San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks has claimed that the NFL has been "watered down" after he was penalised for a hit on New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees on Sunday.

Brooks forced Brees to fumble with just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter at a time when his side were leading 20-17. Teammate Patrick Willis recovered the ball, seemingly giving the 49ers a good chance to close out the match.

However, Brooks was flagged for roughing the passer, allowing the Saints to level things up with a field goal before going on to kick another as time expired to clinch a 23-20 victory.

"I didn't hit him with my hand or my helmet. I basically bear-hugged him. That's just how football is played. I think this shit is bullshit. Football, the way they call stuff these days, it's watered down. It ain't real no more." Brooks told reporters, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

"It was Drew Brees. And maybe the officials were for the New Orleans Saints a little bit more than the 49ers. I think it's B.S. man. They're trying to protect the players around the NFL as much as possible, but I think they protect the offensive players a little too much.

"We still get chopped in the defensive line. We still get cut-blocked from the offensive linemen and they don't do anything about that. If you're going to protect everybody, then how about they change the rules on [the] chop block?"

The 49ers are currently 6-4 for the season having lost their last two games and will face the Washington Redskins next.