Tom Brady has avoided any punishment for his criticism of the referees during Sunday’s Lions-Packers game in Green Bay. Front Office Sports is reporting.
The Fox Sports broadcaster and minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders has been restricted in his comments after agreeing to follow NFL rules that prohibit league personnel from publicly criticizing officials or other teams.
Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox before the 2024 season and has since agreed to become a minority owner of the Raiders, resulting in the conflict.
He seemed to cross the line Sunday in Green Bay, when Lions safety Brian Branch was penalized for hitting the Packers’ Bo Melton in the head.
There was no question about penalizing Branch, who was eventually ejected after the league office in New York reviewed the play.
Tom Brady appears to have avoided any punishment for his criticism of officials on Sunday.
Brian Branch (32) is penalized for unnecessary roughness after a tackle on Bo Melton
Branch upsets crowd in Green Bay after receiving whistle for unnecessary roughness
But for Brady, the ejection went too far.
“I don’t love that call at all,” Brady said. “I mean, obviously, it’s a penalty, but, to me, that has to be a serious intention in a game like this.”
That may seem tame compared to other broadcasters, who are not bound by league rules regarding their views on referees. But given his status as a minority owner of the Raiders, there was a possibility that Brady could be fined or otherwise penalized for his comment.
However, Brady will not be punished for the comment, according to Front Office Sports.
An NFL spokesperson did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
Branch, however, may not get off so easily. The 23-year-old was penalized again for barking at referees and appeared to upset the Packers faithful when he left the field in Green Bay.
Detroit won 24-14 to improve to 7-1 despite several major injuries on the defensive line.
