Tag: Bernard Pollard

Rob Gronkowski calls former NFL defender ‘the Patriot killer’

This is a name longtime Patriots fans will never forget

The name Bernard Pollard isn’t popular among New England Patriots fans for good reasons. Some would call it bad luck, and others have gone to far more nefarious extremes for the former NFL defensive back that Rob Gronkowski calls “the Patriot killer.”

When appearing on “Games with Names,” the legendary tight end commented on the defender some still view as the reason the Patriots didn’t win at least three more Super Bowls.

“Pollard was kind of like the Patriot killer,” said Gronkowski. “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. There was a lot of them back in the day though when the rules was kind of like whatever. You could do whatever out there as a defensive player.”

After having their perfect season ruined by the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII, there were high expectations for the Patriots in the 2008 season. It was set to be their revenge tour following one of the greatest upsets in NFL history.

However, Brady suffered a torn ACL in the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs after taking a low hit from Pollard. He missed the rest of the season, and despite a valiant effort with Matt Cassel under center, the Patriots failed to make the playoffs.

A year later, Pollard had on a Houston Texans uniform, and he was the one in on the play that resulted in Welker tearing his ACL in Week 17 of the 2009 season.

Granted, Welker hurt himself on a non-contact injury, while attempting to make a move with the ball in his hands. So that injury really had nothing to do with Pollard.

But it’s still bizarre that he was the one credited with the tackle. That incident left the Patriots without one of their best playmakers in the postseason, and they got eliminated in the wild card round by the Baltimore Ravens.

Pollard was also responsible for the hip-drop tackle that injured Gronkowski in the 2011 AFC Championship Game.

Gronkowski was officially diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, and he looked like a shell of himself when attempting to play through the injury at Super Bowl XLVI, where the Patriots lost to the Giants, again.

After initially calling Pollard dirty, Gronkowski walked back the comments about his injury. He credited the former defender for a good tackle on that play in particular.

“I ain’t going to say it was a dirty play at all. It was a proper tackle, and he just ended up landing on my ankle,” said Gronkowski. “When I fell down, my ankle basically twisted the other way and snapped. It was a high sprain.”

Some often forget that Pollard was also the defender who delivered the knockout blow to former Patriots running back Stevan Ridley, causing a fumble and turnover on downs in the 2012 AFC Championship Game. The Patriots went on to lose that game 28-13 at Gillette Stadium.

It’s a weird run of coincidences that four of the most game-changing injuries for the Patriots involved one player.

Chiefs’ Travis Kelce recalls getting laid out by ex-Titan Bernard Pollard in 2014

In 2014, Ex-Titans DB Bernard Pollard laid a hit on Travis Kelce that the Chiefs TE has not forgotten.

When Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce played his first game on offense in his second season in the NFL, he was the victim of a “welcome to the NFL” hit by former Tennessee Titans defensive back, Bernard Pollard.

Pollard was reflecting on some of the better plays of his career on social media last week, which prompted Kelce to remind him that Pollard had popped him in Week 1 of the 2014 campaign.

Prior to his back-and-forth with Pollard on Twitter, Kelce spoke about the aforementioned play in an article for The Players’ Tribune back in 2016.

Here’s a look at the play Pollard and Kelce are referencing.

“Well, my first NFL game was against the Titans, and I came out of the gate hot,” Kelce recalled. “Made my first catch. Incredible feeling, really. Then, two plays later it looked like I was about to make my second catch. I was running a slant across the middle of the field. I knew that was my assignment. You know who else knew that was my assignment? Bernard Pollard, one of the hardest hitting safeties in the NFL. As soon as I caught the ball, I was looking upfield and Bernard absolutely leveled me. Put his helmet right in my sternum. I was flat on my back and the ball popped out. Fortunately it was just ruled an incompletion rather than a fumble, but I got the point. You have to really get rocked like that a few times to develop the senses you need to avoid the big shots. Once you really get popped, you don’t want it to happen again. I mean, it will, but you don’t want it to.”

Tennessee went on to lose that game, 26-10, and Kelce reeled in three catches for 49 yards in the winning effort. Meanwhile, Pollard would play in just four more games the rest of the season before landing on injured reserve.

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Ravens QB Lamar Jackson apologizes to former Baltimore S Bernard Pollard on Twitter

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson apologized to former NFL safety Bernard Pollard on Twitter

The Baltimore Ravens have a franchise quarterback in Lamar Jackson who has carried them to plenty of wins while also improving in each and every year in aspects around his game. He’s put together quite the impressive NFL resumé through his first four seasons, which includes winning the second-ever unanimous MVP in league history.

