Why does Tom Brady get the benefit of the doubt? The NFL on FOX analyst, who also owns a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, was seen on Monday night in the Raiders coach’s box wearing a headset in suit and tie. Seems pretty normal to see an owner of an NFL franchise taking up a seat in the coach’s booth, right?
There’s been much speculation about Brady and his balance between broadcaster and owner. Can Brady find it in himself to honor the integrity of the game by acquiring inside information from other teams and not spill the beans to his own coaching staff that he’s paying a salary to? Can Brady avoid any instances of a conflict both in person, private, or on broadcast?
Seeing Brady in the booth should be a giant red flag for the teams who have Brady assigned to their games for broadcast. The reaction to the scene in Vegas left me puzzled. Why does Tom Brady receive the good fortune when there is obvious conflict involved?
What is integrity anymore regarding anything?
All my life I was told that you never allow anything to happen that could affect the integrity of the game. A high moral ground to stand on with ethics. Being honest and upright about anything you represent and believe in. The barriers of protection seem to have dwindled more over the years when it comes to sports.
Integrity? Ha, who needs it.
Why the Rules in the First Place
Let’s remember why the league instituted the rules on Brady’s access in the first place. They approved his 5% stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. That’s it.
The rules were simple. Tom Brady cannot be permitted in another team’s facility, witness team practices, publicly criticize officials, criticize other teams, and cannot attend broadcast production meetings either in person or direct.
All those protections meant something to the other owners of the league. That was less than a year ago, today is a much different world we live in.
The rules have recently been relaxed by the league. Allowing Brady access to broadcast production meetings with other teams, albeit Brady must remain remote. The NFL will still allow Brady to speak but not be seen on team facilities where the meetings take place.
Before Brady called his first Super Bowl broadcast in February. The league relaxed the rules initially to allow Brady access to the same meetings. Made sense at the time. It’s the only game that mattered until the following September. The information gathered for the Super Bowl would 99.9% likely be very aged and worthless into the next season.
Now, two weeks into the regular season with Brady adhering to the relaxed restrictions, he’s been seen in the coach’s booth with a headset on. That’s not all. ESPN’s Peter Schrager reported just seconds before the camera panned to Brady in the booth that Raiders coach Chip Kelly talks to Brady two to three times a week and goes over film. Schrager called Brady “a luxury for the coaches.”
You don’t say? So, let me get this straight.
The Benefit of the Doubt?
Tom Brady as NFL on FOX broadcaster has access to personnel with other teams every week. To gain knowledge ahead of every broadcast from those other teams.
Tom Brady as Las Vegas Raiders minority owner is meeting with coaches throughout the week to go over game film and the game plan.
Am I to believe that nothing from those meetings with other teams’ personnel makes its way to the conversations Brady is having with other coaches?
Why does Tom Brady get the benefit of the doubt?
Isn’t this the same Tom Brady who played for a team that got fined and lost draft picks for the Spygate case? The same Tom Brady who was suspended without pay for his role in the Deflategate scandal? Are we not to believe that a former player who has a history of trying to get a leg up on the competition would be a patron saint in avoiding a conflict of interest in his role as a broadcaster and minority owner?
Of course, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll denied the reporting by Schrager that Brady is helping the Raiders’ coaching staff throughout the week. He didn’t deny Brady talked to coaches though, even calling Brady a “tremendous asset.”
Of course, there are no rules prohibiting owners from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game.
The NFL Must Act
This week Brady will be on the call in Chicago as the Bears host the Dallas Cowboys. Brady will be in meetings with both Cowboys and Bears personnel gathering data and insights ahead of the broadcast. The following week, the Chicago Bears head to Vegas to play the Raiders.
Should we just assume that Brady isn’t going to share any of that immediate knowledge with the coaching staff that he pays for?
The NFL, FOX Sports, and Brady himself can deny all they want that there is no conflict of interest in balancing his access as a broadcaster with his access as a team owner. If seeing is believing, the images paint a stark contrast to what we’re being told to believe.
Tom Brady should not be allowed the benefit of the doubt. The weekly conversations with team personnel may not be war and peace, but it’s still information, even in the slightest form. Did missing those meetings last year severely undercut his performance on air? I’d like to hear one person say that, including Brady.
The NFL should stick by the rules that Brady’s fellow owners placed on him last year. Otherwise, we’re just allowing the benefit of the doubt to ruin whatever integrity remains.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
