Bucs’ Tom Brady Fined for Trying to Trip Cowboys’ Malik Hooker

The NFL handed out discipline to the veteran quarterback after he committed what many fans deemed to be a dirty takedown. The NFL issued Buccaneers quarterback Tom

Brady a $16,444 fine for unnecessary roughness during Monday’s wild-card round playoff game against the Cowboys, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.  The discipline

comes after Brady came under fire for what some fans deemed to be a dirty tackle on Dallas safety Malik Hooker during the third quarter of the Cowboys’ 31–14 win. On the play,

Hooker had recovered a Chris Godwin fumble and began to advance the ball. He eventually was brought down by Bucs receiver Julio Jones, but during the return Brady appeared to

slide in an attempt to tackle the Dallas defender. The fumble call was overturned, but Brady’s soccer-style tackle attempt left a lasting impression on those who were

watching the NFC playoff tilt.  Brady wasn’t the only Buccaneers player retroactively punished for his role in trying to bring Hooker to the ground. Tampa center Ryan Jensen

also was fined $8,333.33 for unnecessary roughness on the same play, per Rapoport. The Buccaneers came up well short of the Cowboys in the wild-card game, bringing an end to

Brady’s 23rd NFL season. It’s possible fans may have seen the last of the seven-time Super Bowl champion after the team’s elimination, though he’s reportedly expected to take his

time in making a decision about his football future.