FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots on Wednesday moved to clarify 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 the superstar quarterback if he had any message ahead of the home opener, to which he 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, Foxborough instituted a $200 fine for drinking in public.