Tom Brady is trying to become the GOAT in another NFL career. His television debut for FOX Sports on Sunday kicked off his gig as a pro football game analyst. After spending 23 season as a quarterback in the league, he was every bit the rookie in his broadcast booth debut.
Brady flashed plenty of the knowledge on offense and defense from his years of high-level winning experience. He will need a while, however, before feeling like a reliable veteran near seasoned play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt.
Here's reviewing what Brady did well right away calling Week 1's Cowboys' blowout over the Browns in Cleveland and what he still needs to work to become regarded as one of the NFL's better TV color commentators:
MORE: Play-by-play highlights of Tom Brady's first FOX game
Tom Brady's debut: Three things that worked
1. He's Tom Brady
Just like Peyton Manning and Eli Manning on their eponymous "Monday Night Football' alternative telecast, Brady has immediate cachet with unrivaled star power among recently retired NFL players. He is professional as ever, wears the part well with his tailored suit, and as Zoolander would say, he's "extremely, ridiculously good-looking."
But Brady wasn't hired for remaining a youthful matinee idol at age 47. After all, he's now on camera only a few times in a game beyond the opening and halftime remarks. However, the fact he's a big recognizable name and face to even the most casual NFL viewers helps. There's no doubt in the name game in 2024, Brady has the edge over Tony Romo, Troy Aikman, and Cris Collinsworth.
2. He knows what he's talking about
Collinsworth is known as the savvy film and analytics guy to the point he owns Pro Football Focus. Aikman has the most booth experience, while Romo possesses some of that "football savant" vibe that Sean McVay (a lock future color man) has.
Brady didn't go nuts making play predictions like Romo when he splashed on the scene for CBS. He didn't go overboard on some players the way Collinsworth can. He also proved to be sharper than Aikman in having a grasp on the modern game given how he played QB for much longer in the NFL.
Brady didn't have much QB fun to discuss with Dak Prescott and Deshaun Watson stuck in a tough defensive duel, but Brady was still in the comfort zone talking about stars such as Myles Garrett, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons. He broke down their games in layman's terms and considered why Dallas was having more success with its offensive line transition than Cleveland was.
For the most part, Brady was spot on breaking down the overall coaching and game plans of Mike McCarthy and Kevin Stefanski. Brady did his job, no more no less, something Bill Belichick would appreciate.
3. He isn't afraid to speak his mind
Brady made it clear what he thought about Prescott and Watson, good and bad. He talked about why players and teams were struggling at times, and he'll feel more comfortable doing that with more games under his belt. Brady won't be a hot-take guy — he's working to be the subtle voice of reason and did well not to make himself the story of the game.
Tom Brady's debut: Three things that didn't work
1. Chemistry in the booth
Perhaps Brady and FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira shouldn't share a booth until they can get their fist-bumping down and the latter can get his mic on. Weirdly, Pereira seemed intimidated by the GOAT. Meanwhile, Brady also was trying to find his rhythm with Burkhardt. There were times when the flow between them didn't seem natural and Burkhardt probably reminded the viewing audience a little too much that Brady was next to him.
Burkhardt was awesome with John Lynch, now the 49ers GM. He was also pretty good with Greg Olsen. But yet another change will take time to click. They are like the Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit of NFL games now, a developing pair. Getting up to the levels of bonding that Collinsworth and Mike Tirico and Aikman and Joe Buck share won't happen just like that. The goal should be getting to where Romo and Nantz were at the end of their first year together.
2. Cadence and delivery
Brady doesn't have the most commanding voice away from screaming to settle the Patriots or Buccaneers offense pre-snap. He also can't rely on his classic "LFG" because that's now FCC restrictions.
Brady's thoughts on the Cowboys, Browns, and the game itself were fine, but they often seem disjointed with his diction and sentence construction. He didn't really have a signature style, caught somewhere in the wide range between folksy and professorial. There was a definite lack of polish with this kind of communication. Brady is still a raw rookie in that sense, but he is bound to work hard to correct this issue.
3. Inconsistent energy
Brady had some exciting moments for the Cowboys and Browns, but he also drew a game with not many big offensive plays by QBs or otherwise. He wasn't there to break down the range Brandon Aubrey has on tack-on field goals.
Brady did avoid being obnoxious, too aggressive, or annoying, but he could have come a little more out of the background to show more of his personality, too. Romo toned that part down for CBS, but Brady can afford to raise his once the nerves of the first game are out of the way.
FOX made a big investment and big change in getting Brady to be in the booth. With Manning not available, Brady was the ultimate get. They will give him plenty of time and resources to strengthen his weaknesses and the good news, Brady will be determined to do so as the games get bigger, better, and more competitive.
