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Brady, Patriots carve up Panthers

Aug 25, 2007 - 2:59 AM CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Fatherhood apparently agrees with Tom Brady.

Playing just two days after flying coast-to-coast for the birth of his son, Brady was steely efficient in leading the New England Patriots to a 24-7 preseason victory over the Carolina Panthers on Friday.

Brady finished 17-of-22 for 167 yards and two touchdowns, playing one series into the third quarter. He hit backup tight end Marcellus Rivers for a six-yard TD pass and 10-0 lead with 5:42 left in the first half.

After the Panthers closed to within 10-7 on Jake Delhomme's 48-yard scoring pass to Keary Colbert with 43 seconds left in the half, Brady drove the Patriots to another touchdown to open the third quarter.

Brady directed an eight-play, 77-yard drive and capped it off with an eight-yard TD pass to backup running back Heath Evans for a 17-7 lead before calling it a night.

Evans added a two-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter for a 24-7 lead.

Second-year back Laurence Maroney, seeing his first action of the preseason, rushed for 58 yards on 15 carries for the Patriots.

Delhomme finished 11-of-18 for 162 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers, who got a minimal contribution from their running game. DeAngelo Williams had 29 yards on nine carries and DeShaun Foster rushed three times for zero yards.

Drew Carter, battling Colbert for a starting wide receiver berth opposite Steve Smith, had three receptions for 52 yards for Carolina.