Tom Brady is set to step into his role as an NFL announcer this year, and before the regular season begins, he’s shared his thoughts on how the NFL has evolved in a negative way.
Appearing with Stephen A. Smith at Fantastic Fest over the weekend, Brady spoke candidly about the state of football at both the college and NFL levels, saying the game has “de-leveled itself” and that true development is no longer happening, with rookies being thrown into tough challenges early on in their careers.
Brady began by talking about how college programs have changed since his time at Michigan.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Tom Brady leaves the Paris 2024 Olympic Gymnastics Final in Paris on August 5, 2024. (MEGA/GC Images)
“You used to have college programs,” Brady said. “Now you have college teams. You don’t learn a program anymore, you learn a playbook. And the programs, at the end of the day, like my time at Michigan, were pro-style programs. Over five years, I got to learn how to make a dropback pass, how to read a defense, how to read coverage, how to get coached. I got to learn how to go from being the seventh quarterback in the depth chart to being the third and eventually becoming a starter.”
“I had to learn all of that in college. That was the development. Then I went to New England and was developed by Coach Belichick and the offense. I didn’t start there my first year. I think it’s a tragedy to force something like that. [NFL] Rookies should play early.”
Drew Bledsoe thinks Patrick Mahomes is the only player who can reach Tom Brady’s “GOAT” status: “He’s one of the guys.”
College football has been a controversial topic lately as NIL contracts and the transfer portal have resulted in student-athletes bouncing from school to school without ever truly settling down and developing.
Brady was candid about how the game has evolved.
Tom Brady competes in the women’s balance beam final in gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena on August 5, 2024 in Paris. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
“Reality is the [rookies] teeth [playing right away] “That’s because we lowered the game so the players could play,” he explained. “Before, it was thought of at a higher level. We spent hours in the offseason and training camp trying to get a little better the next year. But I think the coaches realized that the players didn’t have the opportunity to go deep and they became hesitant to go deep. So the coaches have to teach to the level of the players.”
Football has changed since Brady entered the league as a sixth-round pick by the Patriots in 2000, especially when it comes to quarterback prospects like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and perhaps Drake Maye, who the Patriots selected No. 3 overall. Maye could replace Brady’s former teammate Jerrod Mayo as the Week 1 starter in Foxborough.
These rookies have been named as immediate starters in the league and their development will be put to a stern test going up against NFL defenses to see how they can perform.
For some, this is the right choice, as some college programs are designed to help players make a smooth transition to the NFL, but others just need more time to break out.
Tom Brady before the Las Vegas Aces’ home opener against the Phoenix Mercury at Michelob Ultra Arena on May 14, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Click here to get the FOX News app
Brady’s commentary will provide a glimpse into just how realistic he can be in his rookie season behind the headset with Kevin Burkhart on Fox, and NFL fans will be excited to see how he breaks down offenses and defenses across the league, as well as his thoughts on the game.
Follow Fox News Digital X’s sports coverageSubscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
