New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady holds his leg after being hit by Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard on Sunday. (Jim Davis/Boston Globe/Associated Press) The New England Patriots placed quarterback Tom Brady on injured reserve on Monday, ending his 2008 season after just one game due to a left knee injury.
Brady, the most valuable player in the NFL last season for the mighty Patriots, was felled just 7½ minutes into the season.
Brady's season was ended when Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard rolled over into the quarterback's left knee. The Patriots confirmed in a statement that an MRI indicated a tear of the anterior cruciate ligaments in the knee.
"We feel badly for Tom about the injury," said coach Bill Belichick. "You hate to see anyone go down [and] nobody's worked harder and done more for this team than Tom has. It's a tough setback for him."
According to reports, the Patriots were bringing in veterans Chris Simms and Tim Rattay for a look, but Belichick denied it.
"We've had a lot of people calling us, I can tell you that," said Belichick.
"We'll do what we feel is best for our football team, as always," he added.
Replacement Matt Cassel completed 13 of 18 passes and one touchdown in the 17-10 win over Kansas City. Cassel had entered the game with just 39 passing attempts in his career, despite being with New England for the previous three seasons.
"I'm not trying to be Tom Brady. I'm just trying to be Matt Cassel," he said. "I don't know where that's going to take us."
Belichick said he, and the team, had confidence in Cassel and that the Patriots would have two quarterbacks on the roster for the time being.
The only other pivot on the roster is rookie Kevin O'Connell, selected in the fifth round out of San Diego State in the April draft.
Brady threw for a record 50 touchdowns last season as New England stormed to an unprecedented 16-0 regular season.
While New England's season ended with a disappointing Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants, the Patriots were a heavy favourite to get back to the championship game five months from now in Tampa Bay.
Brady also ranked with fellow quarterback greats Brett Favre and Peyton Manning in terms of durability, starting 128 consecutive games. Drew Bledsoe was the last man other than Brady to start for New England.
New England has not lost a regular season game since Dec. 10, 2006, a span of 20 regular season games.
Brady has thrown 197 touchdowns and 86 interceptions since 2001, leading the Patriots to three Super Bowl wins.
The NFL released a statement on Monday indicating there was no intent to injure on the Pollard hit, as the Chiefs player had collided with a New England lineman before falling on Brady.
The Patriots will play the New York Jets on Sunday, their first road game of the season.
With files from the Associated Press
