Fox Sports executives are reportedly targeting an area of Tom Brady‘s performance in the booth as they nurture their rookie in his budding broadcasting career.
Brady, who is in the first season of his ten-year deal worth $375million, has endured a heavily-criticized start to life in the booth.
However, Fox chiefs are said to be coaching up their seven-time Super Bowl winning asset with one aspect identified as crucial to whip into shape.
The powers-that-be at the network want the 47-year-old to incorporate more commentary on what he’s seeing on the field and less intangibles, according to John Ourand’s Puck Newsletter.
Brady has received mixed reviews on his on-air performance after being heavily slated for his debut.
But executives are said to be confident that Brady can continue to improve in the booth after already showing progression.
Fox executives have reportedly identified an area of Tom Brady’s performance to improve
He has fined-tuned some of the gaps of silence and lagging responses on air, instead brining more animation and a strong focus on the development of young players and leadership.
After being strongly slated in the early weeks of his contract, many felt Brady’s task would only get more challenging when he was finally approved as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders last month.
Brady initially agreed to become a limited partner of the Raiders back in May 2023 but his 10 percent stake deal was stalled amid concerns from other NFL owners regarding his quoted price and new role as an analyst for Fox Sports.
Now, as a part owner of a franchise, Brady is not permitted to attend in-person or online broadcast production meetings and may not have access to team facilities, players or coaches – access Fox and other networks are typically afforded.
He will also have to watch what he says in the booth as Brady must abide by the league constitution and bylaws that prohibit public criticism of officials and other clubs.
Fans raised concerns last month with many on social media claiming that the restrictions placed on Brady by the league – due to his newfound ownership – render his media duties redundant.
While these restrictions were already in place since the beginning of his broadcasting career in summer due to his pending bid, fans claimed that Fox should have the right to terminate Brady’s contract.
Meanwhile, NFL insiders have claimed that the restrictions could severely impact Brady’s future in broadcasting as the potentially drain his passion for the role.
The seven-time Super Bowl winner has improved in the booth since his debut in September
Brady was approved as a minority own of the Raiders last month (Pictured with Mark Davis)
‘There’s an interesting theory that’s making the rounds in league circles, because there had been teams that have said to the league, “We want Tom Brady to be involved in the production meetings.” And through that push and pull because the league says no, no, no, no, no exceptions even if you waive it. It doesn’t matter,’ Pro Football Talk insider Mike Florio previously said on Ourand’s ‘The Varsity’ podcast.
‘There’s been a sense that maybe Brady doesn’t really want to do it anyway. Because you think of how thinly he’s spread, all of the different things that he’s doing, it may not be that he wants to be the absolute best at everything he does.
‘It may just be that he wants us to think he’s the absolute best at everything that he does, and he’s doing a lot of different things and he’s making a lot of different appearances and he’s making a lot of money…
‘Him being an owner and him being a broadcaster I think it keeps him from being the absolute best he could ever be. And it just always seemed beneath him — he’s Tom Brady… I just wonder how many years he’ll continue to do it.’
