Adam Schefter on Tom Brady conflict of interest Credit: The Pat McAfee Show

As the NFL coaching carousel spins through January, Tom Brady keeps popping up in reports around the Las Vegas Raiders. Ever since his ownership stake was approved in October, NFL media has tried to get a read on just how big Brady’s role is with the organization. But since moving on from both general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce, NFL insiders have made it clear that Brady is as loud a voice in Las Vegas as anyone — except Adam Schefter.

Yet you would not know any of that if you tuned into ESPN for any of Schefter’s many appearances.

In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, Schefter was asked about the potential conflict of interest that Brady faces during the divisional round for Fox. On Saturday, Brady will call a game between the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders that features Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is reportedly Brady’s preferred candidate to replace Pierce as Raiders head coach.

Schefter said he sees absolutely nothing wrong with the situation.

“I think that Tom Brady is professional enough that he’s not going to look to violate or skirt any rules,” Schefter said. “Tom Brady is broadcasting Ben Johnson’s game and that’s the way it kind of goes right now. And by the way, if the NFL hands out a memo, and maybe it will, saying that Tom Brady and Ben Johnson are not allowed to talk. I can tell you this: I don’t think Tom Brady really cares. He doesn’t need Ben Johnson to speak to him to get ready for this broadcast on Sunday. The idea of that is absurd.

“But again, people get very sensitive and touchy, so if there are rules that nobody wants to have violated, fine. I think we’re all adult enough to know that Ben Johnson is a primary head coaching candidate in multiple places, including Las Vegas … call me naive, call me silly, call me ridiculous, I think that everybody involved is professional enough to do this the right way.”

The idea of Brady recruiting Johnson while in Detroit is only one aspect of the conflict of interest at play for Brady and Fox. Brady could also get greater insight than other team owners into Johnson’s approach and character being around game prep during a playoff week. During the game, Brady will likely be very selective with his words in order to create a certain impression of the OC.

At the same time, while it’s not going to be a rival owner or coach’s top priority, that creates a worse TV product for fans. If Brady is withholding criticism or not providing full analysis in order to massage the impressions that viewers get of Johnson, that’s a problem.

Setting that aside, Schefter wouldn’t even admit that Brady will play a significant part in the hiring process for the Raiders’ next GM and head coach despite both Dianna Russini of The Athletic and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reporting Brady is heavily involved.

“Hands on? I don’t think he’s been very hands-on at all so far” Schefter retorted. “He’s involved in the interview process, but it just got underway, how can we even say that he’s too hands on? And by the way, isn’t that why you brought in Tom Brady, to be involved? I don’t understand. That’s why you brought him into your ownership group and made him a part of the process is to have him involved. And we’re getting underway with an initial wave of interviews, and he’s already too involved? What did he do in virtual interviews that he’s too involved?”

After PMS cohost A.J. Hawk laughed off Schefter’s hesitancy and noted that she shares University of Michigan roots with Brady, Schefter became outright defensive:

“He is involved. He owns a piece of the team. He’s Tom Brady. He’s doing work the way he would. I don’t know. Too involved, very involved? He’s involved. He’s Tom Brady!”

This all comes after Schefter claimed the NFL’s restrictions on Brady as a broadcaster were “overstated” despite others emphasizing how strict they are.

It’s hard to tell whether Hawk is correct and Schefter is biased because of his Big Blue ties or Schefter is just doing typical insider nonsense and protecting various sources in Brady’s camp and Las Vegas. Either way, it’s getting pretty absurd at this point when just about every other top NFL insider is telling us that Brady is leading the charge with the Raiders.

About Brendon Kleen

Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.