Tom Brady’s season-ending knee injury throws a real monkey-wrench into the ‘08 NFL Season
(Philadelphia, Pa) — The NFL’s worst fear (season-ending injury to a marquee player) reared its ugly head as the New England Patriots learned that their superstar quarterback Tom Brady will be lost for 2008 after suffering a knee against the Chiefs in week 1 of the NFL season.
Brady was injured early in the first quarter when he stepped up in the pocket to make a throw and was hit low by Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard causing the three-time Super Bowl champion’s left knee to buckle. Brady — 7 of 11 passing for 76 yards before the injury – grabbed for his knee right away and had to be helped off the field, then gingerly walked to the sideline, and was later seen being taken down a staircase in Gillette Stadium by team personnel. Patriots receiver Randy Moss later called the play “dirty”, but I didn’t see any evidence to that point and unfortunately that maybe sour grapes on Moss’ part.
After Brady left, the Patriots found a way to maintain their composure to pull out a 17-10 win over the Chiefs behind backup Matt Cassel. The young fourth year quarterback out of USC kept the Patriots in the game allowing his defense and special teams to mostly finish the job. Cassel finished an efficient 13 of 18 passing for 152 yards and a touchdown to Moss.
I can totally feel for the Patriots and their fans as I still remember my favorite player Randall Cunningham being carted off the field of opening week 1991. Cunningham also was in the pocket as a player (Bryce Paup) crawled and lunged at his knee causing severe damage that resulted in reconstructive surgery. The entire 1990 season seemed to be lost in a blink of an eye, but the Eagles soldiered on producing a 10-6 season.
I heard that Coach Bill Belichick said to the team, “The season will still go on and now it is time for someone else to step up”. Brady is scheduled for a MRI today, but the news already seems to be grim (ACL) as the Patriots have contacted free-agent quarterback Chris Simms about coming in for a physical and tryout Monday morning with expectations that Simms could be a Patriot by the end of the day.
Two other teams Kansas City and Tennessee will be looking for help too as their starters (Chiefs’ Brodie Croyle – shoulder and Titans’ Vince Young – knee sprain) also had significant injuries in week 1, so Daunte Culpepper may have to rip his retirement letter after all.
2 Comments
September 8, 2008 at 5:01 pm
[...] Taking it to the House informs us that the ramifications of Brady’s are widespread. [...]
September 8, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I appreciate this article a lot. Brady is a marquee player and the NFL did lose a hugely polarizing star…but the Patriots lost their best player.
BTW, I’m a little young to remember Randall Cunningham in 1990, but I sure as hell remember him in the late 1990’s when he, Cris Carter, Randy Moss, and Robert Smith formed one of the most exciting teams I’ve ever seen. He was the man!