New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is expected to miss the rest of the 2008 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, according to a source familiar with the injury.

While New England coach Bill Belichick said in his postgame press conference that he had no update on the status of Bradys injury, two sources indicated it involved serious damage to the knee.

Its bad, a team source said. Were going to have to play without him.

Brady was hurt as he stepped up in the pocket to make a throw to wideout Randy Moss. Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, who was on the ground, lunged forward and struck Bradys leg, which buckled as he released the ball.

Brady was helped off the field and was later led down a staircase by team officials, presumably to undergo tests.

Fourth-year quarterback Matt Cassel, who had thrown just 39 passes in his career before Sunday, replaced Brady and completed 13 of 18 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. Cassel, who backed up Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC, hasnt been a starting quarterback since high school. He won a competition with Matt Gutierrez during the preseason to retain the job as Bradys primary backup.

holy crap!

What a crazy way to start the season.
Arguably the best QB on the best team is gone for the year.
Nuts.

Fantasywise, this hurts me because I have moss, but Cassel threw a TD to him, so maybe not.

Sucks for them, I hope he's ok for next year.

WoW

As I said in chat.

Brady had been on the injury report for three straight years, never missing a game. This was the first game in those three years he was not listed and now he's hurt.

Irony?

"tromadz"holy crap!

What a crazy way to start the season.
Arguably the best QB on the best team is gone for the year.
Nuts.

Fantasywise, this hurts me because I have moss, but Cassel threw a TD to him, so maybe not.

Sucks for them, I hope he's ok for next year.

Keep Moss.
Cassel could hit him, as he already proved.

Maybe Brady going down will increase Moss' numbers. Cassel might think OH POOP
and just chuck it to Moss every time lol

Kind of like Favre did with Sharpe.


edit, I wanted to mention Daunte to the Patriots, but PFT beat me to it already. Fookers.

"Zero2Cool"Irony?

More like Karma, considering the way good ol' Bellichick likes to tinker with the injury report.

But what a huge loss. I couldn't believe it when I saw the 'breaking news' on NFLN.

I also read that the player who hit Brady said he heard Brady scream and yell in pain after that hit. I'd never imagine Brady to be that type, someone so durable going out like this is a huge loss for the Pats, but also a big loss for NFL fans in general.

Hate him or love him, Brady is a heck of a QB. Tough blow for the Pats chances at the Suprebowl.

Durable? C'mon, the guy hardly ever gets hit... right? I don't know that for sure, I just don't see him getting hit often. When I see his play he has minutes to decide who to throw to lol

doesn't matter how durable you are.
The ACL is sucks.
too bad haven't evolved it out of existence.
God I hate knee injuries.

I was quite surprised to see this injury happen today.... The word is the Pats are bringing in Chris Simms.. that will be interesting to see what happens if he does come in and sign. Either way, whoever they bring in will have to learn the offense in a hurry. It's Matt Cassell's time to shine for the Patriots and prove if it's the system or Brady was really that good. I personally believe Brady was that good.. Either way, it opens up the AFC and you throw in the loss by the Chargers... It's anyone's conference for the taking.

wow...this is going to really hurt them..I highly doubt that cassel can turn out like brady did got bledsoe