FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Patriots coach Bill Belichick says Tom Brady left Friday night's exhibition game so the coaches could look at the backup — not because of injury.

The team had announced at the game that Brady had a sore right shoulder. Belichick said in a conference call Saturday it was a "football decision" to remove him.

Brady left the game against the Washington Redskins after he was crushed to the turf by defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. The two-time Super Bowl MVP was seen on the bench working out the kinks in his throwing arm.

Brady missed all of last season with torn knee ligaments.