Bernard Pollard: Anti-Patriot

This past Sunday, Wes Welker was lost for the playoffs when he tore both his ACL and MCL while making an awkward cut in the Patriots' opening drive. It seems like a fluke accident, since he was not contacted, and was apparently the result of poor turf conditions. However, there are other circumstances that raised an eyebrow or two. Who was the defensive player that fell on top of Welker after he went down? Yes, for the second time in little more than a year, Bernard Pollard, the "Anti-Patriot," has been at the epicenter of a devastating knee injury to a pivotal New England football star, as seen here, to Welker:


And here, to Tom Brady:


Sure, it could be a coincidence. In fact, that seems likely. It seems likely, but it isn't. Let's take a closer look at some of the recent heartbreaks that have happened in the lives of the Patriots. Remember the week 10 game at Indianapolis? The game that New England had all but locked up at halftime, only to suffer the most epic second half collapse in modern memory? Surely, everyone remembers the most critical play of this game, in which Bill Belichick, not trusting his defense, decided to go for it on 4th and 2, on the Pats' own 28 yard line, with 2:08 to play in the 4th. Kevin Faulk was famously denied the critical yardage on a short pass, and the Colts went on to win the game. Did anyone notice who was at Peyton Manning's side at the end of the game? Believe it:


And what about the greatest national tragedy of our time (including 9/11, which is a distant second)? The 2007 Patriots, who had gone 18-0 and were poised to become the first undefeated team since the '72 Dolphins and the first in NFL history to go 19-0, were upset in the Superbowl by the underdog Giants. New England had already beaten the Giants in week 17 to solidify their undefeated regular season. What changed between that game and the Superbowl? To find out, we'll need to take a look at what many believe to be the turning point in that game: Eli Manning miraculously escaping a three man sack and heaving a prayer to David Tyree, who caught the ball against his helmet while being tackled.


Proof positive. Bernard Pollard is the Anti-Patriot. And may his punishment, as he burns in hell for all of eternity, be to have both his ACLs and MCLs torn at breakfast every morning by a devil in a Brady jersey and a goblin in a Welker jersey.

Also, his breakfast will be cold and will taste terrible.