Suspended Again? – Tom Brady & Tampa Bay Buccaneers Could Face Serious Consequences for Covering up Knee Injury

Defying all odds once again, Tom Brady mounted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl title in over two decades by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in their backyard. 

Tampa’s second and Brady’s seventh. A remarkable record that no team in the NFL can compete with. Brady’s Super Bowl success is truly unparalleled.

And what makes his recent success even more eye-catching is the fact that he played through the entire 2020 season with a torn MCL. According to reports, the quarterback suffered the injury back in 2019 while he was still with the New England Patriots. 

Opting not to go under the knife, Brady incredibly played through the injury to win himself his seventh Super Bowl ring at the age of 43. 

But Brady’s heroics and the Buccaneers’ decision not to disclose his injury during the course of the season is something that might not go down well with the league authorities. 

Why might Tom Brady be in trouble?

Given that Tom Brady had torn his MCL before joining the Buccaneers, there’s every reason to believe that the franchise was aware of the nature of his injury before taking him on. 

And not disclosing a player’s injury is in direct violation of the NFL’s rules and regulations. According to the league handbook, Brady should’ve been listed on the team’s injury report during the course of the season. 

The rules stipulate that a franchise must declare an injury even if a player practices and suits up to play a game. And perhaps one particular line in the handbook is more important than anything else – “This is especially true of key players.”

‘Key players’ is the term that the league specifically emphasizes. And well there’s no arguing as to just how important Brady is to the Bucs organization. 

A suspension could be levied for hiding injury

The league commissioner, currently Roger Goodell, has the power to levy punishment on the franchise and those involved for the violation. That includes the player.

And the range of punishments that could be levied is multifold. According to the NFL handbook, a violation of the policy could well result in massive fines for the club, and suspensions for those individuals involved in the cover-up. The team could also end up losing future draft picks.

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The league has so far declined to comment regarding the matter, but an investigation could soon take place. And this isn’t the first time Brady has gotten into trouble with the league authorities. 

In 2016, after an almost year-long court battle, Tom Brady was suspended for his involvement in the now-infamous deflategate. After serving his four-match ban, Brady though got right back and in typical fashion claimed another Super Bowl with the New England Patriots.  

Will the league let Tom Brady and the Bucs get away with it? Probably not. But their course of action and the punishment levied could play a big role in the Bucs chances of retaining their Super Bowl crown.