Raiders owner and Fox broadcaster Tom Brady has yet another gig – closer to his alma mater.
Via Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, Brady had a direct role helping Michigan secure quarterback Bryce Underwood. Even though a $12 million commitment might have helped, Brady got involved.
“A FaceTime conversation between Brady and Underwood a few weeks ago marked the start of their relationship, which developed over several conversations,” Zenitz reports.
It’s good, in isolation. But now that Brady has a vested interest in strengthening the Raiders, he’ll have to tread lightly in his job as Michigan’s booster.
From the NFL’s tampering policy, as it relates to college players: “No club, nor any person employed by or otherwise affiliated with any club or the League (including a player), is authorized to tamper college players who are not eligible for selection or participation in the League. Direct or indirect attempts to induce underclassmen to apply to the League for special eligibility or to declare to the League their desire to enter the League under the early graduation rule are prohibited. Club personnel who make public comments about the football abilities or NFL potential of students who have not yet been officially declared eligible for the draft will be subject to disciplinary action by the Commissioner.
In his role as a supporter of the Michigan program, Brady’s motivation would be to advise Underwood to stay put. But if the Raiders need a quarterback and would be able to draft Underwood, Brady would be prohibited from directly or indirectly trying to persuade Underwood to join the NFL early.
As written, the rule does not prohibit other things Brady could do to help the Raiders while ostensibly helping Underwood. If, for example, Underwood plans to leave Michigan (and possibly be drafted by a team the Raiders regularly compete with), Brady would be allowed to persuade Underwood to stay in school. Likewise, Brady would be allowed to try to persuade Underwood to refuse to play for certain teams.
Still, there must be a limit to what Brady can do for Underwood, if the friendship develops and Brady becomes an unofficial advisor. Ultimately, the league may need to come up with a set of rules aimed at preventing Brady from using situations like this to benefit the Raiders.
The league has already done this when it comes to Brady’s work as a broadcaster. Given his name, reputation and accomplishments, the league may need to think about ways to ensure Brady doesn’t try to put his thumb on the Raiders’ scale under the guise of mentoring young players Michigan or elsewhere.
