Tom Brady rips 'paranoid and distrustful' critics over Fox, Raiders conflict-of-interest takes

Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady continues to serve as Fox's lead in-game NFL analyst amid calls for him to pick a lane due to supposed conflict-of-interest concerns related to his roles. 

In the latest edition of his weekly newsletter, Brady delivered quite a response to his critics. 

Tom Brady sends message to the "paranoid and distrustful" 

"I love football," Brady wrote. "At its core, it is a game of principles. And with all the success it has given me, I feel I have a moral and ethical duty to the sport; which is why the point where my roles in it intersect is not actually a point of conflict, despite what the paranoid and distrustful might believe. Rather, it’s the place from which my ethical duty emerges: to grow, evolve and improve the game that has given me everything."

As part of his Fox duties, Brady is allowed to virtually participate in pregame production meetings with players and coaches and also speak with players and coaches on the field before a contest kicks off. Conversations about whether or not a minority owner of a single franchise should have such access to other league personnel resurfaced after Brady was spotted wearing a headset in Las Vegas' coaching booth during the club's Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Handfuls of NFL coaches and players have made it known they're fine with giving Brady access regardless of his association with the Raiders. Just last week, multiple members of the New York Giants told NJ Advance Media for NJ.com they would love to "chop it up" with "the greatest quarterback of all time." 

In his newsletter, Brady suggested he looks forward to such conversations for reasons not at all related to the Raiders. 

Tom Brady addresses Raiders, Fox "dilemma" takes

"...It is very easy to watch a person’s passions and profession intersect and to believe you’re looking at some sort of dilemma," Brady said. "Because when you’re blinded by distrust, it’s hard to see anything other than self-interest. People who are like that, particularly to a chronic, pathological degree, are telling on themselves. They’re showing you their worldview and how they operate. They’re admitting that they can only conceive of interests that are selfish; that they cannot imagine a person doing their job for reasons that are greater than themselves."

There's now little doubt that Brady has seen and heard plenty regarding what's been written and said about his unprecedented NFL situation. It also sounds like the GOAT won't voluntarily step down from either of his roles anytime soon. 

"I don’t know what it is about judgmental people, but their judgments never seem to be positive or optimistic," Brady added. "The solution to that problem, ironically, is the same for paranoia and distrust. It’s doing your job with integrity. It’s finding fulfillment in doing the best you can. It’s living up to the duty you have to yourself, to your employer, to your family, to the culture, to your fellow citizens."