Tom Brady is fined $16,444 for 'reckless' slide tackle on Cowboys safety Malik Hooker during Bucs' first-round playoff exit

The 45-year-old's 'dirty' tackle was first spotted by NFL eagle-eye fans on Twitter

Tom Brady has been fined $16,444 for 'unnecessary roughness' during last week's wild-card round playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, which the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 31-14.

The punishment comes a little less than a week after Brady came under fire for a dirty tackle on Dallas safety Malik Hooker during the third quarter, which was initially spotted by eagle-eye NFL fans, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rappoport.

On the play, Hooker had recovered a fumble from one of Tampa Bay's wide receivers, Chris Goodwin, and was on his way upfield when he was eventually brought down by Bucs receiver Julio Jones.

However, during the return, Brady seemed to have gone to the ground in an attempt to 'slide tackle' the Dallas defender out of frustration

After the play, the referees overturned the fumble call, but Braddy's challenge left a distate on those who were potentially watching the 45-year-old's last postseason game, should he confirm rumors of retiring after this season

Brady's also experienced being in the spotlight for the wrong reasons far more often than he's used to following his divorce from his ex-wife Giselle Bundchen in October - barely a month after the start of this season.