Bernard Pollard Leaves Mark in NFL History, Becomes Most Hated Man in Boston

It's rare that a player can change the course of a team's season and franchise history without actually being on the team itself.  An example of this is Lawrence Taylor's devastating hit on Joe Theismann years ago, a hit that changed Theismann and the Redskins.

So what are the chances of a player doing that not once, not twice, but three times against a single team? Despite the long odds, Bernard Pollard has become enemy number one for the New England Patriots. 

It's well known that Kansas City Chief Bernard Pollard ruined the 2008 Patriots' season, the year they were coming off of a nearly flawless 18-1 campaign, by tearing Tom Brady's ACL (can be seen here). That year the Patriots were as always one of the league's top contenders, and Pollard took them out of the running before the end of their first quarter.

That's just one of Pollard's coincidental roles with Patriot injuries. In 2009 the Patriots were 10-6 and the AFC East champions, giving them the No. 3 seed during the playoffs. In Week 17 the Patriots went to Houston to play the Texans, where history now shows Wes Welker blew out his knee trying to avoid a defender. Who was the defender he was trying to avoid? None other than Bernard Pollard.

The Patriots went on to lose their first playoff game to the Baltimore Ravens 33-14. The Patriots were clearly hampered by the absence of Welker, as Brady had one of his worst postseason games that day, throwing three interceptions.

Ironically, Pollard spent the 2011 season on the Baltimore Ravens, who once again faced the Patriots in the playoffs. Jokes were made around the media concerning Pollard going against his Boston foes again and whether another injury was on its way. Unfortunately for Patriots fans, this became a reality as Pollard laid a hit on New England star tight end Rob Gronkowski that led to a high ankle sprain.

In the Patriots' loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI, Gronkowski's ankle was a major issue. He wasn't explosive and even got out-leaped for an interception by Chase Blackburn. Gronkowski's injury was a reason the Patriots' season ended disappointingly without a championship.

It is not a stretch to say that Bernard Pollard has possibly cost New England multiple championships. In 2008 the Patriots were still capable of the offensive firepower they had during their near-perfect season. 2009 admittedly was not as good, but the Patriots still could have made a run in the playoffs with Welker. Finally, this past Super Bowl could have been won if Tom Brady had his best offensive weapon.

Pollard, like Lawrence Taylor mentioned before, has brought about changes in the NFL as a whole. Taylor made the blind side tackle a more looked at position, most noted in the movie and book The Blind Side. Bernard Pollard was the force behind the "Brady rule", where a defensive player can not lunge at a quarterback form the ground like Pollard did against Brady in 2008.

While not a huge star, Pro Bowler, or Super Bowl champion, Pollard has had a huge effect on the NFL and playoffs recently. His hits on Gronkowski and Brady could be looked at as hits that cost the Patriots titles, and helped cripple (pun intended) their dynasty. For fans who don't like the Patriots, he is loved. For Patriots fans, he's infamous.

Note: None of this article is to take away from the New York Giants Super Bowl title. They played a fantastic game and had an incredible season. Congratulations to them and all their fans.