Brady plays well, has sore shoulder

Officially, Tom Brady has a “sore shoulder,” the result of being crushed to the turf by massive Albert Haynesworth. It caused enough discomfort for him to spend quite a while on the bench flexing and rotating his throwing arm, trying to work out whatever kinks where there.

It could be nothing. It could be something. Actually, anything that involves Tom Brady is always something, especially in a season in which he’s trying to come back from a major knee injury.

Brady hurt his shoulder in the New England Patriots’ 27-24 victory over the Washington Redskins on Friday night in Landover, Md. It was late in the first half when he was pressed to the ground by All-Pro defensive tackle Haynesworth after a third- down incomplete pass.

“Anytime someone 350 pounds falls on him, it’s going to hurt him,” New England right tackle Matt Light said. “You just know it’s part of the game, and Tom’s been through it before and you know he can take it.”

Brady went to the bench, where he stretched his arm repeatedly as the half came to a close and again after returning from the locker room after halftime.

Brady did not play in the second half, even though most of the first-team offense returned for the first drive of the third quarter. He then left the sideline and returned to the locker room.

Packers 44, Cardinals 37: At Glendale, Ariz., Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay had a preseason performance of near perfection in the first half. Then Matt Leinart had a big second half with Arizona’s reserves.

Rodgers threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns to open a 28-point halftime lead, then the Green Bay reserves barely held off the Leinart-led rally for a 44-37 victory.

The Packers’ No. 1 offense had four touchdowns and a field goal in their six first-half possessions.