His broadcasting career has yet to begin but Tom Brady is already the most visible NFL TV analyst in the business.
Through the sheer buzz he’s generating, the Hall of Fame-destined quarterback is already paying dividends on the $375 million Fox Sports will invest in him over 10 years.
After his Tuesday ESPN interview with Pat McAfee, where Brady revealed he is already preparing for the gig (he told McAfee practice sessions with play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt had taken place in Fox’s Hollywood compound), the hills were alive with the sounds of social media pundits and Valley of the Stupid Gasbags predicting how TB12 would fare in the broadcast booth starting next season.
Michael Kay, on his ESPN-98.7 gabfest, said Brady would “be phenomenal.” There were others predicting artistic doom. It matters not who is right, only that all the conversation is about Brady who, when last we checked, is not one of the quarterbacks in next Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII.
Unlike the other No. 1 NFL TV analysts (NBC’s Cris Collinsworth, ESPN’s Troy Aikman, CBS‘ Tony Romo, Amazon’s Kirk Herbstreit), Brady will not have to find the spotlight. It will be constantly following him. Whether it’s lofty QB credentials. Or him being a polarizing figure. Or an obsession with his personal life. There are a variety of reasons to watch Brady on Fox.
From a football perspective, his analysis of quarterbacks and coaches (especially if he’s direct and doesn’t pull punches) will make headlines and provide fodder for the legions of former NFL players on TV and social media. And if Brady cuts slack, not stating what all viewers can already see, that will make headlines too. Headlines of a different kind.
Unlike all rookie analysts, Brady enters the booth having already transcended the game, something even the late, legendary John Madden couldn’t do until he BECAME a broadcaster. Brady will not have to play “getting to know you” with the casual fans. They already are familiar with him. That’s a big advantage for Brady and could provide a slight ratings uptick for Fox.
Brady’s monumental success guiding the Patriots was met with envy and anger from fans of other teams. The reaction was not surprising. Yet during the second half of his career, Brady’s outward arrogance, his anger over Deflategate, speculation about a deteriorating relationship with Bill Belichick, and frequent live shots of his sideline explosions, all contributed to him becoming a major lightning rod.
Pro and anti-Brady factions are already dug in, waiting to either see him succeed or embarrass himself on live TV. They have different agendas but they, at least initially, will be tuning in to assess his performance. Also, a part of the Brady package is the attention his personal life receives.
Brady is living in a TMZ world. Those interested in his gossip and glamour side watch football too.
And they are talking about Tom Brady. Isn’t everybody?
KNICK HYSTERIA
As expected, the local hoops media are treating the Knicks recent successes with fan-like exuberance.
The Knicks have done a lot of dysfunction and losing over three decades. Now, it’s understandable why the media react to each win as if a comet just lit up the sky. So what if they still can’t ask Knicks prez Leon (Sphinx) Rose a single question? Rose must not believe the scribes are the conduit to the fans.
Why should he when Gasbags like WFAN’s Brandon Tierney recently anointed the Knicks as “the best run pro sports franchise in New York.” That sure is open for debate.
Especially when during good times and bad, Garden boss James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan is always lurking behind the scenes. Remember, the Knicks fortunes were looking up during the Donnie Walsh regime, which Dolan eventually derailed.
Anyway, after his bold proclamation, Tierney will not be subject to a facial recognition check the next time he enters Madison Square Garden.
IT’S A BOO FOR EVAN
Evan Roberts had time to kill. Too much time.
Why else would he spend what seemed like hours talking to himself about whether he was going to boo or cheer Kevin Durant during his return to Brooklyn Wednesday night?
With his “debate,” FAN’s Roberts was flying near self-absorbed-Yutz territory. Even Durant, who admitted things didn’t work out at Barclays, was not concerned if he would be booed or cheered.
NO BARKING AT ESPN
Throughout his illustrious career, whether solo on the radio or with his long-time partner Mike (Sports Pope) Francesa, SXM’s Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo used ESPN as his personal fire hydrant.
Yet Doggie didn’t just pee on the World-Wide Leader, he verbally pummeled the network. ESPN was a regular target for Russo. That all changed in March 2022 when Russo became a Wednesday regular on ESPN’s “First Take.”
When it came to ESPN, its programming and personalities, Russo developed a sudden case of amnesia. He didn’t just pull his punches, he stopped throwing them.
On Thursday, after a caller to his SXM show suggested Russo was in the tank for ESPN, Dog agreed and didn’t mince words. Russo said he stopped issuing the critiques because of his “First Take” relationship. And he said if that makes him “a hypocrite,” so be it.
This one is not hard to figure out. Or as Cyndi Lauper wrote: “Money changes everything.”
AROUND THE DIAL
Just when Jets suits thought a season of disappointments was behind them, they get hit by a report in The Athletic (by Dianna Russini/Zack Rosenblatt) chronicling a season of Gang Green dysfunction. Interestingly more than a few Gasbags said they were aware of some of the stuff reported in the piece. If that’s true, why didn’t they present the details during the season? … Could Tom Brady get some practice TV reps in the Spring? Fox is one of the UFL TV partners. … As far as we know, Knicks radio analyst Monica McNutt accomplished a Garden first Thursday night (Pacers-Knicks). Working with Kenny Albert, she sang during the game. Euphoric over Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle being named to the Eastern Conference All-Stars, McNutt broke out in a song paying tribute to the two players. Unfortunately, the lyrics were hard to decipher through the radio static. We do know this was not a Sonny and Cher thing. Albert remained silent.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: TAYLOR SWIFT
All she does is support her beau by attending Chiefs’ games. She doesn’t post on social; she doesn’t ask for network interviews; she doesn’t seek any extra attention. Her style is exemplary in an era where so many make it about “me.”
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: DAN CAMPBELL
Look, he had a bad day in the NFC title game. Unfortunately, it may have cost the Lions a berth in the Super Bowl. Got to believe the Lion that roared in Motown would give a kneecap to have last Sunday’s game back.
DOUBLE TALK
What Dan Campbell said: “When you lose, they say it’s hard. You feel like you get your heart ripped out.”
What Dan Campbell meant to say: “I played it fast and loose and lost.”
