Brady won't apologize for roughing calls

[jeremyroyce]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/p ... ing_calls/

FOXBOROUGH - Tom Brady conceded that the Patriots were “fortunate’’ to get a pair of roughing-the-passer penalties that extended touchdown drives last Sunday in their win over Baltimore, but the quarterback wasn’t about to apologize for the flags, which Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and coach John Harbaugh have insinuated were the result of special treatment for Brady.

I want the penalty call,’’ said Brady. “I want 15 yards. I don’t care whether they hit me or not, that’s an advantage for our offense.’’

He added with a grin, “I go hug the ref before the game, ask about his kids and stuff like that. I’m trying to get him on our side.’’

The Baltimore Sun reported yesterday that the league told the Ravens there would be no fines for the roughing calls.

Brady said he wasn’t embarrassed by the so-called “Brady Rule,’’ which is a clarification of the roughing-the-passer rule that prohibits players from lunging at or rolling onto the knees of the quarterback. The “Brady Rule’’ was why Ravens pass rusher Terrell Suggs drew a 15-yard penalty in the second quarter even though he barely made contact with Brady.

“Well, the ‘Tuck Rule’ was kind of associated, too,’’ said Brady. “I’m sure all of the Jets fans love it. Rodney [Harrison] obviously does. Whatever they call it, they call it.

“We don’t make the rules, we just play by them, and I think we were on the fortunate end of a few of them this week. Other times, we haven’t been. Like I’ve said, in the end, they probably all even out.’’

Brady enjoyed chatting about facing his former position coach/offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels this Sunday against Denver far more than he did reviewing the roughing-the-passer rules. Brady said he wasn’t surprised by the Broncos’ 4-0 start under McDaniels in his first season as head coach.

“From being around him for as long as I had, and being in as many meetings, I know he’s always so well-prepared and so diligent,’’ said Brady. “He loves coaching, and I think he always really dreamed of being a head coach.’’

Brady said facing a coach with such intimate knowledge of the New England offense does require changes, but he said the Patriots went through similar situations when they faced Eric Mangini and even this year against the Jets, who have former Patriots quarterback Kevin O’Connell.

“Obviously, with Josh, he knows it better than anybody. And we know them,’’ said Brady. “I think in the end it comes down to how you execute, it really does.

“They may have information, we have information. When you’re out there, what you see is what you see, and that’s what you’ve got to react to, no matter what they say in the meeting before the game.’’





I want the penalty call,’’ said Brady. “I want 15 yards. I don’t care whether they hit me or not, that’s an advantage for our offense.’’

He added with a grin, “I go hug the ref before the game, ask about his kids and stuff like that. I’m trying to get him on our side.’’


I don't know how you guys feel about this but I thought that those calls against the Ravens was ridiculous. But this statement here by Shady Brady is ridiculous as well. I was watching the NFL Total Access from yesterday and they were talking with Mike Pereira and he was asked were these calls made because of Shady Brady and the answer was no. Well, I said to myself yes they were. And right after that I see this article. So, here you have Brady who gets hurt from an injury and is out all season and they put in a new rule and it's the Brady rule. So, why should I not believe that these calls were in favor for Brady?

[Deadskins]

He was obviously joking about hugging the ref, but the calls were also obviously because it was Tom Brady. Star players have always gotten special treatment from the refs, whether its a quick flag, or a non-flag when they commit a foul. Particular teams also seem to generate sympathetic calls at crucial moments in games, while others get the opposite treatment. Sometimes you have to outplay the other team and the refs. You just have to live with it.

[VetSkinsFan]

I think some rook should take him out again...

[Irn-Bru]

Belichick cheated and apologized for getting caught (and not because he cheated). Brady admits here that he would take a cheater's W if it meant a W.

I think the Patriots are just being honest. This league for 75+ years has moved consistently in the direction of winning being the ultimate goal. With how much money is involved nowadays, that only intensifies. But if winning is your only goal, then things like good sportsmanship, integrity, and excellence (for its own sake) become optional and even dead weight. NFL media coverage and fan expectations only exacerbate the problem, as well. (Although it really comes down to money, in my view.)

On the one hand, it disgusts me. But on the other, I can't really blame them. Like Brady says above, Belichick and Brady didn't make the NFL this way, they are simply playing by the rules. So I can't get too worked up if the Patriots are more honest about it than most teams. People get upset by this stuff because when Brady admits what everyone in the NFL is thinking, it ruins the facade of sportsmanship or the love of the game, etc.

Is that cynical enough for you guys?

[Countertrey]

On the one hand, it disgusts me. But on the other, I can't really blame them. Like Brady says above, Belichick and Brady didn't make the NFL this way, they are simply playing by the rules. So I can't get too worked up if the Patriots are more honest about it than most teams. People get upset by this stuff because when Brady admits what everyone in the NFL is thinking, it ruins the facade of sportsmanship or the love of the game, etc.

Thank you! Think about it... every time a receiver who was bobbling a ball as he hit the ground gets up and tries to sell a catch to the nearest ref, he is doing the same thing that Brady did...

He knows he didn't have the ball...
but he just wants to get the call...

So, I say, without regret

It's refreshing that Brady admits
Perhaps the league will show some wits

Ban the ref from making the call
helping the team that has the ball

Two sides, this game once did display
Let's let the D come back to play

***For all those fans of Defense.

[langleyparkjoe]

On the one hand, it disgusts me. But on the other, I can't really blame them. Like Brady says above, Belichick and Brady didn't make the NFL this way, they are simply playing by the rules. So I can't get too worked up if the Patriots are more honest about it than most teams. People get upset by this stuff because when Brady admits what everyone in the NFL is thinking, it ruins the facade of sportsmanship or the love of the game, etc.

Thank you! Think about it... every time a receiver who was bobbling a ball as he hit the ground gets up and tries to sell a catch to the nearest ref, he is doing the same thing that Brady did...

He knows he didn't have the ball...
but he just wants to get the call...

So, I say, without regret

It's refreshing that Brady admits
Perhaps the league will show some wits

Ban the ref from making the call
helping the team that has the ball

Two sides, this game once did display
Let's let the D come back to play

***For all those fans of Defense.

Dag Trey, that was pretty nice dude, good work on that.

[Bob 0119]

I giggled a little bit at the "we don't make the rules, we just play by them" comment.