As a New York native, it's easy to see why Bob Costas has probably had enough of Tom Brady.
The New England Patriots' legendary quarterback is set to return to Sundays in a broadcasting capacity, poised to take over the lead color commentator duties for Fox's NFL package next season. In a wide-ranging interview with Steve Serby of the New York Post, Costas, well-known as both studio host and play-by-play man, questioned the idea of Brady in the booth.
"They didn’t ask me and I don’t expect them to, but if I were running it, I’d use him in the studio rather than on games," Costas said. "(It's because of) the glamor factor, the on-camera factor, and also, it’s less of a strain on him. The level of preparation to work a game and what it takes to get the hang of it, it’s just an easier fit in the studio."
Brady, of course, would likely counter with his undeniably strict game-week prep, a mindset that guided him to six Super Bowl titles, all but one coming in Foxborough. Even as Brady continues to shut down the idea that his playing career isn't over, doubt lingers about his broadcasting career. Though he brings no prior broadcasting experience, Brady is set to be paid $375 million over the next 10 years by Fox Sports, the priciest contract in sportscasting history.
With Fox's mind apparently made up, Costas advised Brady to emulate Derek Jeter, one of his new co-workers and fellow legend of his respective game. Costas praised Jeter, a former New York Yankees shortstop and five-time World Series champion, for his willingness to be critical of some of his former contemporaries during his first time as a Fox studio analyst amidst the most recent MLB postseason.
"Here’s a guy who was famously circumspect about everything, but was willing, in his own way, to step out and be more critical than we’ve ever seen him be," Costas said of Jeter. "Because if you’re not willing to be critical, which is not to be harsh or take potshots, but if you’re not willing to be forthright, then you’re not serving the viewers."
Speculating about Brady's future in broadcasting wasn't the only time that the Patriots came up in Costas' conversation with Serby: the 28-time Emmy Award winner referred to the 2007 New England group as the greatest team he ever watched and called Brady and Bill Belichick's shared success "inseparable."
Costas, currently part of baseball coverage for both MLB Network and TBS, also joined the growing ranks of those who feel that Belichick, should he be relieved of duties in New England after a quarter-century, would be a good fit with the Los Angeles Chargers.
"Their record is poor, but they’ve lost a lot of close games, which indicates that maybe they’re not that far away from being a good team," Costas said of the Chargers. "At this point, you don’t go to some team that was 3-14 or something and rebuild them. You've got to go to a team that has a chance to be good quickly if you’re Belichick."
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