Brady was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct the same week he admitted officials let him get away with 'smack talk'
Tom Brady spoke too soon regarding the NFL's reluctance to call an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against him. For the first time in his NFL career, Brady was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty -- called against him at 44 years old (yes it took 22 seasons).
First they bloodied Tom Brady and then they sent him off into the twilight -- of the lost evening and perhaps of much more. The Los Angeles Rams are returning home for the NFC Championship Game after a 30-27 victory, where they will face the San Francisco 49ers and have a chance to get the answer to the question that has defined their season:
One shot to his upper chest area delivered by Von Miller early in the second quarter left Brady with a bloody lip, and a bone to pick with the game's officials.
Brady turned toward referee Shawn Hochuli to voice his displeasure with a lack of a roughing the passer penalty after being hit by Miller, drawing a flag -- just not for the reason Brady wanted.
"Brady was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for the first time in his career."
Hochuli explained the flag after the game.
"He got in my face in an aggressive manner and used abusive language," Hochuli said, via the pool report. "As for the hit, we did not think that it rose to the level of roughing the passer."
Unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Tom Brady after taking a shot from Von Miller, Brady bleeding on the lip after the shot#TBvsLAR pic.twitter.com/phH17TbTU2
— Ted Budd 🏀🏈 (@TedBuddy8) January 23, 2022
This past week he admitted the officials were lenient on such penalties toward him. During a podcast this week, Brady admitted he probably should get flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct more.
"I do know that [the officials] probably let me get away with a lot of unsportsmanlike conducts, talking smack to the other team and talking smack to the refs when I don't think I get the right call," Brady said. "I'm kind of a pain in their ass if you don't already know that."
Hochuli took notice of Brady's comments -- and was more than happy to oblige.
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NFL.com & cbssports.com
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