Stephen A. Smith shares Tom Brady, Bill Belichick broadcasting predictions

Outspoken ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith believes retired quarterback Tom Brady will make a smooth transition into the broadcasting booth once he becomes Fox's lead NFL analyst this September. 

Smith feels differently about former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

"I think that Tom Brady — for example — is going to be a superstar in broadcasting," Smith said during an appearance on the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast, as shared by Sam Neumann of Awful Announcing. "I’ve interviewed and talked to him. I believe in Tom Brady. I think he’s going to be spectacular — trust me on this. I don’t think Bill Belichick is going to be good at all. And it’s not about his talent. It’s about the fact that you don’t go from not giving a damn about the audience and having virtually nothing to say for years to people suddenly caring about what you have to say." 

Smith presumably was referencing Belichick's well-known frosty relationship with reporters, particularly in the final years of his New England tenure that ran from 2000 through this past season. 

Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft "mutually" agreed to part ways in January, and no club hired the living legend, who turns 72 years old in April, as a head coach this winter. 

Play-by-play announcer Al Michaels is among respected individuals in the industry who previously said Belichick could be "outstanding" as an in-studio analyst for one of the NFL's media partners. However, Smith suggested Belichick's style wouldn't click with modern audiences. 

"You can’t be on top of your pedestal — literally for decades — winning six Super Bowls, going to nine Super Bowls as a head coach, 11 overall as a defensive coordinator and head coach, never having a damn thing to say," Smith said about Belichick. "And all of a sudden, now that you can’t get a job, we’re supposed to care about what you have to say?"

Last month, Washington Huskies defensive coordinator Steve Belichick revealed that his father was "definitely pursuing other stuff" such as television opportunities. 

Hall of Famer Peyton Manning has since confirmed to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic that he wants Belichick for a role with Manning's Omaha Productions.

"You tell me one person who trusts Bill Belichick to market something for them," Smith added. "...So, now we got to take into account his ability to talk to media and to serve to market the franchise. He doesn’t do it. He doesn’t have any interest in doing it."

Some believe Belichick's supposed inability "to relate to this generation of players" could prevent him from ever landing another NFL head-coaching job. 

Smith's comments indicate a similar perception could cause television executives to think twice about putting Belichick in front of cameras even for weekly one-off segments.