Tom Brady made headlines with his general criticism of the NFL. Headwinds are now coming from a Lions legend

Tom Brady recently caused a stir with his general criticism of the NFL. Now there’s a headwind from a legend: Barry Sanders has little sympathy for the “GOAT’s” all-round attack.

The background: Brady had criticized the game itself, the rules, but also the coaching. “I think there’s a lot of mediocrity in today’s NFL,” said the 46-year-old on ESPN’s “Stephen A. Smith Show”.

Former running back Sanders, who played for the Detroit Lions in the NFL from 1989 to 1998, vehemently defended his former team. And can’t help but take a swipe at Brady.

“Maybe he’s talking about the teams he played for, but the team I played for?” said Sanders: “The team I played for, no. It’s anything but mediocre. It’s anything but mediocre.”

The Lions are 8-3 after Week 12, including a 22-29 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving.

Brady’s former teams, the New England Patriots (2-8) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6), are struggling through the season.

“Maybe I just have blinders on as a Lions fan because we’re leading the league because we’re playing so well,” Sanders said. “But I still see a great product. I still see great teams and a very popular game. I’d listen to everything he has to say and I’d have to know more specifically what he’s referring to, but I think this is the best product, the best we’ve ever seen as Lions fans. So I’m going to enjoy this for a while. “