Tom Brady Fans the Flames of New York Jets Rivalry Early in Preseason

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots' hatred for the New York Jets may go without saying.

But that didn't stop Brady from saying it anyway.

He appeared for his regularly-scheduled Monday morning appearance on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan show, NFL.com reports. The interview can be heard here.

He was asked his opinion of HBO's reality TV series "Hard Knocks" which features an in-depth look at the New York Jets during training camp.

He replied, "Honestly, I haven't turned it on. I hate the Jets, so I refuse to support that show."

This seems to run deeper than simply hating a division rival that has stolen the spotlight from the Patriots. Brady could probably care less about that. "I'd love to say a lot of mean things, but I'd rather not do that, either."

He did, however, go as far as to say that Belichick has, "worked pretty hard over the years to run his practices the right way, (and) his meetings the right way."

Having been with the Patriots so long, is it any surprise that Brady hates the Jets? The only thing that surprises me is that it took so long for him to say it, but that's just Tom Brady as we've come to know him.

Perhaps the black-and-white differences in the two team's ideologies pushed Brady to the brink.

This is a switch from the "Patriot Way" that leaves the talking to the other guys while the Patriots simply go out there and let the play on the field do the talking.

On the one hand, the Jets are embracing the spotlight as well as the bulls-eye on their back.

The Jets have become notorious as a loud-mouthed group that has no problem giving other teams "bulletin board material", but this is the first time in a long time that the Patriots have given the Jets something to put on their bulletin board.

Somehow, I doubt Brady is too concerned. The Patriots, for once, are flying under the radar, and loving every second of it.

In case you missed the memo, the date to circle on your calendars is September 19, 2010, when the Patriots make the trip to New Meadowlands Stadium to square off with the Jets in what could be the game of the week.