In the NFL, one word that often comes up regarding potential free agents is tampering. For those who aren’t familiar, it is when a team or person tries to convince a player who is under contract with another team to join their team without the player’s current team’s permission. This practice became so blatant a few years ago that the league had to institute a legal tampering period before free agency so teams could begin negotiating. Anybody caught violating this rule would get slapped with severe penalties. The problem is there is no such rule, at least officially, regarding coaching candidates. Enter Ben Johnson.
With Mike Vrabel off the table, he has become the hottest candidate left on the market. It’s no secret that the Chicago Bears and the Jacksonville Jaguars are interested. However, the team everybody is talking about right now is the Las Vegas Raiders. They just cleaned house and reportedly are undertaking a massive effort to lure Johnson to the desert. The man leading the way is new part owner Tom Brady. That by itself wasn’t a big deal. However, people are starting to wonder if the former quarterback has an unfair advantage in this process, and the new broadcasting schedule for the upcoming divisional round of the playoffs proves it.
Not only will Brady call one of the upcoming games, but it will be the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders showdown. How is that not a conflict of interest?
The Raiders have an unfair advantage on Ben Johnson.
Broadcasters are free to meet with coaches and players before games and talk. Keep in mind teams are only allowed to speak with coaching candidates for three hours per week, which the Raiders have already done. Allowing Brady an opportunity to speak with Johnson at that game is a massive violation of their own rules. Yet it appears the NFL plans to look the other way. Chicago and Jacksonville have every reason to question this arrangement since it doesn’t keep the playing field level.
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Then again, Brady has never been above cheating before.
If Las Vegas does land Ben Johnson, this development of Brady calling one of his playoff games deserves way more scrutiny than it’s getting. It proves that while the NFL insists on upholding the integrity of the process, it has no issue burying its head in the sand when one of its favorite sons violates the rules. Chicago can only forge ahead. Johnson won’t be available to hire until Detroit is eliminated from the playoffs. If he is their primary target, they must pull out every trick in the book to convince him they are the better landing spot.
Ahh yes MARK Davis
Did Al Davis marry a 1st cousin to produce that son? If so, then the haircut does not really matter. Regardless, there will be a bidding war for my Ben.
But I thought Warren said the Bears are a top notch organization that any candidate would love to come work for? Surely working for Al Davis’ weird ass wouldn’t be more appealing just because Brady might get a 35 second pitch in to them first…
I believe it was George Halas himself who first uttered the immortal words, “don’t hate the player, hate the game.”
If the McCaskeys seriously believe that Brady has a real advantage in hiring a HC because he’s working the Lions game, then they should have pitched Brady on becoming co-owner when they had the opportunity.
Everything about Brady working for FOX as a part owner is a conflict of interest. The NFL has decided to look the other way from the start. This isn’t a new idea. As far as the QB, wasn’t last draft the proof that QBs will get over drafted. Teams in need will pick up Ewers at 6 if it needs to be is high. Look at JJ McCarthy for heavens sakes. He completed 10 passes in his entire college career