On Wednesday night, Jackson caught wind of a negative tweet about him made by former Baltimore safety Bernard Pollard. The two got into a heated debate on Twitter, and following the exchange Jackson ended up apologizing to Pollard on Thursday evening.

Pollard saw Jackson’s apology and acknowledged it, letting the quarterback know it was “all good”.

Current, former Ravens players react to Twitter exchange between Lamar Jackson, Bernard Pollard

Current and former Ravens players reacted to the Twitter exchange between Lamar Jackson and Bernard Pollard

The Baltimore Ravens selected quarterback Lamar Jackson with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. He’s gone on to prove himself as one of the best quarterbacks at the professional level, winning the second-ever unanimous MVP in league history as well as providing great play as both a thrower and as a runner.

Despite his successes, Jackson gets quite a bit of unnecessary hate and disrespect. One of the people who has been one of Jackson’s biggest critics is former Baltimore safety Bernard Pollard, who sounded off against the quarterback on Twitter on Wednesday night. Jackson caught wind of the comments and fired back, sparking an intense Twitter exchange between the two. Multiple current and former Ravens players responded to the events of the night with tweets of their own.

Warning: NSFW

Pollard has taken a clear stance against Jackson, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh and the Baltimore organization in recent years. His tenure with the Ravens didn’t end on the best note, and he’s spent quite a bit of time putting his opinions out there about his former team, his former coach and their new players such as Jackson. The quarterback seems to have finally heard enough, and clapped back at Pollard in a big way.

Former Titans S Bernard Pollard looking to make NFL comeback

Pollard hasn’t played a snap in the NFL since he was with the Titans in 2014.

Former Tennessee Titans safety Bernard Pollard has not played in an NFL game since 2014, but at the age of 36 is looking to get back into the league.

Pollard suffered a ruptured Achilles during his last season in the league, limiting him to just five games. After the season was over, he asked for and was given his release with one year remaining on his deal.

The Purdue product and former second-round pick was part of the Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII team during his two seasons there.

Before his two seasons in Baltimore and Tennessee, he also spent three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and another two with the Houston Texans.

Here’s a look at some videos and a photo Pollard has posted on social media in regard to his comeback bid:

While some on Twitter have suggested Pollard play linebacker, he remains dead-set on returning to play his normal position, which is safety.

It remains to be seen if any team will take a flier on the veteran after six seasons out of the league and with him being in his mid-thirties.

Two teams highly unlikely to do so are the Titans and Ravens. Pollard has had issues with Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh in the past.

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Bernard Pollard attempting NFL comeback, claims to have spoken with Chiefs

Former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard is eyeing a comeback to the NFL.

No, this isn’t an April Fools’ Day joke.

Former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, at 36 years old, is attempting an NFL comeback. A former second-round draft pick by the Chiefs in the 2006 NFL draft, Pollard played for Kansas City for three seasons. He was known for his physical and punishing brand of play. He also had the size of a linebacker at 6-2 and 225 pounds.

Pollard led the Chiefs in tackles in 2008 but was released by the team ahead of the 2009 season. He continued his career with the Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans, playing his last NFL snaps in 2014 before suffering a ruptured Achilles.

Now six seasons later, the big-hitting safety is eyeing a comeback to the NFL. He released a pair of workout videos on his Twitter page and seems to be fully committed to getting a second chance in the league.

https://twitter.com/Crushboy31/status/1376984539172646918

It’s unclear the type of interest that Pollard is actually receiving from teams, but he claims to have spoken to the Chiefs on Tuesday, March 30.

A comeback of this sort wouldn’t exactly be unheard of, especially if the NFL continues to have expanded practice squad rosters for veterans in 2021 as they did last season due to COVID-19. Former Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant made a comeback in 2020 with the Baltimore Ravens after sitting out for two full seasons.

Fans in Kansas City wanted Pollard to return to the team after he was released by the Ravens in 2013, but how would they feel about a comeback now? Be sure to share your thoughts with us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Former Ravens S Bernard Pollard attempting an NFL comeback; willing to play under John Harbaugh

Former Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard posted individual workout sessions to Twitter, talking about making an NFL comeback.

It’s that time of the year when NFL prospects hit the practice fields to run, jump, and show off their skills in front of scouts and general managers as they jockey for position in the 2021 NFL draft.  But not everything is new this offseason with one familiar face looking to make a comeback.

Much like the draft prospects earning so much attention right now, former Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard is back on the football field to run, jump, and show off his skills. Pollard has been posting workout videos on Twitter recently, saying he’s working to attempt a comeback to the NFL.

