WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – They're on opposite sidelines, but play the same position. One is a rookie, the other a world-renowned, five-time champion. So, what did the latter – 40-year-old Tom Brady – have to say when he pulled aside Texans QB Deshaun Watson, nearly half Brady's age at just 21, after Wednesday's joint session practice?

"As an older player, you kind of pass along words of advice," Brady began. "You meet other players in the league, younger players, and whether it's joint practices or other opportunities in the offseason, it's nice to meet a lot of guys.

"He's had such a great college career [at reigning national champion Clemson] and got picked by a great [NFL] team. So, watching him play, he has a great future. He has all the ability and it was great to meet him. Pro football players watch a lot of college players because Saturday night we're at the hotel and Clemson was on a lot. Obviously they won a lot of big games. It was great to meet him."

"It's always good to be able to learn and watch a guy like Tom Brady, one of the best to ever do it, and see him in live practice, how he works," remarked Watson. "We kind of congratulated each other on all the success we've had, and he had a little tip here and there on this league, this system, and Coach [Bill O'Brien]. It was a good talk."

Brady has often commented that he wishes he could take parts of other quarterbacks' skill sets and add them to his own. When asked about this and how it applies to the young, athletic Watson, Brady was as quick with his response as he usually is delivering the football to his receivers.

"If I could run a 4.7 [40-yard dash, like Watson can], I would have been the first overall pick. Unfortunately, I ran a 5.2," Brady smiled, before amending his thought to say, "probably would've been a fourth-rounder."

"Look, every player has strengths and weakness and you learn to play to your strengths, and you learn to develop your weaknesses. I'm still working on those things in my 18th [NFL] year… It's about improving the things that maybe you're not so good at, which I'm going to keep trying to do and keep building on the things you are good at."

Friends of Bill

As was the case a couple of years ago when the Patriots visited White Sulphur Springs, a number of notable faces showed up to watch the reigning Super Bowl champions this week at the Greenbrier.

NBA legend Jerry West, a native West Virginian, and former NFL quarterback Jeff Hostetler were in attendance on Tuesday. Hostetler played for the New York Giants when Bill Belichick served as defensive coordinator there in the 1980s and early '90s.

Aside from helping the Giants win Super Bowl XXV in relief of then-starter Phil Simms, Belichick recalled an interesting factoid about Hostetler.

"When you look back earlier on Jeff's career, he blocked a punt, he caught a pass… before he ever threw a pass in the league. I think that speaks to his versatility, his athleticism and really his ability to compete and get on the field. When there wasn't a role for him in his primary position, he found other roles and ways to contribute to the team."

On Wednesday, Belichick brought coaching pals Tony LaRussa and Tom Crean to practice. LaRussa, who won World Series titles as manager of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics (1989) and St. Louis Cardinals (2006 and '11), was asked to describe his relationship with Belichick, which dates back many years.