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NFL officiating crews gifted Tom Brady another victory on Sunday against the Falcons. After nearly blowing a 21-point fourth quarter lead, a questionable roughing the passer penalty cost Atlanta a chance to complete the comeback.
Brady and the Bucs controlled the ball with around four minutes remaining in regulation. The drive appeared to stall when Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett sacked Brady on third down, presumably forcing a punt situation.
Unfortunately, a roughing call on Brady would keep the drive alive. See the hit below.
https://twitter.com/lowlightheaven/status/1579200589392924673?s=20&t=1C3hFWqvXXf2YAvFJ24e7g
You be the judge.
To most, it doesn’t appear that any unnecessary force was used to bring the passer to the ground. Jarrett didn’t land on Brady with his body weight. There was no contact to the head/neck area.
Seems to be a pretty basic NFL tackle. Except to one man.
The NFL world is now blasting the official that made the Brady roughing the passer call.
NFL world sounds off on Brady roughing the passer penalty
Fans and media were quick to chime in on the egregious call. Take a look at the initial reaction below.
Boston sports reporter Brian Robb said, “That’s the softest roughing the passer call I’ve ever seen on Brady.” He wasn’t the only one sharing that opinion.
That's the softest roughing the passer call I've ever seen on Brady.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) October 9, 2022
Former NFL wide receiver Cris Carter wrote, “Tom Brady roughing the passer call is the worst of the season,” in response to seeing the hit.
Tom Brady roughing the passer call is the worst of the season
— Cris Carter (@criscarter80) October 9, 2022
Andrew Perloff posted, “Such an embarrassing roughing call to help Tom Brady,” while Benjamin Solak said, “The roughing the passer calls that Tom Brady gets are legitimately comical.”
Such an embarrassing roughing call to help Tom Brady.
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) October 9, 2022
the roughing the passer calls that Tom Brady gets are legitimately comical
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) October 9, 2022
See more reaction from the media below.
The roughing the passer on Brady was the worst call I have seen in a long time. Falcons got robbed
— Booger (@ESPNBooger) October 9, 2022
HOW IS THAT ROUGHING THE PASSER??????? Jerome Boger strikes again
— trey wingo (@wingoz) October 9, 2022
The roughing call they just gave to Brady might be the most embarrassingly bad NFL call in five years. And there is zero chance they call it for any other quarterback. #Falcons
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) October 9, 2022
Brady is used to getting these calls. It seems a different set of rules often apply to the NFL’s golden boy. Sportswriter Kent Swanson commented, “That is the most Tom Brady call in Tom Brady Call history.”
That is the most Tom Brady call in Tom Brady Call history.
— Kent Swanson (@kent_swanson) October 9, 2022
Really tough break for Atlanta, who was hoping to pull out its first win against Brady in franchise history.