Tom Brady's leg-up slide vs Ravens a dirty play? NFL looking into it

NEW YORK The NFL is looking into Tom Brady's leg-up slide that hit Ravens safety Ed Reed in the AFC championship game. Reed later said that Brady apologized to him.

League spokesman Greg Aiello said Tuesday "any play of that nature is routinely reviewed."

Brady could be subject to a fine if the league believes he violated any player safety rules.

During the final minute of the first half, Brady slid at the end of an impromptu run. The quarterback's upraised leg hit the onrushing Reed, who temporarily limped away. Reed was not injured.

"You know, we talked," Reed told CBS station WJZ-FM in Baltimore. "We talked actually not too long ago, we talked on the phone. He actually reached out to me, texted me. I tried to text him back, but the message exploded after 12 seconds, so I had to call him ... and he's just apologized and what not. But I told him, 'You know, it's good, man.'"

Ravens safety Bernard Pollard said Monday that Brady should be disciplined by the NFL, which levies fines on defensive players for helmet-to-helmet hits.

"If you want to keep this going in the right direction, everyone should be penalized for their actions," Pollard said, adding Brady "knew what he was doing.

"It has to go both ways. Hopefully the NFL will do something about it. If they don't, that's fine. If they do, then that's fine."

Baltimore beat New England 28-13 for the AFC championship Sunday.