SHANNON Sharpe has urged Tom Brady to be more willing to criticise quarterbacks during NFL broadcasts.
Brady, 47, is one season into a 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox.
Tom Brady is part of Fox’s top team alongside Kevin Burkhardt[/caption]
Shannon Sharpe reflected on Brady’s TV analysis[/caption]
The former New England Patriot was part of the network’s top team alongside Kevin Burkhardt.
Following the conclusion of the season, Brady admitted that the experience had so far been a “positive challenge”.
On where the seven-time Super Bowl champion can improve, Sharpe pointed to his analysis of fellow QBs.
The 56-year-old said of Brady, “That’s all we ask is that you don’t make excuses.
“If Patrick Mahomes made a bad throw, say, ‘Patrick Mahomes made a bad throw.’ That’s all.
“I mean, he’s human. Michael Jordan took some bad shots. Didn’t play well. It’s right to say that that happened.
“Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes – it does not matter – if a guy doesn’t play well, it’s your obligation, because you know what the casual fan at home doesn’t know.”
Former tight end Sharpe went on to add, “I don’t think that’s asking much for the guys that’s calling the game.
“And I know it’s hard, because here’s the thing: you can’t be too critical when you’re in that position, because then they won’t do production meetings with you.
“So, you have to work a very fine line if you do play-by-play or you do color, which Tom does color.
“So, you have to walk that (line). ‘Yeah, that was a bad throw. That’s not like Patrick Mahomes.’ You know what I’m saying?
“You gotta couch it. ‘I know what he saw on that one. That’s not like Patrick.
“A guy that’s played and won as many Super Bowls as he has, and MVPs, that’s not like him, so give the defense credit on that.’”
Speaking in February, Brady admitted to not always getting it right.
“I think the mistakes that I’ve made, and I’ve made plenty, I’ve learned from all of them,’ the Fox star said.
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“You’re not happy they happen, but at the same time, you understand that when they do happen – and I mispronounce words or I forget a certain statistic or the preparation’s a little off in terms of my thoughts on something and I screw up the analysis – I go back and I want to get it right the next time.
“And without the mistakes, you don’t learn from them and apply them going forward.
“And I think all the mistakes I made, although I wish I didn’t make them, the fact that I can learn from them and move forward with a greater sense of awareness just allows you to improve.”
On receiving criticism, Brady added, “Naturally, you hear different things on social media and such.
“And I have friends that will kind of give me little briefings about how it was. Again, all I’m trying to do is deliver for the fans.”
