Tom Brady: I've Never 'Influenced a Call'

Coincidence or not, after Tom Brady missed almost all of the 2008 season after a low hit tore the Patriots star's left MCL and ACL, the NFL's Competition Committee made clear that it would enforce more strictly a rule preventing defenders from tackling quarterbacks at or below the knee. It was affectionately dubbed "The Brady Rule" by folks outside the league office.

And the Patriots have benefitted from the increased focus on QB protection, with their opponents picking up five roughing the passer penalties in seven games. One, in particular, raised some eyebrows -- in New England's Week 4 win over Baltimore, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs gently brushed Brady's knee, and Brady gestured back at referee Ron Winter, and a flag came flying.

Winter might have thrown the flag regardless of Brady's reaction -- it is in the rule book, after all, though the rule states that forcible contact must me made -- but, nonetheless, the anti-Brady folk out there used it as evidence that Brady gets whatever he wants from officials.

Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter picked up that banner and is carrying it into Miami's game in New England this week. During an interview with the NFL Network's Rich Eisen, Porter said there's "no question" that Brady receives preferential treatment.

"When a guy can tell a ref when to throw a flag, and he gets it, he's got his own rules," Porter said, according to Pro Football Talk. "They made the rule that you don't go at the legs for Tom, so when he feels that someone is going at his legs, he just points to the ref and he gets a flag. So I can honestly say that he gets his own rules."

On Friday, Brady respectfully disagreed.

"No, I don't think so, " Brady told the Boston Globe when asked if he's ever forced a ref's hand. "You may get more calls. I don't know. I think the ref calls what he sees. I don't think I've ever influenced a call. The refs we have are very good. If they make a call on that, great. If they don't, that's fine."

Brady's situation aside, some of this can be chalked up to the league-wide epidemic regarding QB-protection penalties. It's not just New England that has benefited from some ticky-tack roughing the passer calls. Between the low hits, hits to the head, late hits, and tackles deemed unnecessarily ruthless, the number of flags flying when quarterbacks take a shot are rising everywhere.

Beyond that, though, is it really that surprising for Brady to get an extra flag here or there? Whether it's supported by the stats or not, high-profile players always seem to get away with a bit more than your average guy. That's not just an NFL issue -- look at LeBron James in the NBA or Sidney Crosby in the NHL. The perception is that they get a few freebies just because of reputation -- and while it's unfair to hang accusations like that on refs, it's also not totally unfathomable that it happens.

If you're officiating a Patriots game, knowing Brady's recent history, and you see someone clip him on the knee while he stumbles and looks to you for a call -- whether he explicitly asks for one or not -- there's a good chance you'd be more inclined to throw a flag. It's just human nature, not to mention the rule justifying a penalty there if his knee gets hit.

But regardless of Brady's personal protection, Porter's words -- as they often do -- added some extra spice to this weekend's AFC East showdown. It'll be interesting to see what happens if he comes in low on New England's golden boy.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

11-07-2009 @ 1:06AM

nexxtlevell said...

I aint no Pats fan but that game when Tom thought someone was coming after his knees when clearly it was not as bad, he got a flag....so please Tom....who you kidding

11-07-2009 @ 2:41AM

Gurn Z b said...

it may as well have been a tickle...

11-07-2009 @ 3:54AM

Kevin Wise said...

EVERYBODY HATES A WINNER!!!

11-07-2009 @ 4:42AM

Steve said...

LOOK TOM the guy ONLY brushed your leg and for a player that you are ( for sure a future hall of fame calliber player ),I would rather you down as a great QB than a QB who looked for flags everytime YOU THINK a player is going to hit you below your knees,OF COURSE there are gonna be some instances when a player is going to totally accidentally pushed into you legs BUT BE LIKE OTHER QBS LET THE OFFICIALS MAKE THAT CALL and STOP BEING SUCH A WUSS CALLING FOR A FLAG..Many men before you have fallen to getting hurt unintensionally and im sure many more will ..You do your job thats what you get paid for and let the Officials get paid for what they do best OFFICIATE THE GAME ( FOR THE MOST PART )and this goes for all player that tend to look for flags not just SOFTY..A great QB for sure but there are BETTER that dont CRY..Best Regards Steve Dublin Ireland...HAILSKINS

11-07-2009 @ 4:44AM

Laura said...

Why is it that no one ever sees how these calls are made on other Quarterbacks as well? But they always manage to see all the ones made when Brady is playing?? Is it because Brady is such a great Quarterback that maybe if people can find something negative to say about him he won't be a good quarterback anymore?? I'll go with the Patriots and say "Let their actions do the talking!!" We'll let morons like you do the talking with the piehole!

11-07-2009 @ 7:04AM

miki49 said...

Hey Burke,

Get a new subject...a rule is a rule!

How come Jordan got the same treatment and the press never made a big deal...

