CBS Sports NFL analyst J.J. Watt addressed the debate surrounding Tom Brady’s role as FOX’s lead NFL analyst while also holding a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, saying that while some concern is understandable, teams ultimately control what information is shared in production meetings.
Speaking during a guest appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Watt explained that fans and media may believe Brady gains access to exclusive insider knowledge through his broadcast duties. However, Watt noted that NFL teams are careful with what they reveal in meetings, regardless of who sits across the table.
“People think that you have all this inside access, which they’ve kind of stripped most of it away,” Watt said. “Obviously, the one thing he is able to do is attend Zoom production meetings. So then you think, ‘Okay, well, he has inside information from these meetings.’ The truth of the matter is, the team can choose to give you as much or as little information as they want to give you in those meetings.”
Brady, who made his FOX debut last season, is part of the network’s No. 1 broadcast crew with Kevin Burkhardt. Following the restrictions placed on Brady last year due to his minority ownership stake with the Las Vegas Raiders. The league has loosen those restrictions this season. Brady is now allowed to be part of production meetings remotely with coaches and players. Leading to questions about how his dual roles might be perceived given his ownership stake with the Raiders.
The former three-time Defensive Player of the Year also drew from his own experience calling games where his brother, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, was on the field. He said teams naturally adjust the level of access they provide based on circumstances.
“I’ve faced it myself,” Watt explained. “This week, I’m calling the Steelers-Patriots. Week one, I called the Jets-Steelers. I think there might be a little more guardedness there, knowing that my brother’s on the team. Not that I’m going to give away anything, but different weeks and different teams are definitely giving you different information depending on what’s there.”
Watt pointed out that ethical considerations also extend to broadcast partners. While production crews may observe team practices. Watt said it’s a personal decision whether any information from those sessions is shared with the analyst in the booth.
“Yes, his crew and his other people on the broadcast team can go to practice, and if they wanted to, they could share things with him from practice,” Watt said. “That is legit. That’s their ethical decision between them if they do that or not.”
Watt stopped short of labeling Brady’s role a full conflict of interest. His comments highlight the balancing act facing FOX, the NFL, and its one of it’s newest high-profile analysts.
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