday.Syracuse, a bubble team that made last years NCAA Tournament, hosts Monmouth, a bubble team that did not, Friday. ' ' '