Tom Brady has truly embraced the broadcaster mentality.
The legendary Patriots quarterback-turned-Fox Sports announcer and Raiders minority owner took the impartial route and indicated he won’t have his Patriots pom-poms with him while watching his former team battle the Seahawks in a rematch from Super Bowl 2015, when he won his fourth championship.
“I don’t have a dog in the fight in this one,” Brady said on the “Let’s Go” podcast published Monday night. “May the best team win. And in terms of the Patriots, this is a new chapter in New England and I’m glad everyone’s embraced the Mike Vrabel regime. All the amazing players that have worked so hard to get their club to this position. We did it for 20 years. There was a little bit of a hiatus in there, but the Patriots are back and it’s a very exciting time for everyone in New England.”
Many former players barely make an effort to hide their loyalty to their former team — ex-teammate Rob Gronkowski still supports his former team quite passionately — yet Brady is taking the cautious route.
For as much as his current role as Fox’s top analyst can play a role, his capacity as Raiders owner likely is factoring in since his rooting interest should now be with Las Vegas.
Brady revealed that he’s focused more on rooting for the individuals rather than the piece of laundry, wanting certain individuals to experience the the thrill of being a champion.
He will be part of Fox’s pregame show Sunday, although NBC will air the game.
“You root for people and you want them to have great performances,” Brady said. “Even as a broadcaster, when you’re up there kind representing what people are watching — and I’m not working this particular game — I just want to see good football. I want to see good plays, good throws, good strategy, good decisions, and that’s the joy in the game for me.”
He added: “I really root for people and the people I care about. The people who, I know the work that goes in to what they’re trying to accomplish. I really want to sit back as a fan and enjoy the game, enjoy the moment. I always think, ‘May the best team win.’ It’s not going to be who I’m cheering for or who I think is going to win, it’s going to be decided by the people out there on the field.”
“You root for people and you want them to have great performances,” Brady said. “Even as a broadcaster, when you’re up there kind representing what people are watching — and I’m not working this particular game — I just want to see good football. I want to see good plays, good throws, good strategy, good decisions, and that’s the joy in the game for me.”
Brady did make it clear, though, that his unbiased approach is not stemmed in jealousy.
Some have speculated if Brady would prefer New England doesn’t win a ring so he remains the only quarterback to do so.
Brady said he liked using the word “idiotic” to describe such narratives.
The Patriots are attempting to win their first ring without Brady and to do so they will have to beat a Seahawks team that has some bad history against New England.
Brady kicked off the second three-title stretch of his career by rallying from a 10-point deficit to beat the Legion of Boom and the Seahawks’ quest for back-to-back titles in 2015.
Malcolm Butler saved the day with his goal-line interception in the final minute of the 28-24 win.
Said Brady: “One of the greatest players in Super Bowl history, no doubt about it.”