The NFL has made a decision on Tom Brady following the former quarterback breaking a rule while calling a game for FOX over the weekend.
Brady was in the booth alongside partner Kevin Burkhardt for Sunday’s Packers-Lions game and was heard criticizing the league office for its ejection of Lions DB Brian Branch after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers wide receiver Bo Melton.
While Brady acknowledged that it should have been a penalty, he didn’t agree with Branch being sent off.
“I don’t love that call at all,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a penalty, but to me, there has to be serious intent in a game like this.”
“I don’t love that call at all. I mean, obviously, it’s a penalty, but, to me, that has to be serious intent in a game like this.”
Is Tom Brady allowed to say that? pic.twitter.com/FOVEuLWJFV
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 3, 2024
Brady is not allowed to criticize the officiating while on the air as he is now a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, with the NFL having put several rules in place to allow him to function as both an owner and a broadcaster.
NFL Reaches Final Decision On Tom Brady
Some expected him to be fined for slamming the officials. However, Front Office Sports reports that the NFL will not punish him for his comments.
“Brady won’t be punished for his comments during Sunday’s Packers-Lions game, a source familiar with the situation told Front Office Sports,” the outlet reported.
“That would appear to violate the league’s ban on Brady criticizing teams or referees. But the NFL had “no issue” with his comments, according to the source. Brady won’t be fined.”
NEW: Tom Brady won’t be punished for his comments during Sunday’s Packers-Lions game, a source told FOS.
The NFL had “no issue” with Brady’s comments after Lions DB Brian Branch was flagged and ejected for hitting Packers WR Bo Melton in the head.
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— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 4, 2024
While Brady isn’t technically allowed to speak on game officiating while at work, especially not negatively, he wasn’t wrong. So it’s nice that the league opted to look the other way in this instance.