There has been a lot of talk this week about whether Fox NFL analyst and part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Tom Brady, has some kind of advantage when he does NFL games.
The NFL has tried to dismiss those claims, but a lot of NFL players aren’t buying it, saying Brady might have an advantage.
The NFL released a statement after Brady made a cameo on Monday Night Football.
“Tom continues to be prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings,” the league said in a statement. “He may attend production meetings remotely but may not attend in person at the team facility or hotel. He may also conduct an interview off site with a player like he did last year a couple times, including for the Super Bowl. Of course, as with any production meeting with broadcast teams, it’s up to the club, coach or players to determine what they say in those sessions.”
Despite that statement, that’s still not enough for some players and coaches who may think it’s unethical for Brady or any other former NFL player to have that much access. Jets, Eagles, and Giants players gave their views on the situation via NJ.com.
“I approach it the same way I approach media in here,” New York Giants safety Jevon Holland said. “I’m not telling reporters — no disrespect— I’m not telling y’all pretty much anything about what we’re doing because I don’t trust reporters. I’m not saying you’re a bad guy, but I don’t trust reporters, because that’s your job — to report on information.”
New York Jets tackle Harrison Phillips brings up J.J. Watt as another example.
“J.J. Watt was here doing the production meetings, his brother [T.J.] plays for Pittsburgh,” Jets defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said. “When he’s asking me, ‘What type of scheme, is it man, zone?’ Whatever. I’m not going to answer. I don’t care if it’s J.J. Watt or any of the production meeting people. It would be very ignorant for me to say, ‘Oh, we’ve got a fake punt up this week!’ Or ‘Man, our third-string receiver is getting a lot of reps today!’ Like, that’s so stupid. I don’t think people would be giving that information anyway. But what do I know?”
Still, most players think it’s just common sense not to give away a team's game plan.
“You don’t give away your game plan or what you’re doing,” Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun said. “You just give general thoughts on the game. If you give him something that’s on you. That’s common knowledge.”
It seems that most of the NFL players who spoke on the matter, however, believe that Brady is still going by the honor code despite some of their skepticism.