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Tom Brady deliberately remaining quiet on NFL's many current crises
The NFL is in real trouble right now, and it's going to take inspiring leadership, thoughtful solutions, and calm voices to help the league through these treacherous waters. Just don't look to Tom Brady to provide any of that.
Brady, speaking in his weekly radio interview on WEEI, has made it clear that he has no interest in speaking out about the cases involving Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson or the NFL's new domestic abuse policy.
"I try to stay in my lane. All of those things, none of it’s really my business or my control," Brady said, according to the Providence Journal. "I’ve just been focusing on the games and what I can do better. The things that are taking place on other teams or league-wide decisions, those are a different pay grade than me."
When pressed on the issue, noting that he does have a voice that carries some weight, Brady took the classic "can't someone else handle it?" approach: "I certainly have a lot of personal feelings toward all those things, but it’s just, there’s nothing I can do," he said. "If I make a comment about it, there’s nothing I can do to make a difference. The owners of the league, the commissioner of the league, the teams themselves, the players that are involved, they’re the ones that are speaking on it. It’s not really my responsibility to speak out about those things, because there are a lot of other people doing the talking."
It's disappointing, but it's not an unexpected stance from a superstar. The nation's fan base is broad; no sense offending any segment of it by taking a stand, right? Michael Jordan may or may not have said "Republicans buy sneakers too" when asked why he didn't endorse a political candidate, but his public actions certainly bore that sentiment out. Tiger Woods has done everything he can throughout his two-decade career to embody an edge-free milquetoast social perspective. In a fragmented, partisan climate, where even expressing an opinion can enrage a chunk of the fan base, keeping silent is a financially sound brand-protecting approach.
But the NFL is in the midst of one of its greatest crises ever, and it's one inflicted by both players and management. There are right and wrong stances to take here, and they're not difficult to discern. Superstars like Brady have the voice and the reach to make a difference in the minds of otherwise disconnected fans. When the history of this ugly era is written, it'll be to their shame if they stay on the sidelines throughout.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Facebook or on Twitter.
