As the NFL icon was informed that he would be required to work on Thanksgiving, Tom Brady was confronted with a "discovery" that was quite upsetting regarding his contract with Fox Sports.
According to The Daily Mail, Brady appeared on Fox's "The OT" postgame show, and host Curt Menefee revealed some significant information about him. Brady had previously presided over the network's coverage of the Packers' victory against the 49ers earlier in the day.
"Hey Tom, [Michael] Strahan's first year, he learned that he actually had to work on Thanksgiving Day," Menefee said. "He thought he had it off. Did they tell you that before you came? You have to work on Thanksgiving Day this year!"
After that, Brady feigned to create a face denoting amazement before uttering the word, "What?"
He then laughed off Menefee's remark, and Strahan joked about suggesting that they skip work and spend Thanksgiving together on their time off.
A Thanksgiving game between the Giants and the Cowboys will be shown on Fox's television network.
After announcing his retirement from the National Football League in February 2023, Brady is currently in his first year as Fox Sports' primary NFL commentator.
It wasn't until last autumn that he finally started calling games after signing a contract for $375 million over ten years.
Brady's part-ownership with the Raiders, which was officially approved by NFL owners a month ago, has also brought his work as a broadcaster under scrutiny.
Because of this obligation, Brady is unable to attend the teams' practices or production meetings with the players or coaches, as is typical for broadcasters.
Additionally, he is subject to the National Football League's gambling and anti-tampering laws and is not allowed to disparage game officials or other clubs under any circumstances.
A further incident that contributed to Brady's becoming mired in controversy was his use of inappropriate language to refer to Josh Allen, the Bills' quarterback.
"Sometimes he played like a spaz, like a grade-schooler on a sugar high, but now he's controlled the chaos," Brady said last month, per Yahoo! Sports.
"Spaz" is a commonly used term. It is a slang phrase that is an acronym of the word "sp*stic," an insulting term frequently used to refer to someone who is awkward or clumsy. It is the kind of insult that is deemed to be ableist.
Regarding the incident, Fox did not reprimand Brady in any way.
For starters, Tom's $375 million agreement with FOX and 5% equity in the Las Vegas Raiders complicate matters according to NFL ownership regulations. The NFL's bylaws may impede his participation, maybe resulting in obstacles and bans, notwithstanding his enthusiasm for football and broadcasting.
Tom manages a nuanced equilibrium between enthusiasm and procedure as he embarks on his new football endeavor with FOX. His $375 million agreement with FOX has generated enthusiasm, however his purchase of a 5% interest in the Las Vegas Raiders complicated the situation.
The NFL's statutes stringently restrict minority owners, excluding them from assuming official positions unless they are directly related to the significant owner. This dual involvement constitutes a complex and contentious scenario.
The incident elicited responses on social media. Twitter user @SportsFanatic123 commented, "Brady should know better than to use such offensive language on air." Another user, @InclusiveSports, stated, "Disappointed to hear ableist slurs from someone like Tom Brady."
Conversely, @BradySupporter argued, "People are overreacting; it was just a slip of the tongue." User @NFLWatcher added, "Fox should address this issue publicly."
Meanwhile, @DisabilityAdvocate tweeted, "Such language perpetuates harmful stereotypes." Lastly, @FanOfTheGame remarked, "Brady's comment was inappropriate, but everyone makes mistakes."
Business Times has reached out to Tom Brady for comments.
