Chip Kelly tries to clarify Tom Brady’s role in Raiders game planning
The offensive coordinator of the Las Vegas raiders, Chip Kelly, told journalists on Thursday that he did not provide for a game with the team owner and the Fox NFL Tom Brady broadcaster – at least not “on a weekly basis” – despite a report during the “Monday evening football” this week which suggested the opposite.
During the first quarter of the Chargers-Raiders match at the Allegiant Stadium, Peter Schrager of ESPN reported in the touchline that “Chip Kelly told us that he was talking to Brady two to three times a week. They leave by film. They follow the match plan. ”
After the match, the coach of the raiders, Pete Carroll, described the report as “non -precise” and declared that even if Kelly and spoke to him with Brady “regularly”, these conversations concern “life and football and anything”.
Kelly was questioned about the ESPN report during media availability on Thursday. His answer echoes that of Carroll.
“I spent a lot of time talking about football with [Brady]But it’s not on one – we are not talking about game plans, “said the former UCLA coach.” We spent a lot of time during the summer, some zooms … And we just talk about the ball, you know: “What did you like against this?” So really, when I use Tom, and I just use it as a resource: “Hey, you know, when you faced a defense of the Mike Zimmer type, what did you like in terms of protection and play?”
“But on a weekly basis, it does not plan the game with us or speaks to us.”
Kelly added later: “In terms of weekly game plans, as it is not a collaboration that we do. I mean, he is also a busy guy, so I didn’t even think of using it to do it, and I don’t think you can, so – you know, our staff do all this.
“But he was a guy with whom I could talk about football, just by pulling him:” Hey, have you ever faced a two-stroke defense? “And” with the reversed, Tampa two that everyone runs now, what were your best thoughts on this subject?, “Things like that.
The Times contacted ESPN for the comments of Schrage or the network in this area. A network representative refused to comment.
During the Schrager report, “Monday Night Football” showed a live photo of Brady seated in the stand of the coaches of the raiders and carrying a helmet. Kelly told journalists on Thursday that he thought Brady had done the same during the Raiders’ pre-season match last month against the 49ers of San Francisco, also at the Allegiant Stadium.
“But he’s not talking to the coaches when he is up there,” said Kelly. “I think he looks at football.”
NFL chief spokesperson Brian McCarthy said in a statement on Tuesday that Brady was doing nothing wrong.
“There is no policy that forbids an owner to sit in the coaches or to wear a helmet during a match,” said McCarthy. “Brady was seated in the stand in his capacity as a limited partner.”
Brady faces a certain number of restrictions imposed by the NFL on what he authorized to do as a broadcaster taking into account his double status as owner of the team’s minority. Last season, Brady was the first in both roles, he was forbidden to attend weekly production meetings during which the Fox crew meets coaches and players before this week’s match.
This restriction has been attenuated in this season.
“Tom continues to be forbidden to go to a team for training or production meetings,” said McCarthy in his press release. “He can attend remote production meetings, but may not attend the team or the hotel in person. He can also conduct an off -site interview with a player as he did last year a few times, including for the Super Bowl.
“Of course, as with any production meeting with broadcasting teams, it is up to the club, the coach or the players to determine what they say during these sessions.”
