It appears that Tom Brady has escaped from a sticky situation unscathed after making some questionable comments on live TV.
Much like he was able to dodge defenders in the pocket during his career as a all-time great quarterback, Brady seemingly has avoided punishment for seemingly criticizing an NFL official while calling Sunday’s game between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
According to a report by Front Office Sports, Brady “won’t be punished for his comments” and that the NFL had “no issue” with the seven-time Super Bowl winner’s comments.
The outlet reported that NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy clarified for the first time exactly where the line was for Brady.
“The concern would be if Tom was egregiously critical of officiating or called into question the integrity of an official or the crew,” McCarthy said in a statement. “That did not occur in this instance.”
On Sunday, Brady appeared to have gotten himself into hot water again for his comments about Brian Branch’s ejection during the game between the Lions and Packers.
Since becoming a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders last month, Brady was forced to agree to rules that he must follow while fulfilling his role as a game analyst for Fox. The former Patriots and Buccaneers quarterback is in the first season of a 10-year, $375-million deal with the broadcaster.
One of those rules is that Brady is forbidden from criticizing league officials.
But the seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback appeared to have fumbled on that front, when speaking about Branch’s questionable ejection.
“I don’t love that call at all,” Brady said. “Obviously, it’s a penalty, but to me, that has to be serious intent in a game like this.”
The Lions safety was ejected after hitting Packers receiver Bo Melton in the head on an incomplete pass during the second quarter of the game at Lambeau Field.
Branch was flagged for unnecessary roughness before the league’s offices in New York reviewed the play and intervened, telling officials the Lions defender should be ejected.
Branch looked furious and as he left the field while being escorted by members of the team’s staff, prompting Brady to offer his view of what happened.
Last week, Brady caused some more controversy, using an ableist slur to describe Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
During a game between the Bills and Seahawks, Brady said that Allen “sometimes played like a spaz,” sparking outrage on social media.
“Sometimes he played like a spaz, like a grade-schooler on a sugar high, but now he’s controlled the chaos,” Brady said while describing Allen towards the end of the game’s first quarter in Seattle. “He’s like a storm coming into town, and you don’t want that storm coming into this town.”
“Spaz” is a slang term which is an abbreviation of the word “spastic,” and is considered to be an ableist slur. It is an offensive term often used to someone who is awkward or clumsy.
The NFL generally issues five-figure fines for first-time offenders who criticize refs, depending on the situation.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid was fined $100,000 for his critical comments last year.
Owners have rarely crossed the line or been punished for it, with the most recent reported instance coming in 2006, when Steelers owner Dan Rooney was fined $25,000 for criticizing the officials to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after a loss to the Falcons.