KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The man who delivered the hit that ended Tom Brady's season insists he was not trying to hurt last year's league MVP.

"It was really an accident," said Kansas City's Bernard Pollard. "I can't change what happened. I can't do anything but pray for him and hope he has a speedy recovery."

Pollard, a third-year safety known as one of the most considerate and cooperative players on the team, said he received messages of support from friends and fans all over the country.

Early in the Patriots' 17-10 victory, Pollard came on a safety blitz and was fighting through the block of running back Sammy Morris. Crawling forward, he got hold of Brady's left knee just as Brady was planting to make a long throw to Randy Moss.

"As soon as the play happened, I said, `Oh, man.' When I heard him scream, I knew it was serious," Pollard said.

The league announced Monday it determined the hit was not dirty. But Pollard said he's sure that many people will believe it was. Moss even said it was a dirty hit.

"I know one of their teammates called me a dirty player. If you see the play, I was not being dirty at all," Pollard said. "I was trying to get up and my momentum took me forward with 230 pounds on my back. I've never been a dirty player. You ask my teammates. You ask any of my coaches."