The first guess from a Patriots fan would be 56, as in the first time in 56 games that Tom Brady was not listed on the injury report, he got injured. They might have a point, but I'd have to disagree. 56 also represents the jersey number for Andre Tippett who entered the Hall of Fame in August. So 56 isn't totally unlucky.
For one day, the unlucky number of September seventh was 12.
Go ahead, be mad at me Pats fans. 12 has been the greatest number in Patriots history because, while stretched over Brady's shoulder pads, it led the franchise to three Lombardi Trophies and two Super Bowl MVPs for Brady. The unlucky number should be 49 as in the jersey worn by Kansas City's Bernard Pollard.
Decent point, but that's not seeing the whole picture. Now pay attention.
Besides Brady, Chiefs QB Brodie Croyle was knocked out of the game on a third quarter sack by LB Adalius Thomas. Test results showed Croyle suffered a separated shoulder and will miss Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. Croyle wears number 12. More proof?
New Orleans receiver Marques Colston needed surgery on his left thumb and will miss four to six weeks. He was injured on a tackle by Tampa Bay CB Ronde Barber. Colston took a helmet-first hit to the hand from Barber on the tackle. That play possibly tore ligaments in Marques' thumb. And yes, Colston wears 12.
To debunk other theories: Adalius wears 96, Barber sports 20, and as mentioned earlier, Pollard is 49. And while it's coincidence that all three teams represent a city/region with two words for a name, just two out of three has "New" as part of the name. As for the other "New" teams, the New York Giants lost DE Osi Umeniyora for the season, but that was before week one. And the New York Jets appear unscathed from their week one encounter with Miami.
The good news for Colston and Croyle is that they will return later this season. That's not the case for Brady, who will miss this season with both his ACL and MCL torn, reportedly. As unlucky as these three were, Brodie and Marques are charmed to have natural protection from the full brunt of bad luck: A last name that starts with C.
So how come I don't feel lucky?
Luck won't keep the Patriots from falling apart. Leadership will keep them going in the right direction. But it might be surprising who's leadership would be key to New England's success this season.
