Tom Brady has been caught on television cameras cursing during New England Patriots' losses. The website, Deadspin.com, even reported last week that some of the vulgarities have drawn viewer complaints to the FCC.
Turns out, the Patriots' successes are more hazardous to his teammates than their failures are to viewers.
The Wall Street Journal spoke to a few Patriots who have been on the receiving end of Brady's touchdown passes this season. Their consensus: Keep your head on a swivel when you catch pass, because Brady will be close behind with an aggressive head-butt.
"You've got to -- got to -- be prepared for his head-butts and high-fives because they are coming," receiver Brain Tyms told the newspaper. "You've got to brace yourself. It doesn't look like much coming at you, but it's intense.
"If he throws the ball 50 yards and you run 50 yards and score, he's going to run all 50 yards and head-butt the hell out of you."
Even Patriots defenders have had run-ins with the crown of Brady's helmet.
Defensive back Devin McCourty told the newspaper his encounter didn't even come during a game, but rather warm-ups earlier this season.
"I didn't know he'd come that hard," McCourty said. "My helmet was loose, so I felt it."
While uncomfortable at times, Brady's resume -- he's led the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles and his 392 touchdown passes are fifth most all-time -- means they'll just have to go along with it.
"He's like the big brother," McCourty said. "He's the old wise guy at the top of the hill teaching everybody and loves watching them do well."
Mini-Watt
Anthony Tarantelli plays tight end and defensive end on his football team and wears No. 99.
Sounds a little like a certain player for the Houston Texans.
Tarantelli, a 7-year-old who lives in Oklahoma City, thought so too. That's why he penned a letter to Texans star J.J. Watt telling him so, complete with an autographed jersey of his own.
"People call me JJ," Tarantelli wrote." I was the most feared rusher in my league this year. I am sending you my autographed game jersey so you will know me when I an a famous NFL player. 99 rocks! Your friend, Anthony."
Watt was touched by the gesture and posted pictures of the jersey and letter on his Twitter account.
"This kid has some guts," Watt wrote. "I like it."
No. 1 fan
Bennett Williams, a 5-year-old in Dublin, Ohio, has grown up an Ohio State Buckeyes fan, but he's also been a fan of the Alabama-Birmingham Blazers because of their logo, which features a green dragon head spitting fire.
So when UAB announced earlier this month its decision to dump its football program, Bennett was devastated, his dad, Brad, wrote to Al.com.
His parents tried to explain to Bennett what happened, that a lack of funding was blamed for the elimination of the program. So Bennett decided to take the $1 bill he earned as allowance and send it to UAB along with a letter that read "I love Ohio State, but I think you should have football, too."
Members of the UAB athletic department saw it on Twitter and asked for Williams' shirt size. A few days later, a box showed up on the family's doorstep with a game ball, shirts, a hat, a bumper sticker, buttons and a signed picture of the mascot.
Brad Williams shared the story for the benefit of UAB.
"Not for Bennett," he said,"but for the generosity of a university that was down and out and took the time out of their day to make a 5-year-old's day, week and month!!"
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Sports quiz
Q. Who are the four quarterbacks ahead of Tom Brady in NFL career touchdown passes?
A. Peyton Manning (528), Brett Favre (508), Dan Marino (420) and Drew Brees (394).
Sports on 12/22/2014