Cowboys win opener as Brady finds his voice

By David Mullen

It was one of the most highly anticipated debuts in the 105-year history of the National Football League. The game — labeled “America’s Game of the Week” — featured a player signed to a 10-year, $375 million contract with no experience. It was overhyped, as TV networks with sports properties do. Fox even ran an elaborately produced TV commercial to promote the Sunday afternoon kickoff. 

Was it to promote No. 1 overall pick QB Caleb Williams’ first game with the Chicago Bears? Saquon Barkley donning Philadelphia Eagles green after a career synonymous with New York Giants blue? The Kansas City Chiefs embarking on a potential Super Bowl three-peat? The New England Patriots taking the field without Bill Belichick as their head coach for the first time since 2000? 

No. Television’s most awaited coming out since “Ellen” was not on the football field, but in the broadcast booth. NFL legend Tom Brady made his debut behind the microphone in his new role as the lead Fox analyst on NFL football broadcasts. His assignment was to cover the Dallas Cowboys versus Cleveland Browns game from Huntington Bank Field located in a field near the Lake Erie banks. 

A headline in The Washington Post read, “Tom Brady takes awkward first steps in his transition from the football field to the TV booth,” with the subhead, “Fox Sports is spending $375 million to put Tom Brady in the broadcast booth, and the network wants to make sure everyone knows he’s there.”

Based on his initial presentation, Brady performed like a sixth round pick out of Michigan and not the NFL’s G.O.A.T. with a shaky start to his broadcast career. He sounded nervous and hesitant at times, seemingly more concerned about sounding smart and eloquent rather than giving an honest, unrehearsed reaction.

Brady’s cadence often sounded like he was calling plays in the backfield of the Patriots or Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His “nothing a quarterback can do … when you are standing in the pocket … standing there … and they get to the middle of the target” analysis of an early Dak Prescott sack sounded to me like “three, 18 … three, 18 … hut … hut.”    

“This is a hard job,” said ESPN lead NFL play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, who has partnered with former Cowboys and Hall of Fame QB Troy Aikman for 22 years. On ESPN Radio New York, Buck said: “We all have to settle in; know what you need to know. I talked to him on Friday, and I don’t think anybody’s put in more work into being prepared for his first broadcast than Tom did. And now, you have to go forward and settle in. It’s grossly unfair that everybody wants to weigh in after five seconds. That’s not the way it works.”

Paired with consummate pro Kevin Burkhardt, Brady said on the broadcast: “I do what they tell me. I understand that. I’m still a rookie in here.”

Brady was witness to an aggressive Cowboys defense executing a new scheme under returning defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, leading to a 33-17 Dallas victory. Dak Prescott, who signed a four-year, $240 million contract before the game, showed his value with efficient game execution, despite an anemic 265 total yards offensively and a rushing game amassing only 102 yards on 25 plays. Ezekiel Elliott had 40 yards on 10 carries. 

The lack of an effective running game will put added pressure on Prescott and the other beneficiary of Jerry Jones’ bank account, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, as the season moves on to more difficult opponents.    Not to downgrade the spirited performance by the Cowboys defense, but Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson was 24 of 45 for 169 yards, with two interceptions and six sacks. Only Cleveland would have signed the troubled signal-caller to a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract. Because of salary cap issues, the Browns can’t afford to cut Watson if they wanted to.

At the end of the game, Brady got more attention. Fox gave him a sponsored segment called “Tom Brady’s LFG [Lincoln Financial Group] Player of the Game,” honoring Cowboys All-Pro LB Micah Parsons for his three tackle, one sack performance.

While Brady was learning the ropes, the 2024 NFL season opened with the Chiefs beginning their title defense with a highly entertaining 27-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, The game came down to the last play, a back of the endzone catch by the Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, ruled out of bounds by a toe. The game on NBC drew an average of 28.9 million viewers, a television ratings record for a Thursday night opener. 

In games that could be a portent to the season ahead, Chicago’s Williams — like Brady — showed rookie jitters, but the Bears defense shined beating Tennessee 24-17; Philadelphia’s Barkley had three touchdowns in a 34-29 win over Green Bay seen only on Peacock, and new Patriots head coach Jerod Bayo notched his first win, 16-10, over the flat Cincinnati Bengals.   

Also, Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield threw for four TDs in a 37-20 win over Washington, Daniel Jones and the New York Giants stunk up the Meadowlands in a 28-6 drubbing by Minnesota, and the San Francisco 49ers, without Christian McCaffrey, spanked Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on “Monday Night Football,” 32-19, to end week one’s slate.  

With the Cowboys often featured on Fox, expect to see and hear more of Brady. Unlike the Cowboys, Brady’s not off to a strong start. But never doubt the G.O.A.T. He’s won seven Super Bowl trophies, and his quest for an Emmy Award has just begun.