A competitive edge has become a competitive advantage for Tom Brady.
Brady is working as a FOX color commentator and owns a minority stake in the Raiders organization. His dueling roles have been well-documented, of course. But seeing Brady rocking a headset in the Las Vegas coaches booth during Monday Night Football added new imagery and raised plenty of eyebrows.
How is Tom Brady allowed to do this?!
“There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game,” the league wrote in a statement Tuesday.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer joined Early Edition on Tuesday night and expressed the belief that it gives Brady a “competitive advantage.”
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Brady speaks with coaches and players in production meetings each week to gain intel for that week’s broadcast. For example, he’ll speak with Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears coaches and players before Week 3. The Raiders — again, Brady was sitting in the Las Vegas coach’s booth — then will host the Bears one week later.
“It’s already becoming that,” Breer said. “It is a competitive advantage.”
Breer also noted Brady can gain information on impending free agents, potential coaching targets, etc., during his production meetings. It’s like interviewing with a future boss, Breer hinted.
“Hypothetically, you’re one of these players and you’re going into one of these years where you’re going to be a free agent,” Breer said. “… If he was going to make a coaching change and they know they’re going to get rid of their defensive coordinator and now he’s talking to five defensive coaches over the month of December that he might hire. He’s got a jump on the interview process from the rest of the league.”
Brady is not allowed into opposing team facilities and thus holds those meetings virtually. FOX has accommodated Brady and has stopped holding production meetings in person, Breer shared. NBC and CBS continue to do their production meetings in person.
Patriots insider Phil Perry also questioned why the league would allow Brady to have such access.
“He’s doing nothing for the fans. He’s doing nothing for the broadcast,” Perry said. “The only person these meetings benefit, even if it’s a very small percentage benefit, is Tom Brady, minority owner of the Raiders. That would be my argument.”
The NFL says its up to each coach and player what they disclose to Brady in production meetings.