NFL officials called more than 10 penalties during the first half of last night's Titans-Jaguars "TNF" game in Jacksonville, causing Patriots QB Tom Brady to tweet, "Too many penalties, Just let us play! ... I'm turning off this game I can't watch these ridiculous penalties anymore." Brady "wasn't the only one" who took to Twitter to express his displeasure. Specifically, there was some "grumbling about the numerous holding penalties (eight in the first half)" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 9/20). Troy Aikman, who called the game last night, earlier this week "called the number of penalties this year 'nauseating'" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/19).
ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said, “If Tom Brady’s turning the game off, what’s happening with fans?” ESPN’s Louis Riddick said NFL officiating is the "number one complaint of many fans," and it is "killing the flow of the game." ESPN’s Mark Sanchez: "Thursdays are hard enough as it is. Then you throw in weather and teams that maybe people didn't really want to watch, and now Tom Brady is talking about it?” (“Get Up,” ESPN, 9/20).
