Brady: New jersey rule will 'make for a lot of bad football'
Tom Brady isn't a fan of the NFL's new jersey rule.
The league approved a change Wednesday to allow players at certain positions to wear new numbers, including linebackers and defensive backs. The adjustment is drawing criticism from the reigning Super Bowl MVP.
"Good luck trying to block the right people now," the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback wrote in an Instagram story. "Going to make for a lot of bad football."
Tom Brady: Not a fan of the new single digit rule (and not just because he wears 12) pic.twitter.com/Y6mzjummkN
— Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) April 22, 2021
Brady also posted an Instagram story calling the change "dumb."
"Why not let the lineman wear whatever they want too? Why have numbers? Just have colored jerseys... Why not wear the same number?" he added.
The new rule gives more jersey-number options to running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers, and defensive backs. They will now be permitted to wear these numbers in 2021:
- Quarterbacks, punters, and kickers: 1–19
- Running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends: 1–49, 80–89
- Defensive backs: 1–49
- Linebackers: 1–59, 90–99
- Offensive linemen: 50–79
- Defensive linemen: 50–79, 90–99
Coaches have also talked about the possibility of confusion among offensive linemen due to the new jersey-number alternatives for defenders. Some believe the rule could generate more free runs at quarterbacks, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.
The Kansas City Chiefs originally proposed the change.