Tom Brady and Roger Goodell (Photos via Getty Images)
The NFL is okay with Tom Brady owning a minority share of the Las Vegas Raiders.
The league is also okay with the former star quarterback becoming a broadcaster. It just doesn’t want him to be both.
A report from ESPN’s Seth Wickersham has revealed that if and when Brady’s purchase is greenlit, he will have many restrictions regarding his access to NFL teams. Said restrictions were presented at the owners’ meetings in Minnesota on Tuesday.
“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,” Wickersham writes.
Such access is crucial to a broadcaster’s career as it affords them inside information, making it easier to relay events to fans. Should Brady buy into the Raiders, he will only be allowed into one team’s facility: the Raiders.
NEWS out of NFL owners meetings: If Tom Brady becomes a partial owner of the Raiders, he will be forced to abide by unique restrictions as a broadcaster — including no access to practice or production meetings https://t.co/QyIbdvsHQv
— Seth Wickersham (@SethWickersham) August 28, 2024
The report adds that the seven-time Super Bowl champion would also be “prohibited from publicly criticizing game officials and other clubs.”
This would make his presentation less entertaining, as he would be unable to discuss calls he believes are bad.
Is The NFL Trying To Make A Choice For Tom Brady?
ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio has suggested that this is the NFL’s way of telling Brady he has to choose one or the other.
“More broadly, Brady should pick a lane here. Be an owner or be a broadcaster. Don’t be both. Because you can’t be an owner and do the job properly as a broadcaster.
“To try to both, frankly, is more than a little selfish.
“And, even more frankly, these restrictions might be the NFL’s way to send that much-needed message to Brady.”
The NFL will impose severe restriction on Tom Brady’s access to teams as a Fox broadcaster, if/when he officially becomes a minority owner of the Raiders. (And the league might be subtly trying to get Brady to pick one or the other, as he should.) https://t.co/orCFJKgXFf
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 28, 2024
Brady and former New England Patriots teammate Richard Seymour have partnered up in an attempt to buy 10.4 percent of the Raiders and are awaiting approval, which the NFL has deliberately delayed.
Tom Brady and FOX should hope a decision is held back until the end of the 2024 season; having his first year in the booth troubled by restrictions would defeat the purpose of having him there.
