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Tom Brady has gotten away unscathed, again, as the NFL announced it will not be punishing him for violating an ownership rule he broke while working as a broadcaster for Fox during Sunday’s Lions-Packers game.
For those unfamiliar, Tom Brady is not allowed to publicly criticize NFL officials because he is a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, on Sunday, Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch was ejected from the game against the Packers for a helmet-to-helmet hit on wide receiver Bo Melton.
“I don’t love that call at all,” Tom Brady said about the call. “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
Many believed that Tom Brady’s criticism of the officials’ call constituted a violation of the NFL rule against team owners publicly criticizing NFL officials.
As it turns out, it wasn’t. At least according to the NFL.
As Front Office Sports reported on Monday, that a source within the NFL told them that the league had “no issue” with his comments and that Brady would not be fined.
This news, surprised almost no one.
“You mean to tell me the NFL is willing to bend the rules for Tom Brady?” one fan responded, sarcastically on X (Twitter).
“Tom Brady is the actual commissioner of the NFL,” someone joked.
Other rules that Brady must follow that are unique to him being a broadcaster that is also an NFL owner include he is not permitted to be in another team’s facility, not permitted to witness a team’s practice, and he is not permitted to attend broadcast production meetings.