The Fox broadcaster and Raiders part-owner repeatedly questioned penalty calls as the Lions beat the Packers 20-17, a tricky spot given NFL rules on owners criticizing officials.
Tom Brady spent Sunday's broadcast of the Lions' 20-17 win over the Packers doing what he does, just from a different chair, second-guessing the officials out loud. The problem is he is also a part-owner of the Raiders now, and the league has made clear that owners cannot be "egregiously critical of officiating" or question the integrity of a crew. Brady walked right up to that line, repeatedly.
In the third quarter, a roughing the passer call on Packers defender Karl Brooks for contact on Lions quarterback Jared Goff after an 18-yard throw drew an incredulous reaction. "My goodness. What is that? There's no way!" Brady said, working through the replay in real time trying to find where Brooks actually did anything wrong.
He was not done. In the fourth quarter, with Detroit up 17-14, Packers linebacker Derrick Barnes was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a late hit. "What? There's no way," Brady said, arguing the defender cannot assume a pass will be dropped and let up.
The Packers fell to 4-3 with the loss. Whether the league views Brady's commentary as crossing from analysis into egregious criticism is now the question hanging over his dual role as broadcaster and owner.