An NFL source said Patriots coach Bill Belichick told his team that Brady's injury could be bad and to prepare for Matt Cassel to be the quarterback going forward, but the source could not confirm the diagnosis of a torn ACL. A separate league source said that Brady was resting at home last night and would undergo "further evaluation" - most likely an MRI - today, and the expectation is that it will confirm a serious knee injury.
In another sign that Brady's injury is season-threatening, a third league source confirmed that quarterback Chris Simms, who was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will be in Foxborough today for a workout and a physical.
Brady left after the injury and did not return. The loss of The Franchise was a sickening sight for any Patriots fan.
On the Patriots' 15th offensive snap of the game, Brady dropped back from the Kansas City 43. Chiefs safety Pollard blitzed, but was picked up and put face down by running back Sammy Morris. As Brady stepped into a 28-yard completion to Randy Moss, Pollard made a desperation dive at Brady's legs, his shoulder crashing into the quarterback's left knee. The next sound Pollard heard was Brady screaming and yelling as he clutched the knee.
"When I heard him scream and yell, I knew something was wrong, said Pollard, who was apologetic. "That [stinks] because he's a great player."
Brady, who ended 7 of 11 for 76 yards, managed to get to his feet and limp off the field, but headed directly to the locker room and then to a medical facility. He was replaced by Cassel, who led the Patriots to their 20th straight regular-season win.
Moss, who added insult to injury on the play by losing a fumble at the Kansas City 16-yard line, said he thought Pollard's hit was dirty.
"Me personally, I thought it was dirty," said Moss. "Like I said, I didn't really see anything because I was running down the field, but it looked dirty to me. I've never been a dirty player. I honestly don't even know how to play dirty. I just play the game. Any time you see something like that that looks foul, that looks dirty, it opens your eyes."
