While the Patriots came in for a hard “crash landing,” in the words of Bill Belichick, in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game loss, Tom Brady‘s slide may be what’s attracting the most attention.
Brady took off for a three-yard scamper during the final minute of the first half on Sunday, sliding to avoid a big hit by charging Ravens safety Ed Reed. Brady dropped to the ground as he slid, but he lifted his leg high up in the air and delivered something of a karate kick to Reed’s thigh.
The kick enraged some Ravens players, prompting safety Bernard Pollard to take a few digs at Brady. The NFL is also looking at the play to determine whether a fine is in order.
Reed cleared the air somewhat Tuesday during an CBS Radio interview on WJZ-FM in Baltimore.
“A little slide kick [by Brady], you know what I’m saying, but it’s a tough spot the quarterback’s in,” Reed said. “You know, I understand Brady’s point. Him protecting himself. I know he’s a great player. I respect Brady and his game for all it stands for, and I know he’s not a dirty player. And emotions get going in the game.”
Reed understands when emotions take over, considering he was fined multiple times in 2012 for excessive hits.
Reed and Brady even exchanged words after the play.
“For the most part, I didn’t say anything to him when he said something to me at the game,” Reed said. “He was going, ‘You want to play like that, let’s go.’ But no, Brady’s a great competitor, and I love going against him, and I know where his heart is at for this game. It was all good.”
Once the heat of the moment had passed and the game was over, though, Brady got in touch with Reed and apologize for the questionable kick.
“I told him — you know, we talked,” Reed said. “We talked actually not too long ago, we talked on the phone. He actually reached out to me, texted me. I tried to text him back, but the message exploded after 12 seconds, so I had to call him … and he’s just apologized and what not. But I told him, ‘You know, it’s good, man.'”
Reed has moved well past the play at this point, looking ahead at what might be his first Super Bowl title. As for Brady, he can only look back at what might have been and ahead at what could be next season.
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