For once, the NFL has done something fun. They recently announced new rule changes and among them was the league’s new number policy.
Now, defensive backs, running backs, full backs, tight ends and wide-receivers are allowed to wear numbers 1 through 49. Linebackers are also allowed to wear 1 through 59. Single-digit numbers are usually reserved for quarterbacks and kickers. Numbers in the teens were only available for wide receivers.
So, obviously, that’s a pretty big change. And one that a lot of people seemed to enjoy. Most fans seemed to be thrilled with the idea that players could wear different numbers. There seemed to be players who were also thrilled about having options, too.
There was a notable name that wasn’t, though: Tom Brady.
The Buccaneers quarterback complained about the number change in a story post on Instagram. He said it was going to make for “a lot of bad football.”
Tom Brady weighs in on an NFL rule change: pic.twitter.com/EhTd8f6kVh
— Lucy Burdge (@LucilleBurdge) April 22, 2021
Whew. Major “get off my lawn vibes” here from Brady. He’s making a big stink about nothing.
Sure, one could potentially make the argument that it might be hard for the untrained eye to discern who is about to rush on a given play because a linebacker could wear a defensive back number now.
But that’s the thing: None of these guys are untrained. There’s a ton of preparation that gets done through the week and, by the end of it, everyone knows who is who and what they might do on the field. Brady knows that — he’s mastered it throughout his career.
So, no, if we see bad football next season it will have absolutely nothing to do with the numbers players are wearing. The teams that we’re watching probably just weren’t good in the first place.
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