Tom Brady avoids punishment for critical comments about NFL officiating

Tom Brady didn’t cross a line after all. The former NFL quarterback turned broadcaster and the owner of a partial stake in the Raiders will not be punished for the comments he made on air during Sunday’s Lions-Packers game in which he seemed to criticize the decision to kick Lions defensive back Brian Branch, Front Office Sports reported. Because of Brady’s stake in the Raiders, there are certain things that he is not permitted to do, which include criticizing teams or the officials while on air. “I don’t love that [ejection] call at all,” Brady said during Sunday’s broadcast.“Obviously it’s a penalty, but to me, there has to be serious intent in a game like this.” That, however, didn’t seem to meet the threshold for the NFL and the league had “no issue” with the comment, FOS reported. Brady will not be subject to any fine, the outlet also stated. NFL owners have been fined in the past, although rare, over criticisms of the officials. Steelers owner Dan Rooney faced a fine of $25,000 after he was critical of an official in an interview with a local paper following a game against the Falcons in 2006. The play that sparked a potential issue and tested the extent to which Brady could comment on certain plays occurred when Branch was controversially ejected from the game following a hit to the head on Packers wide receiver Bo Melton. Branch was called for unnecessary roughness before a review from New York led to the decision to boot him for the hit. That was when Brady made the comment that he did. Senior VP of Officiating Perry Fewell later said that the decision was made in consultation between the officials on the field and the officiating team back in New York. Brady’s minority ownership stake in the Raiders had only been approved last month after a lengthy process....