Tom Brady doesn't want reporter fired for comment made toward his daughter. Source: NFL
Tom Brady has stood resolute in his belief that his kids should be off limits to media criticism, yet also shown a sense of compassion that perhaps few others would.
Brady cut off his regular appearance on Boston sports-talk station WEEI this morning over comments by Alex Reimer, who ona separate show on the same station dubbed Brady's five-year-old daughter Vivian an "arrogant little pissant" while evaluating her brief appearance in Brady's reality show. Reimer was suspended by mid-morning.
But tonight, Brady was throwing a lifeline to Reimer, even if it may be too little, too late.
"I certainly hope the guy is not fired," Brady told NFL.com. "I would hate for that to happen. I just think any parent is really protective of their kids. I've never stayed away from criticism. I understand criticism is part of sports but I certainly don't think my children or any children really deserve to be in that.
"I think we all have careers and we all make mistakes. I'd hate for someone to have to change their life over something like that. It's certainly not what he intended. I just felt it was inappropriate. I think any 5-year-old is off limits. I think anyone would feel the same way about their kids."
Brady suggested everyone should put themselves in Reimer's shoes.
"Look, I think we all go through our life saying things we shouldn't say or make mistakes," Brady said. "I can express [my disappointment] and we can move on."
Brady has been doing a Monday morning slot on the radio show for years, and last week the station's parent company and the Patriots announced a multiyear contract extension centered around the quarterback's weekly appearances.
Read more:Thousands of fans give Patriots a super sendoff "Well, I think that - I've tried to come on this show for many years and have showed you guys a lot of respect," Brady said, via The Patriot Way on Twitter. "I've always tried to come on and do a good job for you guys, so it's very disappointing when you hear that, certainly. But my daughter or any child, they certainly don't deserve that."
Tom Brady celebrates with his daughter after winning last year's Super Bowl. Photo / Getty
This morning, after co-host Kirk Minihane apologised to Brady, the quarterback ended the interview by saying he might be done with WEEI.
"I'll obviously evaluate whether I want to come on this show again, so I really don't have much to say this morning," Brady said. "So maybe I'll speak with you guys some other time."
The offending audio apparently has been scrubbed from the WEEI website but the passage was captured and posted on YouTube. Reimer and his co-host were discussing "Tom vs. Time," the documentary series about Brady that premiered on Facebook last week.
"It was fine. It was okay," Reimer said. "All right, I thought the first scene was so staged, where Brady's like in the kitchen, his kid's being an annoying little pissant. . ."
Brady's daughter, who's off-camera the entire time, talks to dad about going to soccer and then asks if she can have a sleepover.
Minihane later said that the station had suspended Reimer for the rest of Super Bowl week, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.
To get the day's top sports stories in your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here
