Tom Brady’s job as Fox broadcaster got tougher as Raiders owner. Commitment to what excellence?

Analyst Tom Brady on the field during warmups before an NFL game between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday. (Jerome Miron / Associated Press)

Viewers may never know whether Tom Brady is a transcendent football analyst or an unlistenable bore because he’s chosen to handcuff himself by becoming a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.

The NFL placed restrictions on Brady in August when his purchase of a 10% stake in the Raiders was pending approval. League owners unanimously approved the deal Tuesday, meaning the limitations on what he can say and how he can go about his job as a Fox broadcaster remain in place as long as he is a franchise co-owner.

And the restrictions are onerous. Brady can’t criticize other teams or game officials and he can’t attend broadcast production meetings that serve as the primary means of preparing for games. He also isn’t allowed in the facilities of any team besides the Raiders except in stadiums when he’s calling a game, and he can’t watch practices.

No obstacle was too great for Brady as a player. He is unquestionably the best quarterback of all time, playing 23 seasons through age 45 and winning a record seven Super Bowls. He holds the all-time records for most passes (12,050), completions (7,753), yards (89,214) and touchdowns (649).

Read more: Can Tom Brady unretire and be a Raiders owner? He’s ‘not opposed’ to playing, even for another team

Brady leveraged his on-field excellence, good looks and boyish charm to land a 10-year, $375-million contract as a color commentator for Fox without a single day of experience. Early reviews have been mixed, with his debut effort widely panned but improvement each week noted.

How can he possibly get better? How can he be honest? The restrictions are the same for all owners, an attempt to ensure they don’t favor their team or gain inside information about opposing franchises. Commentators are supposed to be neutral, unbiased and unafraid to tell it like they see…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-bradys-job-fox-broadcaster-165805683.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-10-16 16:58:05

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