In a recent podcast appearance, Tom Brady, the legendary former quarterback of the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, expressed his views on the current state of the NFL, calling it "mediocre." However, fellow Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, the renowned Detroit Lions running back, disagrees with Brady's assessment.

During an appearance on the "RG3 and The Ones" podcast, Sanders playfully responded to Brady's comment by saying, "Well, maybe he's talking about the teams that he played for. But the team that I played for? No, it's anything but mediocre." Sanders added that as a Lions fan, he might have a biased perspective due to his team's performance and their lead in the division, but he still believes that the NFL continues to offer a great product.

While the Buccaneers hold a 4-6 record this season and are in contention for a division title, the Patriots have faced a challenging season with a 2-8 record. Meanwhile, Sanders' Lions recently dropped to 8-3 after a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Sanders expressed curiosity about understanding Brady's point of view further, stating, "I would listen to anything he has to say, and I'd have to get into more detail about what he actually is referring to. But hey look, I think this is like the greatest product, the greatest thing we've ever seen as Lions fans. So I'm gonna enjoy this for a while."

Brady made his initial comments about the NFL's mediocrity during an appearance on "The Stephen A. Smith Show." He criticized the coaching, development of young players, and the impact of certain rule changes. Brady specifically highlighted the increased regulation on defensive hits, suggesting that some of the hits made by legends like Ray Lewis, Rodney Harrison, and Ronnie Lott would now be penalized.

In response, Brady emphasized that offensive players should take responsibility for protecting themselves rather than relying on defensive players to do so. He recalled being cautious with his passes when playing against players like Ray Lewis, fearing that they would knock his receivers out of the game.

While Brady raised valid concerns about the game's evolution and its impact on player safety, Sanders remains optimistic about the NFL's current state. As the season progresses, fans and experts will continue to debate and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of today's football.