Tom Brady, National Football League legend, deftly plays both sides of the special interests’ gauntlet. He continues to work for Fox Sports, but is now a limited partner of the Las Vegas Raiders. He doesn’t have access to team facilities for practices, or even for a weekly production meeting. He had a memorable one last week, when each time the Raiders took the field against the Los Angeles Chargers. Brady pictured in the coaching booth, headset on, as the Raiders suffered a 20–9 loss to the 49ers.
Brady’s increased role in the team’s operations has raised many a brow over what exactly his influence will be. He stays in constant communication with head coach Chip Kelly. They talk about film and game plans two to three times a week. This collaboration underscores Brady’s ongoing commitment to the sport, even while adhering to league regulations that limit his direct involvement with the team.
Brian McCarthy, the NFL’s Vice President of Communications, clarified the league’s stance on ownership involvement.
“There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game.” – Brian McCarthy
Despite these allowances, McCarthy reiterated that Brady “continues to be prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings.” This unique limitation exists as a result of him having accepted an offer to become a partial owner of the Raiders. League owners unanimously approved this deal last October.
Brady’s one-of-a-kind situation still lets him stay in tune with the game as he goes through his broadcasting responsibilities. The match between Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears in week 3 is one of the most anticipated in NFL. This is yet another opportunity for him to show off his technocratic bona fides in a glittering academic sense. His new contract with Fox Sports — $375 million over 10 years — is proof that he’s the biggest star in sports broadcasting.
Though many wondered his placement atop the Raiders’ booth was fitting, reactions from various analysts, commentators, and coaches alike were found all across the spectrum. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was adamant that Brady should not be worried when the Chargers played the Patriots. He underscored the point that Brady’s observations are priceless resources for the unit.
Brady’s influence doesn’t stop with Kelly. Brady keeps open lines of communication with other power players in the organization. Pete Carroll pointed out that Brady’s resolute embrace of the two-headed monster role makes our chats casual but informative.
“We have conversations. I talk to Tom, Chip talks to Tom regularly. We have a tremendous asset. And we all get along and respect each other. We just talk about life and football. He has great insight, so we’re lucky to have him as an owner.” – Pete Carroll
With a deft hand, Brady balances all of these many and varied roles. He’s allowed to hold off-site media availability with players, similar to what he did leading up to last year’s Super Bowl. This flexibility lets him take a hands-on approach to engaging with players while remaining compliant with league policy on his ownership stake.
Leave a Reply