Brady’s status unknown
Tom Brady went from the disappointment of a Super Bowl loss to the devastation of an injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season.
After missing the entire preseason with an unspecified foot injury, Brady left Sunday’s season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first quarter after being hit on the left leg by Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard. Coach Bill Belichick provided no information on the injury, but Pollard had a diagnosis of his own.
“He was in a lot of pain,” he said. “When you hear a scream, you know that.”
Various reports Sunday night said Belichick told the players that the injury was serious. NFL.com reported that Brady will be out for the season.
The Patriots were already looking for a possible replacement for Brady. A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that former Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms was coming in Monday for a physical.
Brady was the NFL MVP last season after throwing for a record 50 touchdowns and leading the Patriots through a perfect regular season to the brink of their fourth Super Bowl title in eight years. But New England lost its chance at an unprecedented 19-0 record when the Giants won the championship, 17-14.
Any chance at redemption might have disappeared when Brady, who has started 128 consecutive games, went to the turf clutching his left knee midway through the first quarter. After being tended to on the field, he walked off, limping, between two trainers.
Brady, 31, went to the locker room and wasn’t seen again on the sideline as backup Matt Cassel led the Patriots to a 17-10 victory.
Ocho Cinco shelved
Chad Johnson has changed his name, but his jersey remained the same. The Cincinnati Bengals receiver legally changed his name from Chad Johnson to Chad Ocho Cinco, but the NFL decided against allowing him to put his name on his jersey.
Contacted Sunday by The Associated Press, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said: “He has a financial obligation to Reebok, which produces the jerseys available to fans. That has to be resolved before the on-field jersey can be changed.”
Bills’ Everett honored
Former Bills tight end Kevin Everett was honored at halftime of Buffalo’s season-opening game against Seattle, just less than a year since he had a life-threatening spinal cord injury. Everett walked onto the field to receive the Professional Football Writers of America’s George Halas Award, which is given to the person in the NFL who overcame the most adversity to succeed in the previous season.
Around the league
Vince Young was on crutches after spraining his left knee late in the Titans’ 17-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said his quarterback will have tests to determine the severity of the injury, but added that Young’s knee eased up in the locker room. … Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters has passed his physical and will begin practicing with the team this week after ending his long contractual holdout on Saturday. … The Denver Broncos signed linebacker D.J. Williams to a five-year contract extension. The deal was first reported by the NFL Network and Rocky Mountain News at $32 million, including $13 million in guaranteed money.