Tom Brady has a little more freedom on Super Bowl week as he gears up to end his debut season as a Fox NFL analyst by calling this weekend’s showpiece game in New Orleans.
When Brady’s minority ownership of the Las Vegas Raiders ownership was confirmed last year, he was told he wouldn’t be allowed to participate in team production meetings with players or coaches, visit other practice facilities or criticize officials.
But now, the NFL is relaxing those rules and he will play a part in the production meetings he is usually banned from – for both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.
It gives him precious insight into how the teams are planning to approach Sunday’s game.
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt made the revelation on Tuesday, marking a change in the league policy that Brady has had to follow all season.
‘When Brady was approved as an owner of the Raiders, there were a lot of discussions internally (among owners) and that ended up being the recommendation of the league office, that it didn’t make sense to have him in the production meetings,’ Hunt said in New Orleans.
Tom Brady has a little bit more freedom as an analyst from the NFL in Super Bowl week
With seven Super Bowl wins, Brady is better placed than most to discuss lifting the trophy
‘That’s where that rule came from. Since he’s doing the game this week, we have no issue with him being in our production meetings. He’ll have the access that any broadcaster would have.’
On Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell praised Brady for balancing his duties as an analyst with Fox – who are paying him $375million across a 10-year deal – alongside his responsibility as an owner.
‘Tom has been incredibly cooperative,’ Goodell said. ‘He calls frequently about it and says, ‘Am I doing ok?’ And I think he’s serious about making sure that he separates these two and he doesn’t put the league or anyone in a position of conflict.’
Brady has improved as an analyst as the season has gone on. He had some controversial moments – saying Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen used to run ‘like a spaz’ was one of them.
But Brady has tried to use his unique position within the game to his advantage, despite being frozen out of team meetings this season.
A source told DailyMail.Com back in October: ‘The restrictions aren’t ideal for Tom, but he is looking to take them as a means to work even harder.
‘If Tom has proven anything in life it is that he is always looking for the next challenge.
‘He wanted to be an owner for so long, he has dived into his career in the booth headfirst and now more than ever, he has to figure out the best way to make it all work.
Brady won seven Super Bowls as a player, six with the Patriots and one with the Bucs
‘There is growing pains with everything but as he has done commentating the last few weeks, he has only got better and better. And he thinks that being a bit away from all the meetings that he will have an even better perspective to the game.
‘He will be coming at it as a fan, he knows everything you need to know about football, and with these restrictions it is just going to be like if the regular ordinary Joe would be calling the game.
‘But he is going to abide by the rules and continue to be happy doing the job and is looking forward to proving everyone wrong, he’s done it his whole life, so why not continue.’
And with seven Super Bowl wins to his name, the 47-year-old Brady is better placed than most to discuss what it takes to lift the Lombardi trophy.
But if Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs win on Sunday, the Kansas City quarterback will be closing in on Brady’s record tally – it would be his fourth ring at the age of 29.
