Steve Serby

Steve Serby

NFL

Jets rookie: NFL babies Tom Brady

Sheldon Richardson, blunt force trauma on the field and off, can’t wait for the opportunity to mete out justice Sunday in the rematch against Tom Brady and the Patriots.

“It’s very intense. … Cheap shots and all,” Richardson told The Post.

Asked if the Patriots were doing stuff other teams don’t, the rookie defensive tackle said: “It’s on film. Go back and watch.

“You’re going to see a lot of stuff, man, that the Patriots can do to you, that they get away with, that we can’t do to the Patriots. It’s just the way it is.”

Why is that?

“It’s just the way the world works,” Richardson said.

The NFL for years has gone out of its way to protect its golden goose quarterbacks.

Some golden geese more than others.

The Jordan Rules in the NBA.

The Brady Rules in the NFL.

“Why do we make rules after he gets hurt?” Richardson asked. “I don’t know why a bunch of stuff.

Jets rookie defensive end Sheldon Richardson has emerged as a pass-rushing force.Charles Wenzelberg

“They made the Tuck Rule back when? 2000 when? Tom Brady rule, right? OK, a lot of great quarterbacks have hurt a knee before, but now we can’t hit quarterbacks in the knees now ’cause Tom Brady gets hurt [season-ending knee injury in the 2008 season opener]. Doesn’t it seem that way? Right or wrong?”

Why would there be focus on protecting Tom Brady?

“’Cause if you take Tom Brady away from the Patriots, they win no more championships,” Richardson said.

You can say the same thing about Peyton Manning.

“He only won one,” Richardson said.

The Tuck Rule, instituted in 1999, was eliminated in March, 11 years after it was instrumental in the Patriots surviving the Raiders in the snow during the 2001 playoffs and marching on to their first Super Bowl championship.

Richardson is a fearless New Age Jet who isn’t afraid to speak his mind. Sort of the way Rex Ryan used to be. He isn’t criticizing the zebras, only stating what has become an exasperating way of life and rule of the jungle for predators, young and old alike:

Don’t hurt the Pretty Boy. Or else.

“That’s the way it looks like to me, man, you can’t touch him,” Richardson said.

He recalled the Jets’ Week 2 loss in Foxborough.

“I remember a play, a referee made it his business to tell me I was too close to hitting him,” Richardson said. He chuckled and added, “It gets crazy out there. I got close to him, shoved him a little bit, the referee said, ‘I could’ve threw the flag on you for that.’ ”

Richardson’s response: “He didn’t even fall.”

He heard back: “It doesn’t matter.”

“Can’t touch Tom Brady unless he’s got the ball in his hand,” Richardson added.

So knowing this, how do you approach it?

“Not caring,” Richardson said. “Simple as that. Can’t care sometimes, man. If it’s a play where you can make a sack, you’re not going to slow down. You just got to play through it.”

Richardson’s first taste of the Jets-Patriots rivalry leaves him hungering for a second Sunday at a greenhouse called MetLife Stadium.

To say the mayhem left Richardson ticked off would be an understatement.

“I’m ready for this game,” he said. “Ready. I’m ready for this game. Sunday can’t come fast enough.”

Because it’s the Patriots?

“Yeah. Exactly. Just because it’s the Patriots,” Richardson said.

“I’m ready to go get another shot at these guys, it’s Tom Brady.

“As a defensive lineman, you look to play certain people, and he happens to be one of ’em.”

To be the best, you have to beat the best. Against all odds, sometimes.

“He’s a Hall of Famer quarterback. He doesn’t make mistakes. It doesn’t matter who his wideouts are, he’s going to win the game, especially when he plays the Jets apparently. So I just can’t wait to play against him again,” Richardson said.