The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has found himself in hot water after he disrespected veterans by comparing playing in the NFL, for which he is paid millions of dollars a year, to “going away on deployment in the military.”
It's dumb statement like this, that shows you who @TomBrady really is. @TomBrady compares NFL season to "Military deployments overseas. "YOU GOTTA' TO BE KIDDING ME"… Nall bro! your wife can go with you, from city to city she can be there. It's not even close, trust me, I know. pic.twitter.com/9WILQwxlie
— Jeffrey (@Mad93104241) October 18, 2022
Brady’s Comments Comparing NFL To Military
Brady, 45, made these comments during Monday’s episode of his podcast “Let’s Go! with Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald, and Jim Gray,” one day after his team suffered a devastating 20-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I almost look at like a football season like you’re going away on deployment in the military, and it’s like, man, here I go again,” Brady said.
“When it comes down to it, your competitiveness takes over and as much as you want to have this playful balance with the work balance, you’re going to end up doing exactly what you’ve always done, which is why you are who you are,” he added.
Brady Hit With Backlash From Veterans
It didn’t take long for this to blow up in Brady’s face, however, as social media users reminded him that playing professional football is nothing like putting your life on the line to serve your country overseas.
“No Tom. It isn’t,” one fan wrote in the comments section of a Fox News article about his comments. “I don’t recall my wife having box seats to any of my tours. And the closest I ever had to a fan club was some German kids we let crawl around a M60A3 after we broke down in a German version of Mayberry sometime around 1985 or 86.”
“Tom Brady has no idea what is speaking about. NO IDEA,” another commenter who appears to be a veteran added. “Poor thing. Not to mention, those of us who have actually deployed, didn’t get the Millions this guy gets for playing a game. He just lost a lot of respect from me today.”
“Really? A military Deployment?? I’ve been on a few, and I was never allowed to take my family with me, nor was I paid anything like what Brady makes,” commented a third outraged fan. “But then, this nation typically treats its sports stars far better than its defended.”
Related: Gisele Bündchen Breaks Her Silence Amid Rumors She’s Divorcing Tom Brady Over NFL Return
Twitter Users Torch Brady
Twitter users got in on the action as well:
https://twitter.com/travisakers/status/1582427148459335680
Tom Brady really compared making millions of dollars to throw a football in the NFL to being on a military deployment. NOT EVEN CLOSE! This guy in unraveling before our eyes.
— Mrs. Booker (@MrsBooker76) October 18, 2022
Yeah, going to training camp and playing football is not comparable to going on military deployment
Also Tom Brady left his pregnant wife to date a super model https://t.co/km4bG1m4Ci
— NYJ Matt (@NYJ_Matt) October 18, 2022
This is an extremely insulting statement by Tom Brady. He should never compare the life of an NFL player to other life of a soldier. Football players actually have value to society unlike military members. https://t.co/kSIzpaWLde
— There Mom, I changed my username (@momichangedname) October 18, 2022
Tom Brady comparing football season to being deployed in the military has me livid. Ain’t no way…I acknowledge he’s one of the best players out there but dude’s an idiot.
— bibliophilemama 📚🌙✨ (@JennKnight14) October 18, 2022
This comes at a difficult time for Brady, as rumors have been swirling for weeks that his marriage to his supermodel wife Gisele Bündchen is on the rocks, with sources claiming that they have each spoken to divorce lawyers.
It’s been speculated that Bündchen was furious when Brady un-retired earlier this year and decided to play another season for the Buccaneers, even though he’d claimed at the end of last season that he was done with professional football. She has yet to attend any of his games this season, and the couple is said to be living apart at this time.
Full Story: Tom Brady Reportedly Devastated Over Wife Gisele Bündchen’s Alleged Decision To Hire A Divorce Lawyer
Brady’s Meltdown
The stress of both his personal and professional life seemed to be getting to Brady during his team’s game against the Steelers on Sunday, as he was seen screaming at three of his linemen on the sidelines during it.
“You are so much better than the way you’re [bleeping] playing!” Brady yelled at the linemen just before halftime as his team fell behind 10-6, according to CBS News.
#TomBrady didn’t practice Wednesday, went to a wedding Friday, no team walk thru on Saturday and flew on his private jet to #Pittsburgh
And now he’s screaming at his offensive lineman.
That’s the leadership you want from your QB.#Steelers #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/5lPbmazjBX
— Obviously (Not) Tomlin (@Tomlin_Sense) October 16, 2022
Brady addressed this meltdown in his podcast the next day, saying, “I don’t know if it’s motivation, but I do think that it’s a bad day when there’s more f-bombs than touchdowns.”
“So, that was not one of my better days,” he continued. “But f-bombs, they used to kind of keep from showing you in those moments but now it’s kind of for the world to see. So that’s just the way it is.”
It seems that Brady should be thinking about choosing his words more carefully these days, both on and off the field. Though playing in the NFL has its’ challenges, they are nothing compared to what our military service members and veterans deal with when they are deployed to serve their country overseas.
Brady owes our military veterans and active service members an apology, as they deserve better than to have the sacrifices that they make for their country belittled so publicly in this way.
We expected better from you, Tom Brady.
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