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Bernard Pollard: I take pride in hit on Tom Brady 01.19.12 at 5:08 pm ET
By Kirk Minihane

Bernard Pollard

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Bernard Pollard has played in the NFL for six seasons, pretty impressive in a league where tomorrow is promised to absolutely no one. He’s been a starter for the last five, picking up at least 90 tackles four times during that span. And now, in his first season with the Ravens, he’s a single win away from the Super Bowl.

But for most NFL fans — and for all in New England — he’ll be forever defined by one play.

“The hit on Brady,” Pollard said on Thursday. “Look, it’s football, at the end of the day guys get hurt every Sunday. I think the fact of the matter is that in this case it was Tom Brady. Nothing was intentional, nothing was malicious. When that happened, we had other guys go down that day and nothing happened.”

In the season opener of 2008, Pollard lunged at Brady’s knee and hit him with his helmet, tearing Brady’s ACL and ending his season before the first quarter of Week 1 was even in the books. Pollard wasn’t flagged on the play, but the NFL instituted a rule after the season that penalized a player for making contact with a quarterback’s knee.

Brian Waters — a teammate of Pollard’s with the Chiefs in 2008 — said Thursday that Pollard “took pride” in being able to get a hit on Brady that September afternoon.

“I took pride because I didn’t do anything wrong,” Pollard said. “This is a game where anything can happen. I don’t care about recognition, I don’t care about being the face of the NFL, I’m just blessed to be able to do what I do.”

Pollard — who referred to Brady as “Mr. Pretty Boy” on Wednesday — said he’s looking forward to a trip to Gillette Stadium on Sunday. But the reaction from some fans to the hit on Brady was as serious as it gets, according to the veteran safety.

“I’ve gotten death threats, from fans, mail email stuff like that,” Pollard said. “They got my house address, they got the Chiefs facility, it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s one of those things. Fans don’t understand the game. We play this game and put so much into it, and when they see the beloved quarterback go down, no one wants to see it. Nobody wants to see it.”

Pollard said he’s never spoken to Brady, and has no plans to do so.

“I’ve not spoke to him directly, indirectly we’ve spoken through other people,” Pollard said. “If you are asking me if I apologized? No. And I’m not going to apologize for it. It’s football. He doesn’t apologize for throwing the ball over your head, he doesn’t apologize for throwing five touchdowns against you. We don’t want anyone to get hurt, but it’s a rough sport and sometimes things happen.”

As for Sunday’s AFC title game, Pollard — who called Brady the best quarterback he’s ever faced — played the respect card when asked about the New England offense.

“We know the monster we are going against,” Pollard said. “It’s going to be the ultimate challenge.”

Read More: Bernard Pollard, Tom Brady, Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • ClubberLang

    Bernard Pollard was also involved in the play when Wes Welker tore his ACL at the end of the 2009 season. Some food for thought.

  • Yasmin2

    I hope someone hurts him & makes him e lose a season, cos that’s just football, you creep!!!

  • http://twitter.com/Darrelldog5 Darrell Fossitt

    To say u take pride in a questionable hit that ends a guys season and possibly his career is dumb. If the hit was so legal, then why was there rule change the following year?

  • mikepatriot

    I hope some guys get this sob under a pile and inflict a little justice; spinal manipulations, etc. and then claim to be “proud” of thier work. It sometimes takes a while, but someone always remembers in football and inflict the payback……..

  • Papa Joe

    I love the Patriots and Tom Brady as much as anybody in New England. I will be glued to the TV watching the Pats take one more step towards the Superbowl. Having said that, I have to say that I agree with Bernard Pollard. He has no reason to apologize for his actions on the gridiron.
    The hit on Brady was clean. If you have to criticize anybody, criticize the offense. Somebody missed an assignment and allowed Pollard to get to him.  It’s his job. If he doesn’t perform well, the owners will fire his …… I do believe the Patriots are a better team and will win this weekend – 27 to 10. 

  • umstbkdng

    Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t Wes essentially alone when he went down after he made a cut??

  • OOLLYY

    Benard who?!    

    Punk!

  • skiffer

    uhhh the rule was changed because it was legal and they wanted to make it illegal but in order to that they had to change the rule from being legal to illegal. Get it btw im a PATS fan and agree with the rule change making a once legal hit now illegal

  • http://twitter.com/dwoods92117 David Woods

    Well to be fair, the hit WAS legal at the time.  It’s also led to a rule which has been grossly overenforced to the point where any time you hit the quarterback low even on what would be a clean hit, you get flagged and fined.  It’s a dangerous area to be hitting someone but IIRC, the hit on Brady wasn’t a cheap shot.

  • Patsfan54

    Sure it was a clean hit at the time and NO apology is necessary. But why are you proud of it Pollard? Oh I know cause its the biggest thing you EVER did in your career? Pretty Boy? Thats a quote from your short bus riding team mate T Suckass!
    Be a LOOOONG ride home Sunday!

  • http://twitter.com/PaulPimentel PaulPimentel

    Two words for Pollard—Logan Mankins.  Try it again.

  • Jmp603

    Yes,  Just check out the video.  He is not touched.  His leg slips and bends while making a cut.  Just google wes welker video 2009 . 

  • http://twitter.com/lightgraphs Julia Jones VIII

    WATCH THE REPLAY. Pollard was known as “The Bonecrusher” at Purdue, had a vicious falling out with coach in senor year. Bad attitude and angry. The injuries he inflects are deliberate. Watch the replay of the tackle. He brings Gronk down at the waist, then his arms move down. Watch his arms tighten needlessly around the legs. He did it to Brady and Welker, too. Why doesn’t the NFL look at the Gronk replay. The man, who plays for no one, should play for no one. He’s dangerous. No team will keep him. He’s a criminal. It’s one thing to tackle, it’s another to “crush bones” and ruin lives and not care.

  • http://twitter.com/lightgraphs Julia Jones VIII

    WATCH THE REPLAY. Pollard was known as “The Bonecrusher” at Purdue, had a vicious falling out with coach in senor year. Bad attitude and angry. The injuries he inflects are deliberate. Watch the replay of the tackle. He brings Gronk down at the waist, then his arms move down. Watch his arms tighten needlessly around the legs. He did it to Brady and Welker, too. Why doesn’t the NFL look at the Gronk replay. The man, who plays for no one, should play for no one. He’s dangerous. No team will keep him. He’s a criminal. It’s one thing to tackle, it’s another to “crush bones” and ruin lives and not care.

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