Tom Brady says he will be able to complete his 10-year deal with Fox Sports despite owning part of the Las Vegas Raiders, as the seven-time Super Bowl champion dodges giving an update on the head coach search.
The 47-year-old agreed to work for Fox as a pundit and analyst, but just months into the contract found his time with the network at risk after he acquired a five percent stake in the Nevada-based NFL team.
Owners are generally not permitted to work for broadcasters because of the risk of influencing officials and other players. However, eventually they made an exception for Brady and approved his purchase in the Raiders.
That came with some conditions such as not being able to attend television production meetings with other coaches and players to ensure that he isn’t trying tamper behind closed doors.
Yet he once again came under scrutiny for his involvement in the Raiders‘ head coach search as he commented on the Detroit Lions, after interviewing both their offensive and defensive coordinators for the vacant post
But if fans thought he might have to quit his $375m 10-year deal to adequately perform his task as a minority owner, and someone heavily involved in their day-to-day football operations, they were wrong.
“Happily. I’d bite some kneecaps for you, K.B., whatever you need me to do, baby. You’re a great teammate,” Brady told Kevin Burkhardt after the latter joked the ex-NFL star is suck with him for the next decade.
Brady dodges Lions question
Perhaps with his status as a minority owner in mind, Brady dodged talking about Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn directly over the airwaves when asked by Burkhardt during a commercial break.
Burkhardt asked how he’s evaluated the Lions personnel because Brady was involved in the virtual interviews, and whilst the 48-year-old ex-New England Patriot gave an answer, it was a carefully considered one.
“It’s just been a great learning experience,” Brady said of being in the interview process to Fox. “But you realize the league’s full of great potential.
“And what I believe is the resumes, the accolades, they’re all earned by what people do on the field.
“You earn your opportunities, and you do your performance and let that do the talking-as it should be, and as I did when I was a player.”
