Tom Brady will take on his role as an NFL broadcaster this year and share his thoughts on how the game has evolved negatively before the regular season begins.
During an appearance with Stephen A. Smith at Fanatics Fest over the weekend, Brady was candid about the state of football at both the college and NFL levels, saying the game has become “dumbed down” and there is no real development anymore with rookies thrown into the fire from the start of their careers.
Brady began by talking about how college programs have changed since his days at Michigan.
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Tom Brady leaves the Paris 2024 Olympic gymnastics final on August 5, 2024, in Paris. (MEGA/GC Images)
“There used to be college programs,” Brady said. “Now, there are college teams. You're not learning a program anymore, you're learning a playbook. And the program is ultimately like Michigan for me, which was a pro-style program. For five years I learned how to pass back, how to read defenses, how to read coverages, how to be coached. I had to learn from being the seventh quarterback on the depth chart to moving up to third and ultimately being a starter.
“I had to learn all that stuff in college. That was development. Then, I went to New England and was developed by Coach Belichick and the offensive staff there. I didn't start my first year there. I think it's just a tragedy that we're forcing these guys to do it.” [NFL] “The rookies will play early.”
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College football has been a controversial topic lately, as NIL agreements and the transfer portal have allowed student-athletes to go from school to school without really establishing themselves and developing.
Brady was candid about how the game has evolved.
Tom Brady during the artistic gymnastics women's balance beam final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Bercy Arena on August 5, 2024 in Paris. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
“Reality is the only reason why [rookies] are [playing right away] “It's because we've simplified the game, which has allowed them to play,” he explained. “It used to be thought of at a higher level. We used to spend hours and hours in the offseason, in training camp trying to be a little bit better the following year. But I think what happens is it discourages coaches from going to deep levels because they realize that players don't get the opportunity to go to a deep level. So, they're going to teach them where they are.”
Football has changed since Brady entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Patriots in 2000, especially when it comes to quarterback prospects like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and perhaps the Patriots' No. 3 overall pick, Drake Maye, who could start in Week 1 in place of Brady's former teammate Jerod Mayo in Foxborough.
These rookies are labeled as immediate starters in the league, and their development is a baptism by fire, playing against NFL defenses and seeing how they can perform.
For some, it's the right decision because some college programs are designed to give their players an easier transition to the NFL. Others need more time before they stand out.
Tom Brady before the Las Vegas Aces' home opener against the Phoenix Mercury at Michelob Ultra Arena on May 14, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Brady's comments offer a glimpse of how real he can be on Fox alongside Kevin Burkhardt in his rookie season with the headset. NFL fans are eagerly awaiting to see how he can analyze offenses and defenses around the league and his thoughts on the game.
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