Tom Brady could have massive headaches at his new job for Fox Sports if he becomes a partial owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.
According to ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, the NFL would place severe restrictions on Brady, who’s slated to serve as Fox’s top analyst this season. The former New England Patriots quarterback wouldn’t be allowed in another team’s facility, wouldn’t be permitted to witness practice and wouldn’t be able to attend in-person or virtual broadcast meetings.
“The lack of access to coaches and players before games could be the most severe restriction,” wrote Wickersham. “Those meetings, at which a broadcast crew meets with the matchup’s head coaches and key players, are often a lifeblood of insight for the telecast.”
Wickersham added these rules would only apply to the seven-time Super Bowl champion and not to other members of Fox crews.
It’s clear many individuals throughout the league aren’t thrilled about Brady wearing two hats.
Mark Anderson of the Associated Press previously reported owners were concerned about Raiders owner Mark Davis offering Brady a discounted price, as they felt it could lower the team’s value. It also seems owners feel Brady calling games for Fox is a potential conflict of interest.
“There are some teams, I’ve talked to them, that are vehemently opposed to Tom Brady being an equity partner, being a part owner of a team and broadcasting games,” NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero said on “The Rich Eisen Show” in May. “They simply don’t want to have it, they’re not going to let him in production meetings, they don’t want somebody on talking about their team who’s owner of another team.”
Per Mark Maske of The Washington Post, owners didn’t consider Brady’s bid in Tuesday’s special meeting, and it could come up again in October. However, Fox may want the league to keep pushing it back until Brady finds a loophole or gives up on buying the Raiders.
The restrictions could hamper Brady’s broadcasting career and make his 10-year, $375M deal with Fox Sports look like an expensive mistake.
