Quarterbacks get hit in football. It’s the nature of the game.

The NFL has forgotten this.

The latest case in point came in the Jets-Patriots game. Patriots QB Tom Brady was drilled as he let go of a pass. The resultant floater was picked off, with the Jets DB getting a long run-back.

But wait! Roughing the passer! And what did the replay show? That Brady got drilled as he let go of the pass. In making the hit, the Jets defender lifted Brady off the ground, slamming him down. This is apparently worthy of a potentially game-changing penalty call.

My question: What was the Jets player supposed to do? Not hit Brady? Slow down on his way to Brady? Hit him but somehow change the laws of physics to allow himself to not have momentum?

UPDATE: I flipped over to the Lions-49ers game and saw a play where Lions QB Jon Kitna was sacked, fumbling the ball. The defender hit him hard, causing his body to leave the ground and get drilled into the turf. Pretty much the exact same play. No penalty.