‘They Should Line Up on Park Avenue and Protest!’: Tom Brady Getting a Controversial Roughing Call In His Favour Has Drawn the Extremest of Reactions From This Notable NFL Analyst

Noted NFL analyst Stephen A Smith came out all guns blazing at the match officials for recent calls, including a roughing the passer call for Tom Brady. The seven-time Super Bowl champion got a penalty call when he was sacked by Grady Jarret of the Atlanta Falcons. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers benefited from the call and averted a turnover.

The call was made in the fourth quarter of the Buccaneers’ 21-15 win over the Falcons. While the referee Jerome Boger has defended his decision, presenter Stephan A Smith has called it “outrageous”.

Smith on roughing the passer call for Tom Brady

Smith did not mince his words while talking about the tackle on Tom Brady in the game against the Falcons.

“What else is a defender supposed to do, he didn’t leave with his helmet. He didn’t hit him too low. Put his shoulders on him, grabbed him around the waist, swung him around and flung him to the ground,” Smith said.

“I find this to be one of the most egregious calls I’ve ever seen on a National Football League field. It was disgusting. It’s almost to the point where they should line up on Park Avenue and protest at the NFL office”, he added.

“I don’t throw the flags,” answered Buccaneers star Brady when asked about the call after the completion of the game.

The Tua Tagovailoa comparison

The NFL has recently come under fire for not protecting the quarterbacks. It all started with an injury in the Dolphins – Bengals game.

The Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion injury a few days ago against the Cincinnati Bengals.  Bengals’ Josh Tupou brought down Tagovailoa with just six minutes left on the clock. The Dolphins quarterback could not move due to injury and had to be wheeled off.

Also read: NFL and NFLPA Conclude Investigation on the Tua Tagovailoa Case With These Final Findings

The NFL came out with revised concussion protocols. The revised protocol will not allow any player showing any symptoms of motor instability to take the field. The NFL and the NFLPA have agreed on the said protocol.

The Tom Brady call comes in light of such developments. Some in the NFL world have called it an overreaction to the Tagovailoa incident. Former Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy echoed the same opinion.

With the Tagovailoa incident still fresh, the NFL officials may want to tread carefully to avoid a repeat. But was this call right or wrong? Maybe the debate on it will not end soon.

Watch this story: Gisele Bundchen finds herself being mentioned on Zach Wilsons IG comments but why?