Did Tom Brady kick Grady Jarrett? Fresh footage shows Buccaneers QB retaliated against Falcons DT on controversial play
Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat their division rival, the Atalanta Falcons, in a closely contested 21-16 victory in Week 5, but the win wasn't so straightforward.
The victory came with some controversy towards the end of the game, one involving Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett and the Tampa Bay quarterback.
Before the game ended in that manner, however, there was a controversial no-call from Tom Brady on the Bucs' opening drive of the game.
As Jarrett hit Brady, bringing him to the ground, the Buccaneers QB appeared to kick Jarett as he hit the ground. Puzzlingly, however, he didn't get flagged for it.
Nobody saying anything about Tom Brady kicking Grady Jarrett at the end of the first series? @AtlantaFalcons @FOXSports @NFL @Buccaneers @RealMattlanta @680TheFan @929TheGame https://t.co/mQnzjTjx19
The refs likely didn't see Brady try to kick Jarrett, but nevertheless it was sort of a dirty play from the angle in the video above.
He ended the game throwing for 351 yards and a touchdown pass to Leonard Fournette.
Fournette scored two touchdowns in the game - one rushing and one receiving - and led the team in receiving yards in Week 5 with 83.
: FOXLeonard Fournette scores a TD and grabs a cut out of his own face 🤣
@_fournette x @Buccaneers | 📺: FOX https://t.co/zZfwzAdL5Y
The Bucs recorded five sacks on Marcus Mariott while Brady wasn't sacked a single time in the victory.
Tom Brady roughing the passer controversy vs Falcons
The Falcons and Jarrett, on the other hand, were penalized in a big way on another hit on the Bucs QB late in the game.
Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett appeared to have stopped Tampa Bay’s drive with a sack on third down but was called for roughing the passer on a controversial call.
Worst roughing the passer call ever? https://t.co/n1vZRszlqt
The call was crucial because it allowed the Bucs to run out the clock for the rest of the drive, sealing a 21-15 win. Had it not been for the flag call, the Falcons would have gotten the ball and another chance to win the game.
The call was pretty controversial and many chalked it down as the refs helping the seven-time Super Bowl champion to a win.
Referee Jerome Boger was asked for clarification on why he threw the penalty.
Boger answered:
"What I had was the defender grabbed the quarterback while he was still in the pocket and unnecessarily throwing him to the ground. That is what I was making my decision based upon."
Referee Jerome Boger told pool reporter @gregauman that the roughing the passer penalty on #Falcons DT Grady Jarrett was for “unnecessarily throwing (Tom Brady) to the ground.” https://t.co/rqxyNzjd6I
The call at the end proved to be a rubber stamp on the victory and snapped Tampa Bay's two-game losing streak as they improved to 3-2, with the Falcons dropping to 2-3 after snapping their two-game win streak.
The win leaves the Bucs atop the NFC South.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Jerome Boger, Tom Pelissero, and H/T Sportskeeda