Tom Brady could have heavy TV restrictions as lead Fox broadcaster

Tom Brady could have heavy TV restrictions as lead Fox broadcaster

While it hasn’t been officially approved, former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers great Tom Brady is on track to be part owner of the Los Vegas Raiders.

Brady will also be entering his first season as Fox Sports’ lead color commentator alongside Kevin Burkhardt, who was most recently paired up with Greg Olsen for the last two seasons.

Though if Brady is approved as a part owner, the conflict of interest will result in heavy week-to-week restrictions for him, according to a recent report.

According to a presentation provided by team owners earlier this week, Brady would “not be permitted to be in another team’s facility, would not be permitted to witness practice and would not be permitted to attend broadcast production meetings, either in person or virtually,” according to ESPN NFL senior writer Seth Wickersham.

“The lack of access to coaches and players before games could be the most severe restriction,” Wickersham wrote. “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.“

In addition to those aforementioned restrictions, Brady would also not be allowed to criticize officials or other teams while being subject to abide by both the league’s anti-gambling and anti-tampering policies.

“These rules might further complicate Brady’s bid to become a limited partner of the Raiders,” Wickersham wrote. “The deal still has not been finalized, more than a year after ESPN first reported he was in advanced discussions to be a partial owner and, shortly after, that he had agreed to buy a stake in the team.”

Given how good Olsen was with Burkhardt, it still feels surprising to me that they would elevate Brady into the booth knowing he could become a part-owner. It’s equally not surprising, however, because he’s arguably the greatest football player of all-time.

Regardless, Brady’s football expertise and wit would be a good fit for any booth. Of course, the behind-the-scenes communication would be beneficial, but he also may not need it as much as someone else. I’m also guessing he won’t be allowed to call Raider games, no?!?

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