Tom Brady is responding to critics who say his part-ownership in the Las Vegas Raiders and his role as a broadcaster don’t mix. Brady called out “the paranoid and distrustful” on Wednesday for believing the two roles present a conflict of interest.
What is Brady saying about his critics?
The seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback and future Hall of Famer writes a weekly newsletter called “The 199,” which is a nod to his infamous late draft position. This week’s topic is “Do Your Job,” a mantra he learned from former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Brady wrote about both his role as a broadcaster and his role as a minority owner of the Raiders and broke down the controversy in his own words.
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“I love football. At its core, it is a game of principle,” Brady said. “And with all the success it has given me, I feel I have a moral and ethical duty to the sport, which is why the point where my roles in it intersect is not actually a point of conflict, despite what the paranoid and distrustful might believe. Rather, it’s the place from which my ethical duty emerges: to grow, evolve, and improve the game that has given me everything.”
What reignited the controversy?
The 7-time Super Bowl champion is in his second year as the lead analyst for the NFL on Fox.
His appearance in the Raiders’ coaches’ booth on Monday, Sept. 15 — complete with headset — reignited the conflict of interest debate. The NFL weighed in with a statement the next day.
“There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game.” NFL Spokesperson Brian McCarthy said.
When told that Brady was seen in the coaches’ booth Monday night, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll admitted that he and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly routinely seek Brady’s advice.
“We have conversations,” Carroll said. “I talk to Tom. Chip talks to Tom regularly. I mean, we have a tremendous asset, and we all get along well, and we respect each other, and so we just talk about life and football and whatever comes, and he has great insight. We’re lucky to have him as an owner.”
What is the Raiders’ next opponent saying?
Before the season began, the NFL relaxed the rules surrounding Brady’s participation in broadcast production meetings with teams that take place before games that he calls. The Raiders host the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Brady was on the call when the Bears beat the Dallas Cowboys three days ago, but Chicago coach Ben Johnson shot down any concern about the issue.
“I mean, we change week-to-week in terms of what we do schematically,” Johnson said. “He’s going to be able to turn on the tape and see what everyone else in the world is seeing right now. Personnel-wise, really the same thing. It’s not like I’m going to sit down with him and tell, ‘Hey, don’t do this to Caleb Williams or you might get him.’ There’s not going to be any trade secrets that are going to be exchanged. I really don’t think it’s that big of a deal, to be honest with you.”
If the Raiders happen to beat the Bears in a blowout on Sunday, the internet trolls and social media conspiracy theorists could be back to work. Brady blames our current social, political and media climate to a degree.
“When you live through uncertain and untrusting times like we are today, it is very easy to watch a person’s passions and profession intersect, and to believe you’re looking at some sort of dilemma,” Brady said. “Because when you’re blinded by distrust, it’s hard to see anything other than self-interest.”
