Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady is beginning his offseason a little lighter in the wallet.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brady was officially fined by the NFL $16,444 for his attempted trip of Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker in last Monday’s wild-card playoff game (per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). 

The league ruled that the move from Brady was unnecessary roughness and also fined Bucs center Ryan Jensen $8,333.33 for unnecessary roughness over the same play.

Brady, who was flummoxed by the Cowboys defense all game, slid to the ground and kicked out his leg to try to bring down Hooker after Hooker scooped up a Chris Godwin fumble in the third quarter (video here). 

It appeared to be a frustration move from Brady as the Buccaneers were trailing 24-0 at the time and went on to lose 31-14.

Nobody knows for sure at this point if that was the final game of the 45-year-old Brady’s legendary career. But some of his teammates do have a guess as to which way Brady is leaning.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Pacers' Pascal Siakam leads team to Game 6 win vs. Knicks
Watch: Matt Duchene's 2OT winner sends Stars to conference final
Scottie Scheffler shoots improbable 66 after warming up for PGA Championship in a jail cell
Report: Tua Tagovailoa away from Dolphins amid contract chatter
Nuggets star has worrying comment about latest injury
Paul Skenes makes incredible Wrigley Field history in second-career MLB start
Giants rookie CF to undergo season-ending labrum surgery
Yankees' Juan Soto reacts to Hal Steinbrenner contract talk
Late goal sends Panthers to Eastern Conference Finals
Ex-teammate of Shohei Ohtani placed bets with same illegal bookmaker as interpreter 
Former Rams first-round pick retires from NFL after 11 seasons
Insider provides major injury update on Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis
Watch: Bruins strike first in Game 6 with incredible backhand goal
Dodgers make series of moves involving notable players
Hurricanes not expected to re-sign defenseman, center
Maple Leafs tab former Stanley Cup winner as new head coach
NFL insider expands on competition between Steelers QBs Russell Wilson, Justin Fields
NFL sets outrageous prices for Eagles-Packers Brazil game
Broncos 'very unlikely' to bring back former NFL interceptions leader
Greg Olsen offers broadcasting advice to Tom Brady