NFL season was a growing worry prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars." data-reactid="16">Tom Brady’s thumb injury before the AFC Championship game in the 2017 NFL season was a growing concern ahead of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
And now we know how serious it was.
Brady and the secrets of the New England Patriots kept the injury a secret as best they could – literally and figuratively. But a New York Post excerpt from an upcoming book by Jeff Benedict, “The Dynasty,” shows how disturbing it was back then.
In practice that week, Brady gave in to Rex Burkhead – but it was far from a routine game. The bullet was pushed back into Brady’s hand, causing a huge gash on his throwing hand with blood gushing out. According to Benedict, the Patriots were in a panic when this happened.
Check out this part of the book:
“… Brady yelled and rushed off the field, shaking his hand.” Burkhead and his teammates watched in stunned silence.
“A few minutes later, Dr. Matthew Leibman’s cell phone rang. Leibman was the hand and wrist surgeon for the Patriots, Red Sox and Bruins. He was having lunch outside of Boston when Patriots assistant coach Joe Van Allen joined him.
“Van Allen was frantic. “Matt, we need you at the stadium right now,” he said. “Brady injured his hand. It’s bad. It’s bleeding.
“‘What happened?’ Leibman said.
“Van Allen was quick to explain that Brady’s thumb kind of got stuck and bent back during a transfer. “There’s a pretty big laceration,” he says.
“Is it his hand throwing?” Leibman said.
“Van Allen said he would text a photo.
“Leibman hung up. Seconds later, the image was on her phone. It looked like Brady’s hand had been cut off by a blade. The base of his thumb was wide open. The laceration was gaping.
“’Holy s – t!’ Leibman thought to himself.
This excerpt comes from chapter 42 of the book, aptly titled “Threading the Needle”. Liebman’s immediate concern was that Brady would need surgery, noting that 99% of lacerations from hyperextension of the thumb result in fracture, dislocation and / or damage to ligaments and tendons.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady agreed in the 2017 AFC Championship game despite the injury worse than most thought. (AP Photo / David J. Phillip)
Surprisingly, none of these events happened. Liebman broke the relatively good news to everyone after arriving at Gillette Stadium, including worried Brady and Bill Belichick, but few could grasp the bright side at the time.
Brady’s personal trainer Alex Guerrero was also in the room. It was at the height of tension between Guerrero, Brady, and Belichick, and the doctor figured he could lighten the mood a bit with a quick zinger.
Bad call.
Leibman explained how rare it is to see someone endure such a high-energy injury without bone damage or dislocation. With all the hype about Brady’s flexibility through the TB12 method, Leibman thought he would lighten the mood by referencing it. Looking at Guerrero, he said, “I guess it’s because Tom’s thumb is so…” Then he glanced at Belichick and thought to himself that foldable wasn’t the best choice of words. “Flexible,” he said.
Belichick stared at Brady.
No one is smiling.
That’s how disturbing this thing was just four days before the Jaguars hit town with a Super Bowl spot on the line.
The incredible consequences of the injury
Brady underwent surgery under local anesthesia at the facility. Brady thought his season was over. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels told substitute Brian Hoyer, “You better get ready for the f — Burkhead thought he kind of ruined the Patriots season.
Belichick did his best to keep the seriousness of the story from coming out. Most media have indicated that Brady is fine and should be ready by Sunday. It was learned that Brady needed four stitches – it turns out it was 25.
And making Liebman even more anxious was that Brady had ignored the doctor’s request to immobilize the injury. Instead of putting it down completely, Brady ripped off his splint and threw it the next day.
The more Brady threw, the more convinced he was that he could play in the game, although the others weren’t so sure. The days leading up to Sunday only increased the tension, and Brady did not tell the media about his situation.
‘Thank you my friend’
football that year." data-reactid="64">But the most incredible scene seemed to unfold right before kick-off once it was announced Brady would start against one of the best defenses in football that year.
football." data-reactid="65">Five minutes before kick-off, with the rest of his teammates on the pitch, Brady was back in the locker room explaining to Liebman that he needed to cut the sutures. Brady didn’t like the way he felt when he grabbed the ball.
Liebman wanted nothing to do with it, fearing he could reopen on the pitch and cause another round of trouble. Brady pushed back.
“No, you have to do it,” Brady said – two minutes from kick-off.
It was clear who was winning this battle.
So Liebman cut off the ends of the sutures and repackaged Brady’s hand.
He grabbed a bullet and liked how he felt.
“Thanks buddy,” Brady said.
football game." data-reactid="72">Then the Patriots legend took to the field to play a game of football.
The thumb injury that almost kept the Patriots from reaching another Super Bowl. (AP Photo / David J. Phillip)
Brady completed his first six passing attempts in the game, but was also hit hard a few times. At first, the Patriots lost Rob Gronkowski for the game to a brutal head injury and trailed 14-3. Hope looked lost.
Then, down 20-10 with just over 12 minutes to go, Brady led two TD practices – which included an incredible third and 18 completion for Danny Amendola – to complete the comeback and lead the Patriots to another appearance. at the Super Bowl.
Brady and the Patriots ended up losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. But Brady threw a Super Bowl record 505 yards and three touchdowns in that game two weeks later.
Why has McDaniels ever asked Brady to catch a pass in this game? But the fact that Brady can pitch it just as well as either game, racking up nearly 800 passing yards and five TD assists combined (no interceptions), is equally impressive.
It’s just another chapter in Brady’s greatness. After reading the gory details with his thumb, no one can ever question Brady’s tenacity again – even if those who did in the first place already seemed pretty stupid.
