Tom Brady’s second game behind the mic seemed to go much better than his first.
Calling a Cowboys game for the second straight week Sunday, Brady seemed more comfortable in his new $375 million Fox job after a rocky debut, as he was willing to criticize Dak Prescott during Dallas’ blowout loss to the Saints while also showcasing a bit more enthusiasm.
Brady, 47, initially didn’t let loose on Prescott when he missed an open Ezekiel Elliott on a first down for what could’ve been a touchdown in the third quarter as the Cowboys trailed by 19, but he took Prescott to task after a fumble two plays later that led to Dallas settling for a 40-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 35-19.
“Again, Dak loose with that ball. That first-down play ends up coming up to bite him,” Brady said, per Front Office Sports. “It doesn’t all come down to third [down]. You got him open, you got to hit him.”
Brady also provided some strong analysis when second-year Cowboys receiver Jalen Brooks slipped late in the second quarter, leading to a Prescott interception.
The Saints scored a touchdown on their ensuing possession to go up, 35-13.
Play-by-player Kevin Burkhardt asked Brady if he’d go back to Brooks after the error or if it would make the quarterback trust him less.
“Not today,” Brady said without hesitation. “It’s actually pretty tough to go back there because you know where he’s at and you’re saying, ‘God, I’m going to him, and I just can’t count on him that he’s gonna stay on his feet. He obviously trusts him to do the right thing, sure, but can he make the play? Ultimately, can he go out there and execute?”
Brady’s insight was on display during a telestrator breakdown of Saints receiver Chris Olave’s 39-yard catch-and-run that led to New Orleans’ opening touchdown, as he noted the pre-snap motion forced Dallas’ linebackers to have to communicate before the Saints’ speedy receivers exposed the Cowboys’ zone coverage.
And there was some flair from Brady, too, when he praised Saints quarterback Derek Carr for “dropping a dime” on his 70-yard bomb to Rashid Shaheed for a touchdown late in the first quarter.
While Brady did occasionally default back to cliches and at one point let out some awkward exclamations, viewers generally seem more bullish on Brady as a broadcaster.
“I regret to inform you that Tom Brady is offering good, non-cliched insight in doses today,” Ollie Connolly, author of The Read Optional newsletter, wrote on X. “He sounds comfortable and confident and like he may even be enjoying himself. Who knew: the homicidally competitive guy may wind up being good at this.”