Miami LB Raekwon McMillan Told to "Stay Off" Tom Brady After Legal Hit

Playing at age 42, Tom Brady no longer takes the sort of hits that he used to take when he was playing at 22 or even 32.

Part of the reason for that is because Brady has become adept at getting rid of the ball, sidestepping pash rushers and knowing when to slide instead of staying upright and taking a big hit.

Another part of the reason is that the NFL has changed the rules of professional football during Brady’s career in order to protect the quarterback in ways that guys who played in the ’70s and ’80s never could have imagined.

And, according to Miami Dolphins linebacker Raekwon McMillan, a third part of the reason why Brady doesn’t get hit is that officials warn players not to touch him during games.

Speaking to The Miami Herald, McMillan said he delivered a legal hit on Brady during Miami’s 43-o loss to the Patriots on Sunday and was warned not to do it again by game ref Bill Vinovich.

“Tom didn’t say anything but the referee said, ‘Stay off Tom.’ I put my hands up in the air and said ‘I got you,’” McMillan told the paper.

Though McMillan wasn’t flagged on the play, it’s just more evidence quarterbacks are going to get the benefit of the doubt with calls, especially in the wake of injuries to starting QBs Nick Foles, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Trevor Siemian and Cam Newton.

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