NFL insider clears the air on Tom Brady's consequences for calling out Sean McDermott
Tom Brady's sharp criticism of Sean McDermott's coaching decisions during the Buffalo Bills-LA Rams game on Sunday ignited a debate. The FOX analyst's commentary pulled no punches during the high-stakes matchup.
NFL Network's Adam Schefter addressed the controversy during Monday's appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show."
"No, he is just doing his job," Schefter said. "I think some of those rules are overstated that some people that were a little sensitive about couple of owners in particular, sensitive about having a minority Raiders owner in their building.'
Brady's criticism focused on a critical moment in Buffalo's 44-42 loss. With just over a minute left, the Bills were at the Rams' 1-yard line. McDermott called a Josh Allen quarterback sneak that failed, forcing a timeout.
Tom Brady shows off his analyst chops
Tom Brady gave a precise analysis which highlighted the strategic misstep.
"To me, take three shots throwing it, don't use a timeout," Brady said. "And then you can kick it deep, use your three timeouts and still get the ball with good time… Try the long field goal. That changes the entire complexity of the last 1:02 of the game," Brady said.
He was brutally direct with his assessment.
"I did not like that one bit," Brady said. "That could've just cost them the game right there."
The Rams ultimately recovered the onside kick, sealing their 44-42 victory.
McDermott defended his decision during the postgame conference.
"When you're in that situation, holding three timeouts felt like we were underneath, where we felt like we could get the ball back with a legit chance to win the games with no timeouts," McDermott said.
Brady's broadcasting contract with FOX is worth $375 million over 10 years.
During the broadcast, he demonstrated his analytical prowess. He noted the Bills' low onside-kick recovery chances (7.7%) and provided moment-by-moment strategic commentary that showcased his football intelligence.
Schefter emphasized Brady's professionalism.
"Tom Brady is professional enough to understand exactly what he's doing," Schefter said. "He's not gonna go to a practice and call Antonio Pierce and say, 'you're not gonna believe what they're doing.' He's not doing that. Tom Brady is a pro."
The NFL world is watching Brady's evolution from field general to media analyst. His willingness to offer critical, technical insights is quickly defining his new role in sports broadcasting.