This is a pretty late comeback attempt for Pollard, who last suited up with the Tennessee Titans in October of 2014 before a ruptured Achilles tendon sent him to injured reserve. While the NFL is no stranger to some of its biggest stars playing well beyond their supposed prime, that’s usually reserved for quarterbacks. While he’s currently 36 years old and hasn’t played the game in seven years, it’s not unfathomable that Pollard could actually find his way back on a roster again. The Ravens signed Dez Bryant last season after the wide receiver missed two seasons and looked to be done in the NFL. While Bryant didn’t come close to his best years, he did catch six passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns over six games.

If granted a return, don’t expect Pollard to suit up in a Ravens uniform, however. He’s had a longstanding beef with Baltimore coach John Harbaugh that he’s been very vocal about on Twitter. Pollard has blamed Harbaugh for dismantling, what Pollard believes was, a championship-caliber team. Pollard has called for Harbaugh’s firing and has thrown so much shade, other former Ravens have called him out for it. Though Pollard has been so vocal in his displeasure for Harbaugh, he said he could play under him in Baltimore, albeit under the right conditions.

https://twitter.com/Crushboy31/status/1376904094263209987

Regardless of what went down in Baltimore, a return to the NFL for Pollard would be an incredible feat.

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Former safety Bernard Pollard addresses his ‘Patriot Killer’ nickname

Is Bernard Pollard the biggest villain in Patriots’ lore?

The name ‘Bernard Pollard’ doesn’t bring up happy memories in the minds of New England Patriots fans.

The now-retired safety spent nine seasons in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, and Tennessee Titans. During that time, Pollard was known as a hard-hitting strong safety who punished guys coming across the middle.

When it came to his matchups with the Patriots, Pollard put a lot of guys on the sideline.

It was Pollard who hit Tom Brady’s knee in the 2008 season opener, causing a torn ACL. The following year, Wes Welker was carted off the field after cutting to avoid a hit from the safety.

When Pollard joined the Ravens, he met up with the Patriots and took out superstar Rob Gronkowski in the 2011 playoffs, and just a couple years later, knocked out running back Stevan Ridley in the postseason again.

So, fans dubbed Pollard as “the Patriot Killer.”

On Sunday’s episode of “Double Coverage,” Jason and Devin McCourty’s podcast, Pollard, who was teammates with Jason in Tennessee, joined the program and discussed the nickname.

“I played the game hard,” said Pollard. “For me, I just played tough. It was crazy that a lot of the injuries happened to the Patriots when I played them. But I think it’s a team where the fan base is excited about what they do. They are excited about the product on the football field.

“When I played New England, it was Tom Brady, it was Gronkowski, it was Wes Welker, it was Stevan Ridley… it’s one of those things. It was tough,” he continued. “The Super Bowl was lost because Gronkowski wasn’t 100 percent. A season was lost… but the playoffs [were] missed when Matt Cassel had to step in. So they’re looking at two more Super Bowls the organization could have potentially had.”

Pollard’s name has an extremely negative connotation in New England and with all those injuries to important players, it’s not hard to understand why.

At least the “Patriot Killer” can’t hurt them anymore.

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Former Ravens Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs take Bernard Pollard to task over Baltimore hate

Former Baltimore Ravens legends take their former teammate Bernard Pollard to task on Twitter for his hate of the Ravens.

The Baltimore Ravens saw plenty of people jump on their bandwagon this season. Baltimore went 14-2 in the regular season, finishing with a 12-game winning streak that will likely see quarterback Lamar Jackson win the NFL’s MVP award. But apparently, not everyone is a fan, including former Ravens and Tennessee Titans safety Bernard Pollard.

At kickoff, Pollard posted a tweet rooting for the Titans. It immediately drew plenty of comments from Baltimore fans and even a few of Pollard’s former teammates.

Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed was the first to respond and take Pollard to task for being salty.

Reed wasn’t the only player to come back at Pollard. Former Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs reminded Pollard he played for both teams and earned a Super Bowl ring with one of them.

For those not in the loop, Pollard has had a longstanding beef with Baltimore coach John Harbaugh. He hasn’t been shy about going after Harbaugh since his release from the team following the 2012 season. That included blaming the coach’s ego for destroying what Pollard believes could have been a dynasty.

Pollard also hasn’t been a fan of Jackson’s either. In conversations with fans on Twitter during the 2018 NFL draft, Pollard said he though Jackson doesn’t have what it takes to be an NFL quarterback.

Though Pollard was willing to admit Jackson is the league’s MVP this season, he was also quick to claim the second-year quarterback can’t get the job done in the postseason and ultimately isn’t the answer.

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