Take out Manning, Brees and Brady and see how many fans the NFL loses!

11-07-2009 @ 8:24AM

tony said...

NONE,what a stupid comment...

11-07-2009 @ 6:13PM

birchibaldbarlow said...

---Take out Manning, Brees and Brady and see how many fans the NFL loses!------------

My guess? ZERO. Fans were here long before any single player. We won't leave simply because an overblown "genius" and a sissy decide to give up.

11-07-2009 @ 7:31AM

sutton2b said...

Time for Tom to grow a pair.........

11-07-2009 @ 8:21AM

A.J. said...

I've never actually seen Brady do the universal 'throw the freaking flag' motion after a play (and people that watch NFL games regularly know exactly which motion I'm talking about). I've never seen him as someone who looks for flags, but how can you blame the guy for not wanting to get his knees hit by a linebacker or defensive lineman that has momentum and doesn't know his own strength?

I still don't think it's as egregious as a few receivers out there who trip and fall on their butts during a play and come up whining and looking for a PI call - and get it half of the time in crucial situations.

But don't worry - in 2010 calling for a flag is going to be unsportsmanlike conduct, along with breathing, laughing, sneezing, fist bumping, and accidentally letting one rip during or after a play.

11-08-2009 @ 10:54AM

Rita Hayward said...

LOL..you are so right about future calls.

11-07-2009 @ 3:23PM

Lose the skirt, Tom!

11-07-2009 @ 6:15PM

Brady is a crybaby. If he had to live behind the Steelers line, he wouldn't walk without a cain. Same goes for Manning. Neither of those guys knows what pressure is.

11-07-2009 @ 7:53PM

robert said...

Kevin Wise , you are right. Everybody hates a winner. Is that why you hate Ben Roethlisberger? Dont forget that big ben has won two rings since tom won his last one.

11-07-2009 @ 9:40PM

Winners should be winners by playing fair and by the rules. Not by winning 3 super bowls from cheating. Which the Patriots did do.

11-08-2009 @ 12:38AM

Glenn20 said...

I have watched every single game that Brady has ever played and that is the ONLY time I have ever seen him ask for a flag. What a bunch of stupid a-holes some of you are! I don't think I've ever seen a player get mischaracterized as much as Brady. He is actually one of the toughest quarterbacks in the league -- as evidenced by the fact that he has the fourth longest consecutive starts streak among QB's in the ENTIRE NFL HISTORY. He'd still be on the streak if his knee wasn't taken out last year. This is despite the fact that he has always stood fearlessly in the pocket, never afraid to take a hit. Crybaby? Why? Because he asked for one flag in 8 years? ------- For the guys who are making these comments, you either know nothing about football or you are extremely biased -- or both.

11-08-2009 @ 4:51AM

megazoidia said...

only time? in eight years?

one of the toughest quarterbacks in the league?

what about vick, when he had the number 1 selling jersey and was taking shots when he was scrambling every down? that isn't tough? i didn't vick ask for any roughing the passers, or what about mcnabb? mcnabb isn't tough?

please if someone were to spit on brady he'd cry for a flag, he was more than likely laughing the when the question was asked.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA no man, i have NEVER asked for a flag, BWAHAHAHAHA. no really, i haven't. HAHAHAHAH"

11-08-2009 @ 10:13AM

How dare you put Vick in the same sentence as Brady....The only reason Vick has all of the rushing yards is cause he can't throw the damn ball. As a quarterback he was mediocre at best. And to Robert, Where in my comment does it say that I hate Big Ben? I made a small four letter comment...Maybe it's just that Steelers fans cant read? Anyways, good luck to all on Sunday.

11-08-2009 @ 10:36AM

Did I stutter? Yes, that's what I said. First of all, who said anything about Vick or McNabb? Being "one of" does not rule out everyone else. But since you brought those two guys up -- McNabb gets injured too easily -- definitely not a sign of toughness. And BOTH guys bitch to the officials more than Brady. I've seen it from both of them.

Oh, and when your Eagles played the Giants last week, didn't you catch Eli Manning crying for a call? And how about the call against the Eagles for simply tackling Eli as he was trying to get the extra one yard for a first down? Were the Eagles supposed to just let him get that first down? Don't you think Eli was being babied by the refs?

And how about Philip Rivers? He bitches to the referees more in any three games than Brady has in his entire career. Where is the article about Rivers being a crybaby?

And what about all the wide receivers who constantly cry for a flag to be thrown for interference? Are they all wimps?

All this bullsh*t about Brady is caused because of his GQ "pretty boy" image and modeling for advertisers. This makes a lot of guys automatically view him as a pansy. If he looked like Shrek, I guarantee non of this conversation would be happening.

11-10-2009 @ 5:19PM

Tom said...

Youcan see every player after nearly every play making a flag throwing motion with their hands trying to instigate a penalty. Why not Brady? What a stupid article

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