Tom Brady rewrote the NFL record book last season. The quarterback will not have a chance for an encore in 2008.Brady, the league's reigning MVP, needs season-ending surgery on his left knee and has been placed on injured reserve, the Patriots announced Monday.
One of the most durable players in NFL history, Brady suffered the injury in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The two-time Super Bowl MVP underwent an MRI on Monday but Patriots coach Bill Belichick did not reveal the exact results of the exam.
"We feel badly for Tom about the injury," Belichick said during a news conference Monday afternoon from Gillette Stadium. "You hate to see anyone go down, and no one has worked harder or done more for this team than Tom has."
Brady was knocked out of Sunday's 17-10 victory midway through the first quarter after he was hit in the back of the left knee by safety Bernard Pollard. The four-time Pro Bowler crumpled to the turf following the hit and clutched his knee.
After being attended to by team trainers, Brady hobbled off the field and headed directly to the locker room. The NFL Network reported that he underwent a preliminary MRI at Gillette Stadium, and the results confirmed that he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Now the Patriots turn the reins over to Matt Cassel, who has notstarted a game since high school and entered this season with 22 career passing attempts and two touchdowns.
"There isn't going to be any magical formula or any magical pill (Brady) can take (to get him) back out there on Sunday," All-Pro defensive lineman Richard Seymour said. "Cassel's our guy and we'll ride with him. There's always a way to win. We just have to game plan and look for our opportunities."
On Sunday, Cassell passed for 152 yards and a touchdown in relief of Brady. Cassel revealed he has not spoken to Brady, although the two have exchanged text messages. He said: "I'm not trying to be Tom Brady, I'm just trying to be Matt Cassel. I don't know where that's going to take us."
Safety Rodney Harrison stressed that the onus will now be on the entire team, adding: "One player doesn't win or lose ballgames. It's 53 guys collectively as a group and we understand that as a team and that's why it's a team. It's not 11 guys against one, it's 11 guys on the field against 11 guys on the field."
by espnstar.com
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