On Sunday night, Tom Brady will cap the first season of a 10-year, $375million deal with Fox Sports by calling his very first Super Bowl.
Travis Kelce is among those to have voiced his support for the former quarterback, calling him an ‘awesome’ broadcaster. ‘I love listening to his insights,’ the Kansas City Chiefs tight end told DailyMail.com in New Orleans this week.
But Brady’s position at Fox Sports has come under increasing scrutiny. Not just because of his performance behind the microphone. But also because of his role with the Raiders.
The 47-year-old is a minority investor in Las Vegas but owner Mark Davis has said Brady will have a ‘huge voice’ in the future of the franchise.
He reportedly played a key role in the appointment of the team’s new head coach, Pete Carroll, and is expected to help choose the team’s next quarterback.
It has sparked accusations of a conflict of interest. Ahead of the biggest game of Brady’s new career, DailyMail.com spoke to NFL players and broadcasters about the controversy.
PATRICK MAHOMES (QUARTERBACK, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS)
On the controversy surrounding Brady’s alleged conflict of interest…
I don’t think anything of it. I think Tom loves the game of football, and I think more than anything, he’s going to continue to show that love with how he broadcasts the game.
I’ve listened to some of the games I’ve been able to see. And truly, to see the perspective that he gives, it sounds like a quarterback talking about football, and I think it’s really cool for the fans to be able to see.
I don’t think there’s any conflict of interest, because more than just being an owner, he’s a person that loves the game of football and wants to continue to see it move forward.
On whether he would be object to being interviewed by Brady if the Raiders improved…
No I don’t see anything like that. The rules that they have – where he’s not seeing practices and stuff like that – are enough. I’m not worried about what he says on the broadcast.
He’s going to talk about football. He’s talking about the game that he loves, and he’ll continue to try and push it forward. And the Raiders are always a threat to us. Every game we play against him is a tightly-contested battle.
I know they’re going to continue to get better and better. Coach (Pete) Carroll is going to install a culture in that building. So the AFC West is going to be a tough division.
ROB GRONKOWKSI (Former teammate and Fox Sports colleague)
On criticism of Brady and allegations of a conflict of interest…
If anyone can handle the situation, it’s Tom Brady. I don’t think there should be any criticism.
He’s the best to ever play the game. He deserves to have ownership in the team. He deserves to be able to commentate on games at the same time as well.
The restrictions on him – not being able to go to practice and the facilities is totally understandable. That’s fair.
But anything else? There should be no problem with it. And there should be no criticism. He’s doing an excellent job being able to handle both. And that’s Tom Brady. He won’t put anything on his plate that he couldn’t handle.
JAY GLAZER (FOX Sports NFL Insider)
On working alongside Brady…
The greatest teammate on the planet. He works his butt off. He and Derek Jeter are the two most humble superstars I’ve ever been around in my life. It’s just incredible.
On what is most impressive about Brady in the booth…
How hard he works. I think the key to greatness is the work you put in when no one’s watching. And I’ve been able to have a front-row seat to that. It’s pretty cool.
You don’t have schooling for this. There’s no program to get certified. It’s the only job where (they say): ‘Hey, we’re gonna pull you out here and you’re gonna be the biggest stage ever. But there’s no training. There’s no school. There’s no certification for it. Nothing.’
The only thing you have is: ‘Okay, I have work ethic to try and figure it out.’ And he’s been a grunt. It’s been pretty cool to see.
On what Brady has been doing to learn and improve…
Everything. The way he sees the game is different. But also (he’s) learning how to talk as a broadcaster – he’s putting in the reps.
You can’t just go out there and talk like you normally would. You have to have things in 12-second bursts. That’s hard. So he’s working at that, he’s working on when to pause… there are little things about being a broadcaster people don’t really understand.
You can’t just have a one-minute, run-on sentence. It doesn’t work like that. (But) how do you figure that out? You got to work at it. So he’s working at all these little things that people have no idea about.
On where Brady will be at the end of his 10-year deal…
All I’ve seen is him be great. That’s it. He’s great now and I think he’ll go down as one of the best.
JULIAN EDELMAN (Former Patriots wide receiver and Fox Sports colleague)
On the similarities between Brady the player and the broadcaster…
His preparation, his ability to want to be coached. And his passion.
When he works at something, he really puts his full effort into doing it. So I think those (skills) all have translated. That’s what I see from behind the scenes.
On the differences…
He looks younger! I don’t know what he’s doing, but I need that!
