The NFL agreed with fans who thought Tom Brady attempting a slide tackle against the Cowboys was a dirty play, fining the Bucs quarterback.
Tom Brady got away with a red card tackle on the field against the Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Game. The NFL didn’t let him off the hook entirely.
With Tampa Bay trailing 24-0 , somehow Brady found a way to make the whole performance even more embarrassing. His attempt at a literal slide tackle after Malik Hooker’s interception was far better suited to a soccer field, and even then would have been illegal in that arena.
The league agreed, fining Brady $16,44 for tripping.
NFL fined Tom Brady for tripping attempt vs. Cowboys
Brady’s fine was the largest levied against a quarterback not named Deshaun Watson this season. It was still less than Jamaal Williams received for a hip thrust after a touchdown. However, it was considerably more than the $10,609 fine Broncos DE De’Mont Jones received for tripping foul in Week 14.
This wasn’t Brady’s first rodeo as far as fines go. In 2013 he was fined $10,000 for kicking Ed Reed during a slide. Earlier during the 2022 season he got hit for $11,139 for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Falcons. And, of course, he received a fine of more than $235,000 for his role in “deflate-gate” with the Patriots.
Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen also received a fine of $8,333 for fighting at the end of the same play.
Brady’s future in Tampa Bay is uncertain now that their 2022 season is over. The future Hall of Famer could opt to retire or seek further success with a championship contender built to win in 2023. His Bucs teammates apparently aren’t expecting him back with them.
As for Malik Hooker and the Cowboys, they get to keep the playoff party going with an intriguing matchup against the 49ers on Sunday.