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Well, all those folks who say the Patriots get special treatment from the league office are feeling a little vindicated right now. Or maybe foolish.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the league has fined quarterback Tom Brady for his Tin Man sans oil can slide, which ended with a Ty Cobb cleating of Ravens safety Ed Reed.

It’s the right call. While the broadcast angle suggested mere awkwardness and lack of flexibility in an age of increasingly mobile quarterbacks, the reverse angle made it look a foot-first eff-you to Reed.

The league fined Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh $30,000 for a Thanksgiving foot to the groin of Texans quarterback Matt Schaub. And before those who say the Patriots get special treatment from the league office point to that disparity and exclaim, “A-ha!” it’s important to keep in mind that Suh’s history influenced his fine.

Brady has no such history.

Correction, had no such history.