Nursing an injury to his ribs, Ravens safety Bernard Pollard vows to play Sunday, which is not good news for any of the Patriots playmakers. Pollard has caused a major injury every time he has played against New England.
In 2008, when he was with the Chiefs, Pollard was the one who knocked out Tom Brady for the season. In 2010, when he was with the Texans, Pollard was closing in on Wes Welker when the wide receiver tore his ACL. Then last season with the Ravens, Pollard injured Rob Gronkowski (high ankle sprain) on a tackle in the AFC Championship Game that kept the tight end from being effective in the Super Bowl.
Three games, three different teams and three serious injuries.
“They can think I’m a villain all they want to,” Pollard told the NFL Network. “I think the fans have to understand that we as players, we don’t come out and look to hurt anybody."
Pollard is one of the most physical safeties in the game and you can tell that he enjoys the violent aspect of the game. His hard-hitting style is the reason why he's been in the league for seven seasons. He'll warn players not to come across the middle (like he did with A.J. Green earlier this season) but he doesn't have the reputation for being a malicious player.
“Anything that I’ve done, I don’t celebrate with that," Pollard said. "I don’t laugh when people come up to me and call me ‘The Brady Killer.’"