Tom Brady Injured in Patriots Win

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady left this afternoon’s 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs early in the first quarter with a left knee injury. Tom was injured when he stepped up in the pocket to make a throw and collided with Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, who was down on the field in front of him. Tom’s left knee buckled as he followed through on his throw, and he went down holding the area immediately below his kneecap. He was helped off the field and walked carefully with the help of trainers. He was later led down a staircase into the bowels of Gillette Stadium by team personnel. Pats receiver Randy Moss said he thought the play was dirty, but Bernard vehemently denied it:

“The play was not intentional. People can call me a dirty player, you can call me whatever you want to call me, it’s not a dirty play. When you have 230 pounds on your back, and you’re trying to go forward, things will happen. I saw the ball was still in his hands and I tried to get to him. I tried to get up and get to him. But I couldn’t get up, so I just tried to grab him. It was not an intentional play.”

After watching it a couple times, I’d have to agree with him. Head coach Bill Belichick had little to add about Tom’s status during his postgame presser, saying only that he had no update and that tests were being done. NBCSports.com has word from unnamed N.Y. Jets players and coaches who said that Tom has a torn ACL. The “unnamed” part always concerns me. The Jets play the Pats next week. My calls to the Patriots media relations office either went to voice mail or nobody answered at all. Big surprise.

Backup QB Matt Cassel filled in admirably against the Chiefs, going 13-of-18 passing for 152 yards and a touchdown (to Randy Moss). But the Pats certainly aren’t the same team without Tom Brady, who also missed the entire preseason with a foot injury. Fox Sports’ Terry Bradshaw said Tom will have an MRI tomorrow but I can’t believe they would wait that long. Until then, the entire football world awaits updated news on the extent of this injury.

Sources: NFL.com, NBCSports.com, Boston.com, ESPN NFL Nation