Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks with referee Shawn Smith (left) and umpire Bryan Neale (92). Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady reveals what he says to refs before games

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has choice words for referees before games, too.

"I usually start by apologizing pregame. I say, 'Look, I'm an a--hole out there. You know me. I'm going to say a lot of sh--. Don't take it personal,'" Brady said on his "Let's Go!" podcast.

Brady's favorite emotion on the field is anger.

"If you see me in a good mood in a game, it's a bad moment," he said.

This season, the 45-year-old QB has often berated referees, teammates and abused Microsoft Surface Pro tablets. Brady has never played on a mediocre NFL team like this season's Bucs (6-7), so his actions aren't surprising.

In Sunday's 35-7 beatdown by the 49ers. Brady endured a no-call throat grab by San Francisco linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair that ticked him off.

"The only thing you think in that moment is, 'I just got hit in the throat!' [The referee] didn't get hit in throat, you did. They can't understand sometimes. If you're a ref, just chill out," Brady said.

Some argue that Brady is the most protected quarterback in the league. In 2009, the NFL even enacted a new rule — nicknamed the "Brady Rule" — to protect QBs from low hits. 

On his podcast, Brady admitted that the NFL is getting "a little softer than it used to be." 

But that doesn't mean he's going to stop verbally abusing refs on the field anytime soon.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Welcome to the WNBA: Caitlin Clark sets infamous record in debut
Timberwolves starter ruled out for Game 5 vs. Nuggets
Chris Finch throws shade at Nuggets star over Rudy Gobert’s fine
Astros starter ejected after foreign substance inspection
Cardinals head coach warns not to bet against Kyler Murray
Details emerge on Jason Kelce’s role at ESPN
Rangers defenseman wins Mark Messier Leadership Award
Ex-NFL head coach takes over as Arena Football League commish
Yankees young stud takes major step in return from injury
See top groupings for Rounds 1 and 2 at 2024 PGA Championship
Former Bruins winger dead at 75
Brewers lose team-leading home run hitter to injured list
Super Bowl-winning safety plans to retire after 2024 season
Canucks' Nikita Zadorov takes a shot at NHL over teammate's suspension
Sports radio star Doug Gottlieb to coach college hoops while staying on the air
NFL scores big win in legal battle with ex-Raiders head coach
Astros 3B breaks out of slump in contract year
Cardinals sign second-round CB
Micah Parsons makes history with new Bleacher Report deal
Celtics assistant named candidate for Lakers HC job