"Absolute disaster": Ryan Whitney berates Tom Brady's NFL broadcasting debut after $375M deal with FOX

By Abhishek Dilta

Modified Sep 11, 2024 08:07 GMT

Former NHLer and podcaster Ryan Whitney reacted to seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady's debut as a broadcaster during W1's NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns.

Brady, who joined FOX Sports as an NFL analyst, faced scrutiny from Whitney, who described his performance as disastrous.

During a recent segment of the "Spittin' Chiclets Podcast" with co-host Paul Bissonnette, Whitney expressed confidence that Brady would excel in his new role, as he has in all his endeavors.

"Tom Brady was an absolute disaster in the first game (broadcasting) of his career. He signed for 375 million dollars… I believe he burped at one point in the middle of the broadcast."

However, Ryan Whitney acknowledged that the first game can be challenging and suggested that Tom Brady would likely improve over time, drawing parallels to how he gradually found his footing in the NFL.

"First game's hard. First game it is, and I think you'd naturally get better. So Brady would probably kind of like, like, he came into the NFL slowly and surely in the momentum builds, I think he would beat Good. He's great at everything he does," Whitney added.

During his debut as a broadcaster, Tom Brady joined Kevin Burkhardt in the booth, where they focused much of the opening segment on analyzing the quarterbacks for both teams.

Brady's transition to broadcasting follows a significant 10-year, $375 million contract he signed with FOX Sports in 2022. His initial debut was postponed after he decided to come out of retirement for another season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Ryan Whitney reacts to Leon Draisaitl's contract

extension

Earlier this month, the Edmonton Oilers made headlines by signing Leon Draisaitl to a lucrative eight-year, $112 million contract, which translates to an AAV of $14 million.

This deal positions Draisaitl as the highest-paid player in the NHL when the contract begins in the 2025–26 season. In response to the announcement, Ryan Whitney expressed his excitement, indicating that Draisaitl's commitment to the Oilers signifies a bright future for the team.

"Leon Draisaitl ain’t going anywhere. What a morning in Oil Country. Elliotte reporting 8 years around 14 million per and this means Connor will be an Oiler for life as well. The paradeS in downtown Edmonton will be stuff of legends," Ryan Whitney posted on X.

Whitney also noted that Draisaitl's extension likely ensures Connor McDavid's long-term presence with the franchise.