If we judged Tom Brady on his first NFL game as a quarterback, especially had he gotten thrown to the wolves as a rookie, the criticism might’ve been just as vicious as it was on Sunday. Brady was in the booth for his first FOX broadcast during the Browns-Cowboys game in Cleveland, and let’s just say it wasn’t generously received.
It’s still surreal seeing TB12 involved in the NFL without being on the field, simply because for most of my football-watching life, he’s been dominating everyone to the tune of seven Super Bowl victories.
The first moments of @TomBrady's broadcasting debut 👏 (via @NFLonFOX)
📺: #DALvsCLE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/yeEfYMwJw8— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
But yeah, things got off to a rocky start for our guy Tom Terrific. The missed fist bump with Mike Pereira was an early lowlight.
Mike Pereira and Tom Brady's first booth interaction could have gone a little smoother… pic.twitter.com/RmJYFF1qQj
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 8, 2024
In fairness to Brady, this matchup was a freaking snoozer. The Browns didn’t show up at all. Deshaun Watson looked like hot garbage — and serves him and the organization right. Good for Dallas to come out and make a statement on the road on the day Dak Prescott received a historic contract extension. Yeah, America’s Team is screwed for the long haul, but they’re certainly winners on Week 1, NFL Sunday, 2024.
I don’t know how else to say it but Tom Brady does not have a voice that is meant to be heard without seeing his face.
— Jared Plaudis (@JaredPlaudis) September 8, 2024
one of the worst tom brady performances of his career going on right now
— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) September 8, 2024
Tom Brady is absolutely atrocious in the booth
— NYJ Matt (@NYJ_Matt) September 8, 2024
I don't want to overreact to week 1 but Tom Brady is the worst announcer in the NFL.
— Dr. Jamie Jakes (@jamjks) September 8, 2024
Maybe someone should have listened to Tom Brady actually say words before dropping $300 million on him.
— Jonathan Smith (@DegenerateTBone) September 8, 2024
Tom Brady can’t seem to form any sentences that have any sort of normal cadence to them
— Luka Donthičć (@landahoy14) September 8, 2024
Brady in the booth pic.twitter.com/XKz9nYUkox
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) September 8, 2024
Brady in the booth pic.twitter.com/XKz9nYUkox
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) September 8, 2024
Tom Brady hasn't looked this uncomfortable since facing the Giants in the Super Bowl
— Jake Ciely (@allinkid) September 8, 2024
Hey Tom, it’s not too late, man. Not that I want you to go to the Browns, because that classless franchise deserves nothing approaching your singular greatness, but this is a good point here:
Tom Brady could walk down from the announcing booth, no stretching, no warmups, no pads and be an upgrade for the Browns at quarterback
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) September 8, 2024
Based on the piss-poor offense we saw in many games across the NFL this Sunday, it’s clear Brady could roll up, learn the playbook on the fly, and be a top-10-caliber QB. I can’t say I disagree with Brady’s notion that the modern NFL is dumbed down so that rookie QBs can start. Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Bo Nix were the first-year field generals to get the starting nods today. They all played horribly.
Too bad the Browns had a sunk cost fallacy view of Watson and decided to let Joe Flacco go back up Anthony Richardson in Indy.
But I gotta say, I don’t think Brady was super terrible, and this Trevon Diggs-related dig at Deshaun was, as the kids say these days, “chef’s kiss.”
Trevon Diggs with an INT in his first game back from ACL surgery.
“One of the cornerbacks you just can’t be sloppy around,” Tom Brady says. “Diggs has been the beneficiary of a lot of these overthrown balls.”pic.twitter.com/mfefd02IbO— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) September 8, 2024
So between Brady’s take on developing young QBs and the analysis quoted above, I’m hopeful that Brady can be a little more critical and verbose going forward. Just getting his feet wet here, y’all. Take it easy on the peoples’ GOAT.
