Tom Brady has provided ample evidence that he will cut players slack when analyzing NFL games for Fox Sports.
And as he delivered the word, Brady sounded wishy-washy.
In a recent interview, Stephen A. Smith asked the iconic former quarterback: “What kind of personality [on TV working with Kevin Burkhardt] can we expect from Tom Brady?
Contained in Brady’s answer was the following: “The most challenging thing is when I see something [on the field] and I think ‘that was horrible.’ Like I just can’t say that on TV….”
“Why not?” Smith, asking the question viewers minds, shot back.
“Well, because there’s parents and there are [players] family members [watching the broadcast] and I don’t necessarily want to say it in that way,” Mr. Softie er, Brady said. “But I just don’t want to be so critical because in some ways I don’t necessarily know what the problem was in that situation — like Daniel Jones throws an interception.”
Nonetheless, aren’t the Foxies paying Brady $375 million over 10 years to specifically identify and analyze why something went wrong for a team on a certain play (like Jones throwing an interception)? Isn’t that a big part of Brady’s job description?
And Brady should quickly get over feeling skittish about the possibility of offending or upsetting a player’s family member by harshly describing a mistake. Brady isn’t behind the microphone to protect anyone. He is in the booth to serve the fans. And for the record, analysts like Charles Barkley and the late Bill Walton regularly used words like “horrible” and “terrible” to characterize player mistakes.
Earlier in SAS’ interview, Brady revealed — sort of — another reason why he would be more reluctant to lower the boom. As a player, Brady said he was ultra-critical of himself and his team. His own expectations were set so high he now, from a broadcast booth, couldn’t crush another player or team for not living up to them.
So sorry but Brady should not lower the bar when presenting analysis on Fox. He should apply HIS own standards. Like excess baggage, Brady should leave the urge to create a double-standard outside the broadcast booth.
REALITY OF THE JETS
If Aaron Rodgers stays healthy, Robert Saleh can’t ever again use the quarterback’s absence as an excuse for losing.
The Jets coach, while meeting with media seals, was not above playing the Rodgers card after a loss last season. Yet — at least now — he will have Rodgers, the Cerebral One, at the postgame podium to spin a loss. Or spread hope after a win.
The pigskin cognoscenti are already convinced Woody Johnson will dismantle this edition of the Jets if they don’t make it to the playoffs this season. This puts Saleh under more pressure than ever during his reign of mediocrity.
If this is Saleh’s last Jets journey, it will be chronicled in grandiose fashion. Eyeballs galore, and maximum network technology, will track the Jets on-field moves and Saleh’s sideline demeanor.
The Jets will play as many primetime games as any team in the NFL this season. The Jets schedule includes seven primetime games in the first 11 weeks. Then again, anticipating Rodgers’ presence in 2023, the Jets also had a robust primetime schedule, which quickly became an eyesore.
Rodgers suffered a season ending Achilles in Game 1 against Buffalo and Saleh was back to playing the role of Zach Wilson’s defense attorney before a jury of notebooks and cameras. So, Saleh is used to the heat. Rodgers is too. If things go well, especially early, there will be enough credit to spread around.
If not, will Rodgers throw Saleh under the bus? Or will Saleh refuse to play the role of Rodgers’ Fall Guy and assign the quarterback his share of blame? The media will be waiting for Saleh to deliver any sort of critique, right? And inside the Valley of the Stupid (remember, Saleh, looking to drum up some “media” support, actually added Joe Benigno to his list of texting buddies) the Gasbags will consider any slight difference between Saleh and Rodgers as a major rift.
Rodgers, the conspiracy theorist, could define criticism directed at him the product of behind-the-scenes chicanery designed to make him look bad and feel paranoid. While Saleh, who has revealed HIS paranoid side (he wanted to examine his coaches phones last season to see if they were talking to media members), could start seeing media “ghosts” too.
The other side of winning, aka losing, could also keep the Jets (once again) on the cusp of being the NFL’s No. 1 realty show. Guess those postgame Jets news conference sessions will be worth staying up for.
PONDERING HOST CHANGE
For a marquee ESPN studio show, “Sunday NFL Countdown” is rock steady, at least in the host role.
That all changed recently when ESPN suits fired “Countdown” anchor Sam Ponder. She was replaced by Mike Greenberg, who becomes just the 4th host in the 40-year history of the pregame show.
The Faculty couldn’t go wrong with Greenberg. He’s a safe pick, an instant stabilizer. He is a have-host-will-travel kind of guy, who already has traffic-copped the NFL Draft, the NBA (revolving door) pregame show and, since it started in 2018, “Get Up.”
Reportedly the move away from Ponder was economic in nature, but sources have also speculated her political postings irritated management. She also was critical of ESPN for allowing a Barstool production on the network because Barstool has a history of sexism and misogyny.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: STEVE BALMER
For going into his own pocket. This is how it should be done. The L.A. Clippers opened their new $2 billion arena in Inglewood, Calif., and Balmer, the team’s owner and one of the 10 richest people in the U.S. footed the entire cost. No local taxpayer funding.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: NEW YORK METS
Would have liked to hear what was said in the meeting that hatched the idea to invite the “Hawk Tuah Girl” to Citi Field for the ceremonial first pitch. What a disgrace. Is this what’s known as extraterrestrial marketing?
DOUBLE TALK
What Tyler Conklin said: “Preseason football is just different.”
What Tyler Conklin meant to say: “Preseason football exists so owners can make more money.”