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As Emmitt Smith said on Sunday, the Giants provided the “bootprint” for playing the Patriots: Hit Tom Brady, early and often and with significant force.
The Chiefs did just that early in Sunday’s regular-season opener, and sent shock waves throughout the league.
Brady was hit low by safety Bernard Pollard, buckling Brady’s knee — as this photo of the hit from ESPN.com illustrates.
Every so often, there’s a significant injury in Week One that changes the landscape of the season dramatically. In 1997, it was a torn ACL for Jerry Rice, courtesy of Warren Sapp. In 1999, it was a busted Achilles for Vinny Testaverde, courtesy of the green cement that used to cover the field at Giants Stadium. Remember Keyshawn Johnson’s post-game podium-pounding tantrum?
(There might be others. PFT Planet, feel free to refresh our memories.)
If Brady is out for the year, it would be the biggest opening-day season-ender in league history. And it significantly would open up the competition in the AFC.
September 7th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Bryce Paup on Randall Cunningham in Green Bay in the mid-90’s.
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Rating: 4.2 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
If that doesn’t open the door for the NY Bretts I don’t know what does.
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Rating: 4.55 / 5 with 9 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Randall Cunningham for the Eagles back in ‘92 when Bryce Paup (sp?) hit Randall in a similar fashion to how Brady was hit
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Rod Woodson went down with an knee injury week 1 in ‘95. Then played in the Game that is played in Late January. Maybe he ‘inspired’ his team to play better…
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Rating: 3.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
It would turn everything around and could completely change the league. But I think it will be just 1 or 2 more games at the most.
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Rating: 2.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Bootprint! Did he really say that?!
OMG, that is hilarious! How can ESPN continue with this embarrassment? At least he’s good entertainment value.
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Rating: 3.4 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
What a genius strategy. “If you want to beat the Patriots take cheap shots at their QB’s knees!” That’s almost as good as “When you sack the QB, see if you can break his arm.” It’s not strategy it’s unethical play.
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Rating: 1.45 / 5 with 15 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Javon Kearse in 2006? Didn’t he pop his ACL Week One against the Giants?
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Rating: 4.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Just an observation: in the 2nd quarter, Robert Kraft sat in his seat with son, Jonathan, casually munching fries. If this was season-ending, I doubt the mood would be so light. Just an observation.
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Rating: 1.35 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
the pats are hereby debacled
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Rating: 3.85 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Well, at least now we know what the injury report is going to say next week…
Probable: Tom Brady (Right Shoulder)
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Rating: 4.25 / 5 with 9 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Pierson Prealou (Currently a jags saftey) was injured on the 1st play against the Vikings when he played for the Redskins on ESPN’s 1st Monday night Football game in Week 1 of 2006.
This sparked the Adam Archuletta issue. Prealou was supposed to play the deep zones and Archuletta was meant as a in the box saftey. The Skins went on to be one of the worst defenses and teams in the NFL with many injures including - Clinton Portis, Shawn Springs, Randy Thomas, Santana Moss, Prealou, Marcus Washington, and Cornelius Griffen.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Jamal Anderson’s 99 or 2000 knee explosion…
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Rating: 4.65 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Patriots fan: “It’s not strategy it’s unethical play.”
Aaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
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Rating: 4.7 / 5 with 14 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Florio is crying right now. Anyone want to bet that Brady will be listed as having a knee bruise and will be listed as “probable” the rest of the season and yet not play a game?
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Rating: 3.3 / 5 with 7 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
yes Kearse did but it was week 2
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Rating: 4.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Deckard79,
If the Jets can’t do better against Miami, don’t expect much else, with or without NE in the mix.
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Rating: 2.15 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Two people mention Randall Cunningham, and both of them are wrong. It was not the mid-1990s, and it was not 1992. The week 1 injury versus the Packers came in 1991. All you have to do to get the right facts is check out Cunningham’s stats. 1991: 1 game, 1-for-4 passing. Three seconds via Google.
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Rating: 3.15 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I am not happy to see any player hurt, but I’ve been saying for months that it was just a matter of time before other teams started paying the Patriots back for their cheap shots against QBs. The perfect example was caught on tape last year when Wilfork delivered a cheap shot elbow to the knee against the Bills. It was a blatant attempt to injure another player and Wilfork was fined. Teams are going after Brady’s knees and are going to try to make it look like an accident, just like the Patriots do.
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Rating: 4.3 / 5 with 12 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Somewhere, Daunte Culpepper’s phone is ringing off the hook…
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Rating: 3.2 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Too bad Culpepper just retired. His dream gig just opened up
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Rating: 3.4 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
RonInCharlotte,
Well, for the last week we heard a groundswell of “Maybe the Dolphins will beat the Jets” talk [Mort]. Now Jets are 1-0 and may be facing their toughest opponent of the year with a sack of tomatoes at QB next week.
Just sayin’.
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Rating: 4.8 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Karma is a bizatch!
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I am not anything close to a Pats fan…that being said, I was sorry to hear Mr. Brady was injured, I hope he fully recovers. Like him or not he is a good QB and it is fun watching that team’s offense. If by, unfortunate chance, it is a long term recovery process it should tioghten things up in that division.
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Rating: 3.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 7th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Did anyone see the shot of him on the ground having his knee worked on? CBS showed it a number of times. The test he was being given is the ACL integrity test. It sure looked like an awful lot of movement for an intact ACL to me. Seeing it on TV in a 2 second shot is no way to diagnose an injury, but stiil, it wouldn’t surprise me if his ACL is torn. With a torn ACL you can walk off the field with no difficulty, but you cannot play football.
I’m a heartsick Pats fan tonight.
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Rating: 2.8 / 5 with 5 rating(s)