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It often seems like Tom Brady and his teams get the benefit of a few timely calls. Some of these are quite controversial. Regardless of who benefits from it, many in and around the NFL feel like the quality of refereeing is on a steady decline.
Referees have often inserted themselves into games at key moments and sometimes directly influence the outcome. In a press conference, Brady was asked about the refereeing standards in the NFL.
Brady gave his answer, but was sure to drop a joke about him getting so many calls over the years:
"Listen I don't think anyone's trying to scheme anyone out of that or it's just the way sports are. Just like I miss throws, refs miss calls, you know, but we tried to do the best we can do. When it's not going your way just complain to the refs like I do."
The referees have come under fire for poor roughing the passer calls in recent weeks, namely one that gave Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a new set of downs to seal a key divisional victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Does Tom Brady get an inordinate amount of calls?
It's true that the NFL wants to protect quarterbacks more than other positions. They're the money makers and the one position that can really make or break a team.
As a result, quarterbacks get more calls than other positions. No other position has a penalty for hitting them in so many different, illegal ways.
Brady is and has probably been the most prominent player in that position for two decades now. It makes sense that he'd get a lot of calls.
However, there's also a perception issue here. He is getting a lot of calls, but is that because he is who he is, or is it because he's a prominent player with decades of games played?
It's more about what position he plays and how long he's played than the refs going out of their way to help him win games.
It may seem like that sometimes, like against the Falcons or with the Tuck Rule, but it's probably not the reality, though that won't convince his most arduous detractors.
