NFL legend Tom Brady has recently sparked outrage from fans, former players, and media members for what many see as a conflict of interest between his role as a team owner and a member of the media.
In addition to his role as an analyst for Fox, Brady is also a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders franchise. Given the inside access that the league’s broadcast partners receive in order to prepare to cover each game, Brady has received a lot of pushback for receiving that inside information while also serving as a team owner.
That criticism reached a new level this week when Brady was seen in the coaches box with a headset on during a recent Raiders game amidst reports that he works closely with coaches to help them prepare each week. Now, one former Raiders coach has exposed just how much information Brady shares with Raiders coaches.
Brady’s Role With the Raiders
In addition to Brady’s appearance in the coaches booth during Monday night’s game, ESPN reporter Pete Schrager reported that Brady speaks with Kelly, the team’s offensive coordinator, several times each week ahead of each game, including film sessions.
“We’ve got a special member of the Raiders ownership group here today, and that is Tom Brady, who is in the house and is with the coaches’ box here tonight,” Schrager said before the game. “Was wondering how much Brady really had an involvement with this team. We hear so much about Brady as the owner. Chip Kelly told us this. He talks to Brady two to three times a week. They go through film, they go through the gameplan. And Brady is a luxury for the coaches. Who else has an owner who has been there and done that.”
Brady’s Inside Information With Fox
Typically, broadcast teams attend weekly production meetings to gather information about the game they are covering each week. These meetings often include an up-close look at each team and sometimes information about the teams, players, coaches, and other things that are not necessarily available to the public.
Last season, Brady was barred from these meetings. This season, however, the league has eased its restrictions and allowed Brady to attend the meetings virtually. Brady is still barred from attending team practices, but his Fox colleagues are still allowed to attend and could provide him with additional information from their observations.
Brady Shares Info With Raiders Coaches
While there has been some debate about just how much inside information Brady gets from his role with Fox and how much he shares with Raiders coaches and some opposing coaches don’t seem all that concerned, former Raiders coach Antonio Pierce knows firsthand just how much Brady’s inside information can help.
“This is unprecedented, what we’re seeing,” Pierce told Adam Schein of SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio. “I think I would be uncomfortable if it was the other way around, to be honest with you. Because you’re not dealing with just a normal person. Tom Brady is the elite of the elite, one of the greatest quarterbacks, one of the greatest players in the game, played against him obviously, student of the game.
“It’s not hard for him to watch a few things on a Friday practice or hear things in a production meeting and be like, ‘Hmm,’ and have tidbits. And you’d be foolish enough to think that he’s not gonna share that with the Raiders because we had those conversations about certain things.”
Pierce served as the Raiders coach last season before he was fired – a decision he believes Brady had a role in making. Pierce acknowledges that Brady was probably less help to the Raiders last year than he would be this year, considering he wasn’t approved as a part owner of the Raiders until October and he faced more restrictions last year. Still, Pierce called Brady “a great asset.”
“I think everybody’s gonna give you the political answer and say, ‘Oh, it’s no big deal,’” Pierce added. “I’m calling BS on that because if me and you was to call the game, they’ll be secretive with us. Now you got a guy who’s a minority owner, a great player, you know he understands the game, you know he sees the game. He has obviously an interest in the Raiders. So I just think it’s unprecedented. We haven’t seen it. Again, I don’t want to talk above my means. I don’t know what the NFL has set for Tom Brady and his rules, but I know he was a great asset for us with the Raiders when I was there. And I think he’ll still be a great asset as he’s going forward and I think this does help him out, and the Raiders.”
Clearly, Pierce thinks Brady was helpful to the team last year, and he thinks he’ll be even more helpful this year.
