Time will tell whether Fox’s investment in Tom Brady will prove to be a shrewd decision. At first glance, however, most people are scratching their heads at giving $375 million to a person with no broadcasting experience.
The latest critic of Brady’s contract with Fox is former sports journalist for The Boston Globe, Bob Ryan, who joined The Rich Eisen Show Wednesday morning to discuss the hire. According to Ryan, broadcasting was not high on the list of things he thought Brady would be doing when he retires.
“I thought he would devote all his time to huckstering his product TB12,” Ryan said before referring to Brady’s renowned training method as a “ridiculous bunch of nonsense.”
"He certainly doesn't fit the profile of an entertaining analyst."@GlobeBobRyan saw the entire @TomBrady New England Era up front but didn't hold back with us Tuesday on what he thinks TB12 in the booth will look like:#NFL #GoBucs #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/kBQX7EK3NS
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) May 11, 2022
Ryan’s not alone in being surprised by Brady’s decision to enter the broadcast booth whenever the 44-year-old quarterback finally decides to retire from playing. Most people thought Brady would focus on trying to be a business mogul, and if he found his way back to the NFL it would come with team ownership. But one would imagine that $375 million is probably really tough to pass up.
“Hey, I don’t care, if Murdock wants to spend that money,” Ryan told Eisen. “If Fox wants to spend that money fine, but I hope they know what they’re getting. I can’t imagine they’re gonna get anything other than a glorified Joe Montana.”
Fox is shelling out $375 million for Brady’s star power, but they’re also shelling out $375 million for a person whose broadcast experience is limited to a weekly podcast with Jim Gray. If Brady morphs into the greatest analyst ever and serves as a brand ambassador for Fox, then sure, 10-15 years from now the contract might look reasonable. But if Brady is a “glorified Joe Montana” in the booth, then it could be a disaster.
When Ryan covered Brady in New England, the Patriots quarterback followed Bill Belichick’s lead in saying as little as possible. Since signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two years ago, Brady has shown more personality, namely through his Twitter account, which is aided by social media staff writers.
So which Brady are we going to see on Fox? The one who was reclusive in New England? Or the livelier personality he exudes in Tampa Bay? And is either one worth $375 million to talk about football every Sunday?
“Unless there’s a whole other Tom Brady that the world has never seen, he simply doesn’t fit the profile of an entertaining analyst as far as can see,” Ryan said.
