Patrick Mahomes has already caused a stir in the NFL by criticising their changes for the upcoming 2023 season, but he's not alone as Tom Brady was also outspoken against the league.
The NFL announced changes to the rulebook last week and also adjusted their scheduling process for the new season. Teams will now be able to play up to two Thursday night games instead of one, something that Mahomes wasn't happy with.
Mahomes is one of the faces of the NFL after Brady's retirement, and commissioner Roger Goodell was forced to speak out after the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback criticised the league. But Brady was also unhappy with decisions made during his playing days, although his protests never amounted to anything.
After hearing that he could be playing a maximum of two Thursday night games next season, Mahomes took to Twitter to simply post an emoji of someone facepalming as he cringed at the news. And when one of the best players in the league makes a statement like that, it's not surprising that Goodell felt the need to respond.
"I don’t think we’re putting Amazon (Thursday Night Football broadcasters) over our players. …The data doesn't show higher injury rate," Goodell said following Mahomes' reaction. "I hear from players who also love the 10 days after a Thursday Night game. We have to try to balance all of it."
But Mahomes isn't the first major NFL star to take aim at the league, as Brady called complained about the "pointless" change when the regular season was extended to 17 matches. "It’s pointless, I thought it was a terrible decision," Brady said.
"I think 16 is plenty. And, again, you're eight games into the year and you're not halfway through, so that's kind of a little frustrating aspect. So whatever, I mean, we'll play it. It's there."
These comments were made after Brady has already called NFL games a 'scheduled car crash' while still at the New England Patriots. Brady then opened up about his comments on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert back in March 2018.
"I have such a healthy respect for the guys I play with, it's great to hear their stories too," Brady said. But then the NFL star was asked about the physicality of the game, and added: "Worse than a car crash, because I was in a car crash and it wasn't as bad as getting hit in the football field."
Brady's criticism was damning at the time, but the game remains as physical as ever - as seen with Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustaining two concussions last season. It wasn't the last time that Brady called out the NFL either, as he then slammed their decision to extend the regular season to 17 games.
"It’s pointless, I thought it was a terrible decision," Brady said. "I think 16 is plenty. And, again, you're eight games into the year and you're not halfway through, so that's kind of a little frustrating aspect. So whatever, I mean, we'll play it. It's there."
