On Tom Brady’s advice, Penguins’ Sidney Crosby gets neck injury evaluated

OTTAWA - As reported earlier, Sidney Crosby had an "abnormality" diagnosed in his C1 and C2 vertebrae to go along with the post-concussion symptoms he has experienced since early December 2011.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have released a statement on Crosby:

"The diagnosis of Dr. Robert S. Bray, a neurological spine specialist based in Los Angeles, is that Sidney Crosby had suffered a neck injury in addition to a concussion. Dr. Bray reports that the neck injury is fully healed.

"Those findings will be evaluated by independent specialists over the next few days. The most important goal all along has been Sidney's return to full health, and we are encouraged that progress continues to be made."

How did Crosby end up discovering the injury? According to Sportsnet, Crosby saw a specialist in Utah where an MRI indicated an abnormality with the two vertebrae at the top of the spine.

He saw the specialist on the advice of none other than New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who's a friend of Crosby.