"How can you get fined for something that didn't even happen?" - Tom Brady fumes over tripping fine, takes shot at NFLPA
Tom Brady's season ended in the Wild Card round as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a 31 -14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Following a third-quarter fumble recovery, it seemed like Brady was trying to trip Cowboys defensive back Malik Hooker. As a result, the Buccaneers quarterback was fined $16,444 for the play.
On the "Let's Go!" podcast, the three-time NFL MVP addressed the fine while going after the NFLPA:
“I’m a little disappointed, though, because I tried to tackle him with my right shoulder and missed him. And I wasn’t going to try to stick my arm out, so I was trying to get him on the ground.
"I missed him completely. I didn’t even hit him. I tried to trip him but I didn’t. So, I don’t know how you can get fined for something that didn’t even happen. Are they fining an intention?
"It’s like targeting and you miss the person you hit, and they still call it targeting. So, I got to figure out and understand why this is the case. This is why I wish our NFLPA was stronger.”
It's not the first time that the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback has been fined this season. Back in Week 5, Brady kicked Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett twice. He was fined $11,139 for one of the kicks.
NFL notified Buccaneers’ QB Tom Brady today that it is fining him $11,139 for kicking Grady Jarrett on the play in which the Falcons’ DL was penalized for unnecessary roughness, per source.
This season has been a rough one for the 15-time Pro Bowl quarterback and it remains uncertain if the 45-year-old quarterback will play next season.
Tom Brady expressed frustration over talks regarding his future
Before Tom Brady shared his thoughts about the fine, he dropped some colorful language when asked about his NFL future on the podcast by co-host Jim Gray:
“Jim, if I knew what I was going to f–king do, I would have already f–king done it. I’m taking it a day at a time.”
After his comments, Tom Brady shared a laugh with Gray while commenting that he was spending time with his family after the Buccaneers season ended:
“I did a lot of things with my kids and family, trying to get caught up like most probably football players do at the end of a long season. There’s a lot of decompression. I know we use that word a lot, but there's a real crash-landing element to all of this and doing it for as long as I have, there’s no soft landing either.
"It ends and it’s over. As much as you’d love for something to be a little softer on the way out, it’s just not the reality.”
We'll have to wait and see what Tom Brady does this offseason and whether he will play a 24th season or hang up the cleats for good.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit the Let's Go! podcast and H/T Sportskeeda.