Report: Patriots QB Brady undergoes surgery

Oct 8, 2008 - 6:34 PM BOSTON (Ticker) -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady underwent surgery Monday in Los Angeles to repair his injured left knee, the Boston Globe reported.

Brady, 31, had the surgery 29 days after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament when he was hit by Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard in the Patriots' season-opening 17-10 victory. The injury ended Brady's season, and he was placed on injured reserve.

According to the Globe, which posted the report Wednesday, doctors waited for Brady's MCL to heal before reconstructing the ACL, which is normally a four- to six-week process.

Brady has an estimated recovery time of six to eighth months, assuming there are no other complications.

The injury ended Brady's streak of 128 consecutive starts, the third-longest for a quarterback in NFL history.

Matt Cassel, 26, who had not started since high school, took over for Brady and has led the Patriots (3-1) to two wins in their last three games. A 38-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week Three snapped New England's 21-game regular-season winning streak.