NFL issues official statement regarding Tom Brady

Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady has found himself in a firestorm of controversy this week.

During the Raiders’ Monday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Brady was found in the coaches booth. As the broadcast lingered on him, the ESPN announcers mentioned that Brady spoke with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly multiple times a week to go over film and discuss the game plan. Fans and analysts were outraged by this, believing it to be a clear conflict of interest with Brady’s duties as a broadcaster and demanding he choose one or the other.

With the noise reaching a fever pitch, the NFL has had to issue an official statement regarding the events of Monday.

Brady has done nothing wrong according to the NFL.

On Tuesday, the NFL announced that Brady sitting in the coaches booth was perfectly within his rights as a minority owner of the Raiders.

“There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game. Brady was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a limited partner,” the statement read.

“All personnel sitting in the booth must abide by policies that prohibit the use of electronic devices other than league-issued equipment such as a Microsoft Surface Tablet for the Sideline Viewing System.”

The statement also went on to discuss that some of Brady’s limitations of what he can do are still in effect, prohibiting him from gaining any sensitive information about Raiders opponents.

“Tom continues to be prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings,” the statement continued. “He may attend production meetings remotely but may not attend in person at the team facility or hotel.

“He may also conduct an interview off site with a player like he did last year a couple times, including for the Super Bowl. Of course, as with any production meeting with broadcast teams, it’s up to the club, coach or players to determine what they say in those sessions.”

It likely will not stop the outcries of controversy, but the NFL appears to be willing to allow this to continue, at least for now.