Without a doubt Tom Brady is a media darling and a favored son of the NFL. And he is the most coddled member of the league’s Fitness Protection Program. If a defensive player so much as touches his knee with the forcefulness of a feather, flags will rain upon the field like octopus at a Detroit Red Wings game. And being the competitor that he is, Brady milks it for all it’s worth.

Who can blame him really?

It’s a bit like Duke always getting the charging calls when the rest of the world sees that they are flopping like a French soccer player. If you can get the calls, why not go for it if it gives you a competitive edge?

This past Sunday London Fletcher was flagged for Unnecessary Roughness against, well who else, Tom Brady. Down 20-17 the Patriots were knocking on the door of the red zone, facing a second and 4 from the Redskins 23 yard line.

Instead of facing a third and 1 from the 20, the Patriots were gifted a first and 10 at the Redskins 10. Fortunately for the Redskins they held and the Patriots were only able to knot the score at 20.

The backlash from NFL fans outside of New England was predictable.

“Put a skirt on him.”

“What a p***y!”

Or even better, Baltimore-area musician Rob Fahey, on queue started playing an original tune, “I F****in’ Hate Tom Brady!”

And while Brady’s behavior in the past has at least in part invited such fan angst, he’s not the one to blame here. That blame belongs to Jeff Triplette and his officiating crew.

The inconsistencies amongst the zebra herds are reaching epidemic proportions, so much so that teams almost need to adjust their respective game plans based upon the variable interpretations and enforcement of the rule book.

With all the money invested in the league why can’t they find a way to have full-time officiating crews? These crews and their respective incompetencies detract from the viewing pleasure of fans, they slow the game down and too often they heavily influence the outcome.

Unfortunately, until the NFL’s popularity tumbles a bit and it is reflected in a decline in ticket sales, TV revenues and Alyssa Milano form fitting tee-shirts purchases, we’ll just all have to put up with the shortcomings of the Jeff Triplettes, Bill Leavys and Mike Careys of the world.

That’s just the way it is…