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NFL: Brady faces TV restrictions as part owner of the Raiders
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NFL: Brady faces TV restrictions as part owner of the Raiders

If Tom Brady is approved as part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, he will have to abide by unique and strict restrictions in his dual role as a Fox commentator, according to a presentation given to owners at NFL meetings in Minneapolis on Tuesday.

The league confirmed to ESPN that Brady is not allowed to enter other teams’ facilities, watch practices, and participate in broadcast production meetings in person or virtually, among other restrictions. The lack of access to coaches and players before games may be the most serious restriction; those meetings, in which a broadcast team meets with the game’s head coaches and key players, are often vital to broadcast insights.

Those rules, which the league presented to owners on Tuesday in a slide titled “Brady – Broadcast Restrictions,” would potentially affect only the seven-time Super Bowl winner and not apply to other members of Fox’s teams. A league source told ESPN that owners have raised several questions about conflicts of interest in Brady’s potential role.

In addition to the access restrictions, if Brady were to become a limited partner in the Raiders, he would also be subject to other applicable league policies that also apply to other owners.

• He would be prohibited from publicly criticising match officials and other clubs. While Brady could theoretically explain on the air that he disagrees with a decision, if he goes too far he could face fines or even a suspension.

• Subject to the League’s Gaming Policy.

• He would be subject to the league’s anti-manipulation guidelines. He would only be allowed to have “strict social communication with members of other clubs,” according to the slide presented by the league.

There is precedent for these rules, league spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN. In 2017, Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen commentated on a few games for Fox, including one against the Minnesota Vikings. Because the Vikings were an upcoming opponent for the Panthers, Olsen was not given access to the usual commentary team. Olsen has worked on Fox’s top commentary team since his retirement. Brady is expected to replace him on that team this year.

Representatives for Fox and the Raiders did not respond to ESPN’s request for comment.

Those rules could further complicate Brady’s bid to become a limited partner in the Raiders. The deal is still not finalized, more than a year after ESPN first reported he was in advanced talks to become a part owner and shortly after that he had agreed to buy a stake in the team.

Owners and league officials raised questions about the sale price of his offered 10 percent stake – the Washington Post reported in March that the discounted price Brady was to receive worried owners – and about conflicts of interest as a co-commentator for a broadcast partner’s top television team.

His offer is stuck in the league’s finance committee. If approved by the committee, Brady’s ownership interest must be approved by at least 24 of the 32 owners.

Before Brady’s final NFL season in 2022, the all-time great signed a 10-year, $375 million contract to join Fox as an analyst after his playing career. He retired in 2023 and agreed to join Fox beginning with the 2024 season.

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