Referee: Brady drew flag for using 'abusive language'

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady received the first unsportsmanlike penalty of his career after reacting angrily to a hit from Von Miller in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Referee Shawn Hochuli defended the decision, which caused controversy as Miller appeared to lead with his helmet, leaving Brady bleeding from his lower lip.

"He got in my face in an aggressive manner and used abusive language," Hochuli said. "As for the hit, we did not think that it rose to the level of roughing the passer."

Al Michaels just said this was the first unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of Tom Brady's career, which is incredible if truepic.twitter.com/bfQTLrkbC5

- Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) January 23, 2022

Brady admitted last week that officials "probably let me get away with a lot of unsportsmanlike conducts - talking smack to the other teams and talking smack to the refs when I don't think I get the right call."

Hochuli also explained another controversial call that went against the Bucs. Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans was hit late by L.A. safety Eric Weddle on a fourth-down incompletion, drawing a penalty.

But as the hit came after the ball hit the ground, the penalty yardage was assessed from the spot where the Rams were slated to take over possession after the turnover on downs.

Hochuli said there was no interpretation for the rule.

"By rule, in a defenseless receiver hit like that, we treat it as a post-possession foul," he said. "It's a dead-ball foul, and it's enforced from the succeeding spot."

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