Tom Brady put the NFL in a position to make a disciplinary decision on Sunday, and the league is reportedly opting to let the seven-time Super Bowl champ off with a warning instead.
As part of his minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, the league placed several restrictions on Brady for his job as Fox’s lead NFL analyst. Brady is banned from visiting non-Raiders facilities and attending production meetings. He’s also not allowed to criticize teams or NFL officials on the air.
During Sunday’s Week 9 game between the Lions and Packers, Brady put those rules to the test when he disagreed with the call to eject Lions defensive back Brian Branch.
— The Comeback NFL (@TheComebackNFL) November 3, 2024
According to Front Office Sports, the league will not be fining Brady:
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.
Brady’s framing of “I don’t love that call at all” might have been key there. He made it about his opinion rather than saying an official was wrong. But in an ideal booth, you wouldn’t have an announcer forced to navigate that tightrope. He should be allowed to criticize officials when a call is missed — that’s part of the job.
