Tom Brady Defends Roles Amid 'Kick Dog' Backlash

Tom Brady pushed back on criticism that his roles as a Fox Sports analyst and a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders create a conflict of interest, calling those concerns “paranoid and distrustful” in his weekly 'Do Your Job' newsletter and saying the intersection of his roles fuels an ethical duty to improve the sport. The debate intensified after cameras showed him in the Raiders' coaches' booth during a Week 2 game; the NFL said he did not violate any rules and has eased some restrictions—allowing virtual production meetings—while still barring him from team practices and facilities. His reported 5% Raiders stake was approved by owners last season, and he is in the early years of a long-term Fox broadcasting deal. Separately, Brady drew social-media criticism and a PETA complaint for an on-air analogy about 'kick the dog' during the Chicago Bears–Dallas Cowboys broadcast, which some viewers interpreted as a confession of animal abuse. The 'kick the dog' remark overshadowed the Bears' 31–14 win, which included Tremaine Edmunds' interceptions that sealed the Cowboys' defeat.