Brady: Never like seeing injuries, hit to Allen a 'part of football'
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has seen just about everything during his two decades in the NFL, and he believes the hit to Buffalo Bills pivot Josh Allen on Sunday was simply a part of the game.
"You never like to see anyone get hurt out there," Brady said on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" on Monday. "You know, football's a contact sport. It's part of football."
The head-to-head hit, which forced Allen from the contest with a concussion, was delivered by Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones.
Just about the opposite of a textbook hit. Direct hit to the head. pic.twitter.com/GEHEk4IoOn
- Brian Chojnacki (@BroadcastingBri) September 29, 2019
Brady also shared a message he received from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick early in his career, which truly began when starter Drew Bledsoe took a shot to the head.
"I remember the next day coach Belichick said to me - I'll never forget this - he said, 'Hey Brady, if you want to have a career in this league, when you're running like that, you either throw the ball away or you slide,'" Brady said.
The 42-year-old also offered some advice to younger, more mobile quarterbacks.
"A lot of quarterbacks who do run, you're trying to make yards and it's great, and at the same time you're susceptible to big hits," said Brady. "Whether it's a flag or not, a lot of rules have changed over the years. I feel like it's always best to try to be available to the team."
Bills head coach Sean McDermott didn't hide his feelings when asked postgame about the hit to Allen.
"There's no room in football for that," McDermott told reporters. "I asked for an explanation and I thought he should've been thrown out."
Bills safety Micah Hyde said he believes that a Bills player would have been ejected if they hit Brady the way Jones did Allen.
Allen is in the concussion protocol and his status for Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans is up in the air. Backup Matt Barkley, who put up 127 yards and an interception on 9-for-16 passing in relief of Allen, will continue to lead the offense in the interim.
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