The Free World is having a collective conniption over broadcasting restrictions the NFL has tied to Tom Brady’s minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.
This just in: Those new Brady Rules are nothing more than a smoke screen.
The regulations only cloud Roger Goodell’s mistake. The commissioner should have forced the former quarterback, who Fox Sports signed in May 2022 to a 10-year, $375 million contract, to make a decision: Chose one. Either TV or team-ownership.
Anything less results in a conflict of interest for Brady (the network’s No. 1 NFL analyst), Fox and the NFL.
Brady, yakking into a Fox microphone while whispering into Raiders managing general partner Mark Davis’ ear is not exactly Kosher. It leaves a suspicious perception. This has been lost in the media feeding frenzy over the “rules” Brady must adhere to.
Despite the “rules,” when fans tune in an NFL game on Fox and see Brady behind the microphone, they should wonder if his priority is working for the network, and providing a high-quality broadcast, or pursuing a Raiders-based agenda, especially when he’s working a Raiders game on Fox.
Nonetheless, the NFL’s failure to make Brady chose between TV or a minority stake in the Raiders, not only created a conflict of interest but “rules” impairing Brady’s ability to produce quality, original analysis.
The GOAT is being prohibited from giving milk.
The “rules” say:1) Brady can’t watch another team’s practice. 2) He also can’t attend production meetings with coaches and players.3) He can’t go into another team’s headquarters. 4) He can’t criticize game officials. 5) He can’t criticize other teams. 6) Nor can he speak to members of other teams.
These “rules” hinder Brady from properly preparing for an upcoming game while also preventing him from making new contacts around the league. Fox Sports suits silence suggests they did not have a problem with what the NFL imposed on Brady.
For even with the rules, the Foxies still get Brady’s marquee presence in their booth. And Brady will continue getting paid by Fox while also hoping to get a healthy return on his Raiders investment.
And you, the football viewer, get the highest paid analyst in the business. Albeit one who can’t prepare properly because he owns a piece of the Raiders.
Not to worry, if Brady cannot hack it after two seasons, he can simply use the “rules” as an excuse. Brady can say he never felt comfortable because the NFL regulations hindered his ability to do his job.
So, he will be saying “goodbye” to TV — and his conflict of interest — to concentrate on his other business ventures. And whenever this occasion arises, Brady will have run out of storybook endings but not excuses.
BURKHARDT GETS IT RIGHT
While Tom Brady is sucking all the air out of Fox’s No. 1 NFL booth, Kevin Burkhardt can’t be overlooked. Especially the way he handled the horrible Aiden Hutchinson third quarter injury in Dallas.
As soon as he could, Burkhardt said the Fox crew “made the right decision not to replay” Hutchinson’s “gruesome” leg injury. In between commercials, Burkhardt didn’t say much. He let the concern on Cowboys/Lions’ faces tell the story.
Shortly after play resumed, Burkhardt asked Brady the crucial question: “How do you get back and play after what we just saw?”
TOO LOUD FOR HOWIE
Howie Rose, on the radio, is getting into the Mets-Dodgers NLCS. Maybe getting into it a bit too much.
When the NLCS opened in Hollywood, Rose had a problem with Dodger Stadium PA’s volume.
“Well, I hope you can hear us [Rose and Keith Raad] because we have to compete against the ridiculously high level PA system here,” Rose said on the air.
Let’s just say Rose will never be known as Mr. Whispers. And when it comes to complaining about your broadcasting problems during a game, well, nobody wants to hear them.
So, there.
WE KNOW, BUCK
After the Jets lost to Buffalo 23-20 in the Meadowlands on “Monday Night Football,” ESPN’s Joe Buck thought it was a good time for a state of Gang Green Address, aka a Dysfunction Alert.
Buck (minus sad, but hopeful background music): “The Jets now have lost three in a row. And they are gonna talk about it’s a long season and it is. But after all these changes it’s kind of the same frustrating result for the New York Jets.”
Swell, but tell us something we don’t know. Then again, when it comes to the Jets there isn’t much the unwashed masses have not already seen or heard.
AROUND THE DIAL
The ESPN Faculty is taking time finding a third voice for their No. 1 NBA broadcast team. Or maybe they are just trying to decide if a third wheel to join Mike Breen and Doris Burke is even necessary. Anyway, with a number of possible candidates on their roster, it looks like the first part of the season will include live auditions during game telecasts. And that process won’t exactly be viewer friendly. … ESPN’s current roster of NBA analysts includes: Richard Jefferson, Hubie Brown, Bob Myers, Tim Legler and Jay Bilas. … Just wondering how the guys (Justin Shackil, Emmanuel Berbari, Rickie Ricardo) who replaced the “retired” John (Pa Pinstripe) Sterling all season long, only to be exiled by the returning Sterling for the playoffs, would have handled all the drama down the stretch on ALCS Game 3 in Cleveland Thursday night? Would have been a lasting memory. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the chance to make it. … YES gets an ‘A’ for its postgame coverage following Game 3. The analysts (John Flaherty, Jack Curry, Michael Kay) spared viewers emotional soliloquies concerning how the frantic finish made them feel, instead sticking to insight and analysis of how it all was able to go down. As usual, and unlike other postgame productions, YES got to the manager’s press conference quickly. Highlight of that session was when Aaron Boone bristled after being asked if “you thought you had it in the bag” following Aaron Judge/Giancarlo Stanton’s back-to-back home runs. … During his recent “Mad About” segment on ESPN’s “First Take,” Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo ripped into the broadcast stylings of Tony Romo and Bill Belichick. Interestingly (or was it purposely) no ESPN voices got ripped. Seems like Doggie is avoiding biting one of the hands that feeds him. … The on-air benefits Pat McAfee is getting from his decision to make Aaron Rodgers a paid weekly regular on his show continue to pay dividends. Latest coup came Tuesday when new Jet Davante Adams did a cameo with Rodgers. This brand of exclusive, compelling content cannot be found on what now passes for local New York sports-talk radio.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
While hosting the Buccaneers on Sunday, the Saints organized a donation drive for Tampa Bay area residents recovering from Hurricane Milton. That was a winning move.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: NICK SIRIANNI
For an experienced Philly coach to be squabbling on the sidelines with fans in the stands is one of two things: dumb or incredibly thin-skinned. Could it be Sirianni was just auditioning for a sports radio Gasbag gig?
DOUBLE TALK
What Davante Adams said: “I turned to him [Aaron Rodgers] and just said, ‘Man, how crazy is this.’”
What Davante Adams meant to say: “Man how crazy is this, they gave us exactly what we wanted.”
