New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been fined $10,000 for unnecessary roughness stemming from his high slide into safety Ed Reed in Sunday's AFC championship, reports NFL.com.
Brady scrambled and slid near the end of the first half, but raised his leg high in the air and spiked Reed, who was leaping to avoid him.
No flag was thrown. Safety Bernard Pollard and Head Coach John Harbaugh immediately complained to referees to no avail.
"You've got to keep them legs down," Ravens safety Bernard Pollard said after the game. "When you come sliding, and your leg is up in the air trying to kick somebody, that's bullcrap."
Pollard suggested that there's a double standard in the league for offensive and defensive players. Reed and Pollard have both been fined over the past couple years, and Pollard called for the same treatment for Brady.
"If you want to keep this going in the right direction, everyone should be penalized for their actions," he said Monday.
Reed and Brady exchanged texts and had a phone conversation after the game about the kick, in which the quarterback apologized for his actions.
"I understand Brady's point, with him protecting himself," Reed said. "I know he's a great player. I respect Brady and his game for all it stands for, and I know he's not a dirty player. Emotions get going in the game."
But Reed did say the slide additionally motivated the Ravens. Baltimore's defense didn't give up any points in the second half after the slide. "Yeah it kind of put fuel on the fire for us to want to play even harder and hit even harder and just be more successful," Reed said.
