During Fox’s NFL pregame show, a Tom Brady hologram was superimposed in the studio, so Brady appeared as if he were talking directly to Michael Strahan, Terry Bradshaw and the rest of the gang.
If only there could actually be two Bradys, the $375 million No. 1 NFL game analyst’s broadcasting life would be much less complicated.
This past week, the rookie TV analyst officially became a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. This has put the Brady Rules into further focus.
The Brady Rules, imposed by the NFL, make it so Brady must avoid criticizing league officials or other teams and can’t visit teams’ facilities or attend broadcast meetings. The rules apply to other owners, of course, but none of them is also paid to analyze opponents on TV.
Right before Brady’s hologram pregame appearance, Fox showed Brady’s interview with Patrick Mahomes ahead of the network’s broadcast of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. The conversation between Brady and Mahomes took place at the Chiefs’ hotel in the Bay Area.
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The Brady Rules seem a little fungible. The team hotel is OK, but the team facility wouldn’t have been? Would Brady have quarterback-sneaked all the Chiefs’ blueprints if he were at their headquarters? Would he have filmed practice? Deflated balls? Who knows?
On the air, Brady is improving. The awkwardness of Week 1 is not completely gone after seven games, but it has dissipated. He sounds more and more comfortable with added reps. There is a developing rhythm to his cadence.
He is not yet as good as the man he replaced, Greg Olsen, but he is headed in the right direction. If he continues his current course, he should be ready for Fox’s Super Bowl telecast to 100-plus million viewers in February.
The ownership aspect makes it a bit more arduous; especially when it comes to criticism or taking sides during the games.
Sunday, in the first quarter of 49ers-Chiefs, there were two questionable flags. Early on, Brady quickly agreed with a hold call on the 49ers. At the end of the period, a late interference flag on the Chiefs’ Justin Reid inspired Brady to say he could see how Reid could be a little frustrated with the call before deferring to Fox’s official in the booth, Mike Pereira.
In the middle of the second quarter, Brady started going into another holding call before bailing by saying, “Mike?” Pereira made his ruling.
Ownership stake or not, turning to Pereira makes sense since he travels around the country with Brady and play-by-play voice Kevin Burkhardt just for these moments on Sundays.
Naturally, Brady is best when he is talking quarterback play; especially on one of the few current-day players who could be considered a historical peer in Mahomes. Toward the end of the first half, when Mahomes threw across his body, Brady, with bemusement in his voice, said, “He literally breaks every quarterback rule I ever learned.”
“It’s an uphill battle going up against Patrick Mahomes.”@TomBrady gives his keys to victory for the 49ers in the 2nd half. pic.twitter.com/43VuE34f4y
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 20, 2024
Brady didn’t always understand what the audience wanted. Late in the game, Mahomes made another one of his amazing throws as he was mauled on a third-down conversion. Brady immediately talked about backup tight end, Noah Gray, who caught the pass. Finally, Burkhardt had to chime back in, “Mahomes is falling to the ground as he throws it.”
Brady got it and added, “We’ve seen that so often. What a stud.”
Sunday, Fox rode Brady as their No. 1. It is how they envision using him with room to grow.
Not only did Fox beam Brady into the pregame show and have him interview Mahomes, but he was around for the customary postgame hit, too.
It got a little odd when he was talking about Mahomes not having to throw deep. Brady said Mahomes doesn’t have to be “Bombs over Baghdad.” The spot did improve.
When Strahan brought up how a team sometimes has another’s number, referencing the old New York Giants and New England Patriots rivalry, Brady good-naturedly threatened to walk out of the booth.
He stayed in to finish the segment. The part owner of the Raiders was all over Fox’s broadcast, calling the AFC West rival Chiefs game. As long as Las Vegas continues to be terrible, there might not be that many issues for Brady the broadcaster.
(Photo: Aaron M. Sprecher / Getty Images)
