Rob Gronkowski labels Bernard Pollard as the ‘Patriot killer’: “He took out Tom Brady’s knee”

Patriots fanatics also blame Bernard Pollard for costing the team three Super Bowl rings. 

Rob Gronkowski labels Bernard Pollard as the ‘Patriot killer’: “He took out Tom Brady’s knee”

Rob Gronkowski and Bernard Pollard (Via Imago)

It appears Rob Gronkowski was holding a grudge against Bernard Pollard for a long time and when he got an opportunity, he didn’t mind venting his vexation.

Pollard is already unpopular amongst the New England Patriots fanatics and judging from the legendary tight end’s feelings towards him, he doesn’t seem well-liked in the locker room either. The main reason for Pollard’s bad reputation is the severe injury he caused to legendary quarterback Tom Brady in 2008, tearing his ACL and MCL.

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Recalling those days, Gronkowski called the defender “Patriot killer” in his recent appearance on the Games with Names podcast. Patriots fanatics also blame Pollard for costing the team three Super Bowl rings.

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Pollard was kind of like the Patriot killer. He took out [Tom Brady’s] knee. I think he messed up [Wes] Welker as well, in a way. I forgot that injury. He was kind of a Patriot killer. He was a dirty player, I feel like at the time.
Rob Gronkowski said

The year Brady injured his knee was right after New England’s disappointing loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Fans had high expectations for the team, but when Brady got injured in the very first game of the season, their Super Bowl dreams were crushed.

Rob Gronkowski acknowledges Bernard Pollard’s influence in crucial playoff defeats

While discussing how brutally Pollard injured Brady in 2008 and cost the Patriots a Super Bowl run, the future Hall of Famer also revealed that Pollard was responsible for one of his injuries in the 2011 AFC Championship Game.

He hip-drop tackled me, Bernard Pollard, who's kinda like the Patriot killer.
Rob Gronkowski said

Due to the hip-drop tackle, the four-time Super Bowl champion was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and despite the severe pain, he played in the Super Bowl XLVI. However, unfortunately, the Patriots ended up losing to the Giants again.

Rob Gronkowski against Bernard Pollard
Rob Gronkowski against Bernard Pollard (Via The Boston Globe)

Gronk asserted these are the tales of the time when the NFL did not have strict rules regarding the tackles and was still developing. So, the defensive players were free to use whatever means they deemed suitable to defeat the opposing offense.

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