During Thursday night’s Jacksonville Jaguars-Tennessee Titans game, there were so many penalties that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady tweeted that he was turning off his television.
I’m turning off this game I can’t watch these ridiculous penalties anymore #TENvsJAC
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) September 20, 2019
Too many penalties. Just let us play!!!! #TENvsJAC
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) September 20, 2019
Quite a rebuke from the game’s biggest star, no?
Brady had a point. There were 15 penalties in the first half. And as is often the case — like Steelers fans would tell you — if Brady complains, the refs seem to listen.
Because after Brady sent the tweet, there were no penalties in the third quarter.
Eight of the first-half penalties were for holding. But the flag that had America up in arms was an atrocious roughing-the-passer whistle.
I hope Minshew is able to recover from this roughing the passer! Suspend Kamalei Correa NOW! pic.twitter.com/UHoHq3WQXi
— Rainey (@RaineyVoI) September 20, 2019
What a joke. Tennessee’s Kamalei Correa even opened his arms to let Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew fall cleanly.
So, needless to say, given the protection afforded to Brady over the years, fans were quick to point to the irony of Brady’s tweet.
Especially Kansas City Chiefs fans. They are still bitter — rightfully so — in the wake of a generous call given to Brady last year during the AFC Championship Game.
This brutally violent act by the Chiefs’ Chris Jones on Tom Brady drew a roughing the passer penalty. There’s simply no room in the sport for such gruesome violence. Please do not allow small children to watch this video. #NEvsKC pic.twitter.com/WlHo0ICbM1
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) January 21, 2019
Take it away, K.C.
Right? Can you believe they called this a roughing the passer? pic.twitter.com/A4HhVn8mQe
— Kaleb D. Hartgrave (@KalDexHar) September 20, 2019
No room to talk. pic.twitter.com/i3mMWRAYCQ
— Max Volume Ⓜ️ (@142Decibles) September 20, 2019
I couldn’t agree more. pic.twitter.com/80atZ3jNyO
— Alex Linsey (@A_Linsey24) September 20, 2019
The timing from Brady was even more ironic given this complaint from Miami Dolphins linebacker Raekwon McMillan on the heels of last weekend’s game.
He claims that on Sunday, referee Bill Vinovich told him to “stay off Tom” after he legally hit Brady during his team’s 43-0 loss to the Patriots.
Raekwon McMillan told me when he hit Brady on Sunday – a perfectly legit hit – the referee told him "Stay off Tom." NFL still protecting those QBs amid several early season injuries to marquee ones
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) September 18, 2019
Yes. Stay off Tom. And while you’re at it, try to avoid walking in the line of their cameras pointed directly at your defensive coordinator from an illegal location on the field.
I mean seriously, Raekwon. You’re messing up their shot.
By the way, the final score was Jaguars 20, Titans 7.
Officials called 131 yards in penalties.
