FOXBORO -- Tom Brady was absent from Tuesday's light practice, and now we may know why.
According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, Brady plans to attend Wednesday's federal court hearing in Manhattan. Judge Richard Berman reportedly told both Brady and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that they were not required to attend the Aug. 19 court date for settlement talks between the NFL and NFLPA, but it's possible that both men could choose to attend of their own volition.
Brady missed last Tuesday's practice, one day in advance of settlement discussions between the NFL and NFLPA with Berman in New York.
After Monday's practice -- during which Brady took 38 snaps in team 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 periods, while Jimmy Garoppolo took 22 snaps -- Brady and coach Bill Belichick spoke for about 10 minutes on one of the practice fields.
On Tuesday, the Patriots will travel to West Virginia for joint practices with the Saints in advance of each team's second preseason game.