Add Brian Schottenheimer to the list of NFL coaches who are not concerned about Tom Brady’s enhanced involvement with the Las Vegas Raiders this year.
The Dallas Cowboys head coach spoke about what he shared with the FOX commentator/Raiders minority owner during their production meeting Thursday and why he is willing to be honest with the crew ahead of their game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Brady, of course, has caused waves when ESPN cameras captured him in the Raiders coaches box during their Monday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers. ESPN’s Peter Schrager also reported that the Raiders work with Brady while developing a game plan during the week.
Brady will call the Bears-Cowboys game Sunday at Soldier Field with Tom Rinaldi, Kevin Burkhardt and Erin Andrews on FOX.
What Did Brian Schottenheimer Say About Meeting With Tom Brady?
Schottenheimer was asked about meeting with Brady as part of his weekly Friday morning interview with 103.5 FAN.
“I’m very open with all those guys,” Schottenheimer said. “There’s no secrets in this business. … The questions Tom and those guys ask is to do a job, so I have no problem with it.”
Schottenheimer has been an NFL offensive coordinator for almost two decades but is in his first year as a head coach. His sharing openly with Brady could end up biting the Cowboys, since they will play the Raiders on Monday Night Football in Week 11 on Nov. 17.
Still, that won’t stop Schottenheimer from sharing the hows and whys of what they do with reporters who ask.
“I know I’m always going to be very open with the people who [interview him] because I’m a football junkie,” he said. “I love talking football with anybody, so I have no problem with Tom and don’t feel like it’s a conflict of interest on my end.”
Plus, according to Schottenheimer, anything Brady shares with any game-planners in the Raiders facility may already be known by their first-year head coach Pete Carroll.
“Pete Carroll and I know each other as well as anybody,” Schottenheimer said. “Pete has three of my playbooks. I know Pete. I know what Pete’s saying to his team.”
What Did Brian Schottenheimer Say About The Tom Brady Controversy?
Though Schottenheimer played down the potential conflict of interest, he acknowledged that some may not agree with him.
“I think everybody has their own opinion,” Schottenheimer said. “If there are people who think it is an advantage for Tom and the Raiders then that’s for them.”
Ben Johnson, whose Bears will host Schottenheimer and the Cowboys, also went on the record earlier this week to say he was not concerned about talking with Brady in production meetings. Johnson’s Bears will play the Raiders in Las Vegas next Sunday, a week after Brady calls their game against Dallas at Soldier Field.
“I’m really not worried about it,” Johnson said. “I mean, we change week to week in terms of what we do. Schematically, he’s going to be able to turn on the tape and see what everyone else in the world is seeing right now.