FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The first time Tom Brady was hurt in an AFC championship game, he returned a week later to lead the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title.

Now he has two weeks to recover from a seemingly minor injury and said he would play in the Super Bowl against the New York Giants on Feb. 3.

New England's star quarterback walked without a protective boot on his right foot or a noticeable limp in New York on Tuesday. The previous day, video and photos showed him wearing the boot as he followed his girlfriend, model Gisele Bundchen, into her Manhattan residence.

Brady left Foxborough after Sunday's 21-12 win over the San Diego Chargers and wasn't due back until Thursday after coach Bill Belichick gave his players three days off.

Brady, this season's NFL MVP, has a high ankle sprain that is "mild," according to the Boston Herald. The Boston Globe characterized it as a "minor" high ankle sprain.

Patriots spokesman Stacey James said he had no information about the injury. Brady's agent, Donald Yee, did not return telephone calls or an e-mail seeking comment. Belichick was not available for comment Tuesday. He was not asked about Brady's physical condition during his news conference Monday.

Brady told WEEI in his weekly radio appearance on Monday, "I'm not missing this one."

He did not appear to be limping Sunday before being sacked by Igor Olshansky and Stephen Cooper with just over 8 minutes to go. He had thrown three interceptions before that. After the sack, he completed all four of his passes.

In the AFC championship game after the 2001 regular season, Brady sprained his ankle late in the second quarter and didn't return. Drew Bledsoe, who had lost his starting job after being injured in the second game of the season, replaced him and threw a touchdown pass in New England's 24-17 win over Pittsburgh.

There was just one week between that game and the Super Bowl. When the Patriots arrived in New Orleans the day after the win over the Steelers, Belichick wouldn't say if Brady would play but promised an answer after practice two days later. He chose Brady.

The Patriots upset the heavily favored St. Louis Rams 20-17 and Brady won the first of his two Super Bowl MVP awards.