Four New England Patriots fans tied to a Boston sports blog were arrested Tuesday after handcuffing themselves in the lobby of NFL headquarters to protest the suspension of star quarterback Tom Brady, police said.
The demonstrators, whose names were not released, gathered outside the 345 Madison Ave. building at about 1:20 pm Tuesday, according to photos on social media.
The fans — sporting Brady Jerseys and other Patriots gear — held signs that read "Free Brady," "Fire Goodell" and "Hate us cause they ain't us."
They then walked inside the building and sat on the lobby floor, where they handcuffed themselves, according to witnesses and social media.
Small band of protesters show up outside @NFL offices chanting: Free Brady! Fire Goodell! Kensil's a [expletive] pic.twitter.com/TNV5zi5fW5
— Lisa Kraus Edwards (@LAKEdwards) May 12, 2015Patriots protesters have handcuffed themselves together in lobby of @NFL offices. Expecting police arrival. pic.twitter.com/Tc5ah9XkyK
— Lisa Kraus Edwards (@LAKEdwards) May 12, 2015#Patriots "Free Brady" guys led out by police in front of #NFL offices pic.twitter.com/cxp9gGNJLh
— Lisa Kraus Edwards (@LAKEdwards) May 12, 2015I work across the street from NFL HQ and a bunch of guys in Tom Brady jerseys just got hauled out in cuffs
— Dru (@MILIT1A) May 12, 2015#Patriots fans taken to Central Booking in New York City. They will be kept overnight for their stunt in #NFL lobby. pic.twitter.com/lrZVRbLqKQ
— Lisa Kraus Edwards (@LAKEdwards) May 12, 2015
The sit-in lasted for about 20 minutes, said a building security guard who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"They were chanting 'Free Tom Brady,' stuff like that," he said. "They wouldn't go out, so we called the police."
Posts on the Boston blog Barstool Sports are identifying the protestors as associates of the site. The NYPD did not say whether they would face charges for trespassing or issued a summons.
The NFL suspended Brady for four games on Monday for under-inflating footballs during an AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts in January. The NFL also fined the Patriots $1 million.
