Tom Brady is one of the busiest men in sports.
The minority Las Vegas Raiders owner’s soccer club, Birmingham City, has just released a Wrexham-style fly-on-the-wall documentary shedding light on the NFL great’s venture across the pond.
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Brady’s interview with Patrick Mahomes raised eyebrows last season
Brady also owns a powerboat racing team in a growing portfolio and is preparing for a sophomore season in the Fox Sports booth — one that talkSPORT’S Brian T. Smith thinks could be make or break for the $375 million announcer.
The 48-year-old has been busy over the offseason, helping the Raiders find a new head coach, general manager, and franchise quarterback, as well as making a splash by selecting running back phenom Ashton Jeanty in the first round of the NFL Draft.
It is a big season for The Silver and Black and the seven-time Super Bowl champion turned up at training camp Friday to check on his investment.
“Man, it’s a blessing honestly, because a guy like that that won so much, he knows what it takes to be there,” said Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr., who suffered a suspected broken leg in Saturday’s practice.
“He was already the underdog coming in, and then me and him had a conversation about me and him playing against each other and how he was attacking me when I was a rookie and stuff, and I had one of my best games as a rookie versus Tom.
“Like it was just crazy like I told him, I was like, ‘Tom, you almost broke my leg during the game.’
“Like we had a full conversation about it, I showed him the picture of him kicking me in my leg, going a whole other way. We just laughed about it, but it’s crazy how everything works out.”
Why is Tom Brady’s role so controversial?
The Raiders are obviously delighted to have Brady on board with over two decades of experience at the highest level.
But rival fans are furious that the Fox star is able to perform dual roles, especially as he gets access to other teams as part of his TV duties.
“So bizarre that he is allowed to do games for @NFLonFOX while being a part-owner & that he was allowed to buy his Raiders shares at under market pricing. I can’t see the former sustaining itself btw,” wrote one on X.
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Brady was kitted out in a Raiders cap and t-shirt as he chatted with players and oversaw the practice sessionCredit: X@ABC
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Raiders owner Mark Davis has made no secret of Brady’s importanceCredit: Getty
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The legendary quarterback has taken on an active backroom roleCredit: Getty
“He shouldn’t be allowed to commentate and own a team. He gets inside information during the press weeks,” added another.
“I’m not sure how he can be on the field and carry that job at Fox. I know he’s the GOAT but I don’t like it,” a third posted.
Brady sat down with Patrick Mahomes shortly after purchasing a stake in the Raiders, something NFL bosses took a close look at.
“The interview itself was personal in nature — it did not cover competitive or strategic information — but some insiders believe it created a situation where Brady could have received sensitive information about the Chiefs, a Raiders divisional rival,” Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal reported.
Last season, Brady was banned from visiting non-Raiders facilities and attending production meetings.
He is also not allowed to criticize teams or NFL officials on the air due to his Las Vegas role.
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Brady’s rookie season in the booth didn’t go entirely as planned, with fans questioning if he was able to translate his undoubted knowledge into entertaining TV.
It is especially difficult to do with one arm tied behind his back due to being an owner.
“I think it shocked me because Tom is one of those guys that’s just good at everything,” two-time Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph exclusively told talkSPORT during Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
“It’s like the guy that you love to hate. You’re like, ‘Man, this dude’s good-looking. He’s the greatest quarterback that ever played the game. He’s a good golfer. He’s a great dude. He’s nice to everyone.’
“But also, you could tell he was nervous. I think having called games myself, when you’re a guy like Tom that has so much knowledge of the game, that has so many good stories to tell, so many things that fans are just dying to hear, but you only have such a small amount of time to get it all.”
Brady bumped popular announcer Greg Olsen into a backup role when he joined Fox — a slow start could lead to more calls for the network to make an extremely bold call and drop the GOAT.
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