The NFL Could Fine Tom Brady For Criticizing Refs During Game Broadcasts If He Becomes Part-Owner Of Raiders

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Tom Brady will work as a broadcaster for FOX next season, but things could get complicated if he continues his pursuit of becoming a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Since last May, Brady has attempted to get approved as a part-owner of the Raiders, but the league has delayed the process while trying to iron out the financial terms of the agreement.

Brady’s inclusion as a part-owner was discussed during this week’s NFL Owners meeting in Minneapolis.

According to ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, the league held a presentation for owners detailing restrictions Brady would face as a broadcaster if he’s approved as a part-owner of the Raiders.

Via ESPN

The league confirmed to ESPN that among the restrictions, Brady would not be permitted to be in another team’s facility, would not be permitted to witness practice and would not be permitted to attend broadcast production meetings, either in person or virtually. The lack of access to coaches and players before games could be the most severe restriction; those meetings, at which a broadcast crew meets with the matchup’s head coaches and key players, are often a lifeblood of insight for the telecast.

Wickersham also reports that Brady would have to follow the same rules as the rest of the owners when it comes to not publicly criticizing game officials or bashing other teams.

He would be prohibited from publicly criticizing game officials and other clubs. While Brady could, in theory, state that he disagrees with a call on air, he would be subject to fines or even a suspension if he went too far.

• He would be subject to the league’s gambling policy.

• He would be subject to the league’s anti-tampering policies. He would be permitted only “strictly social communication with members of other clubs,” according to the slide that the league presented.

Brady will have to wait until October to find out if he will be approved to become part-owner of the Raiders, according to veteran NFL report Mark Maske.