Patriots back off Brady's "Start Drinking Early" comment

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - The Patriots are clarifying what Tom Brady meant when he urged fans to, "Start drinking early" in anticipation of Sunday afternoon's game with the San Diego Chargers.

A reporter asked Brady if he had any message for the fans in anticipation of the home opener. Brady responded, "Yeah, start drinking early. Get nice and rowdy. It's a 4:15 game, they'll have a lot of time to get lubed up, come out here and cheer for the home team."

A Patriots spokesman said later that Brady meant that the fans should stay hydrated, drink water and drink responsibly.

Drinking at Gillette Stadium during Patriots games and concerts has been a concern for neighboring towns. In 2011, Foxboro instituted a $200 fine for drinking in public.