Fleming played two days later in the Patriots’ divisional round playoff win over the Kansas City Chiefs after starting linebackers Dont’a Hightower (knee), Jamie Collins (back) and Jerod Mayo (shoulder) suffered injuries.
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Fleming, a former Notre Dame star in his second year with the Patriots, saw a three-car accident on Route 1 near Gillette Stadium last Thursday night.
Fleming needed 22 stitches in his leg Thursday after kicking in a vehicle window to pull the woman to safety.
“I tried to break [the window] with my elbow, but that didn’t work, so I just started kicking the window”.
“She was very appreciative of me helping her”, Fleming said.
“We have guys around here that understand the important things in life”, Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater told reporters when asked about Fleming’s heroics, saying his teammate has been “a stand up guy” ever since arrived in Foxborough.
“The doors wouldn’t open and I was just, like, ‘Got to get out of here some way, ‘” Fleming said. “I’m glad I could help her”.
Fleming told NFL Network the woman’s leg was bleeding “like it was bit by a shark”, but the stitches didn’t affect him on the field. I pulled her out to make sure she was OK.
Fleming didn’t get the woman’s name, but said he stayed with her for a few minutes. Darius, he was really quiet about it, but once the team got a hold of it, the guys on the team, we forced him to give a speech and everything.
As the New England Patriots prepare for the AFC Championship game, one of the team’s players is already receiving accolades.
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“I think it represents his character, he’s a great person”, defensive end Rob Ninkovich said. He acted, did what he had to do, and it’s definitely someone you want in a situation like that, kicking through windows and taking stitches.
