Tom Brady‘s much-anticipated debut made a Fox Sports commentator fall flatter than a deflated football, leaving fans scratching their heads and probably reaching for the mute button. Meanwhile, Antonio Brown is never one to miss an opportunity to stir the pot.

“Maybe someone should have listened to Tom Brady actually say words before dropping $300 million on him.” Brown’s X jab on September 9, 2024, hit harder than a linebacker blitz, setting the NFL world abuzz. Is Brady’s golden touch finally tarnished?

Sunday’s Cowboys–Browns season opener was supposed to be Brady’s crowning moment as Fox Sports’ new golden boy. Instead, it turned into a $375 million lesson in “be careful what you wish for.” The seven-time Super Bowl champ’s commentary lacked the intensity. Even a potential record-breaking 71-yard field goal attempt by Brandon Aubrey couldn’t spark a flicker of enthusiasm from Brady. Veteran commentator Scott Hanson couldn’t help but throw some shade, highlighting TB12’s lack of zest for the game he once ruled.

This tepid debut is a far cry from the fire Brady showed just days earlier. “Obviously, super excited. There’s a little anxiousness, obviously,” he told reporters, his eyes gleaming with that familiar competitive spark. But when the lights came on, that spark fizzled faster than a New England winter.

As Brady fumbled through his debut, his former teammate and occasional thorn in his side, Antonio Brown, was sharpening his Twitter fingers. Brown’s attack wasn’t just about Brady’s monotone play-by-play. It ripped open old wounds from their Buccaneers days. On the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast last year, Brown spilled the tea on a 2021 contract dispute.

“Now when we get the ring in 2021, the next year I’m the last guy that signed,” Brown revealed. “My agent, Ed Wasielewski, is getting called, cursed out by Tom Brady over why is he pushing back for the contract for scraps.” This bombshell provides context to the tension between the two stars. Brown joined the Bucs in October 2020, just months after Brady’s high-profile move from the Patriots. What seemed like a dream team on paper was fraught with behind-the-scenes drama.

Brown didn’t stop there. He added, “Imagine if you heard that, the same guy that brought you in to win a ring, the same agent he told you to hook up with to get the deal, is now telling me, the guy’s calling him, saying, yo, cursing him out about scraps of a contract.” This revelation sheds light on the complex dynamics at play in NFL contract negotiations, even among supposed friends and teammates.

This isn’t just about a bad day at the office for Brady. It’s a stark reminder of the complex web of relationships, egos, and financial disparities that define the NFL. As Brady struggles to find his voice off the field, his past on-field decisions continue to echo in unexpected ways.

Tom Brady has rookie struggles in broadcasting

Tom Brady’s journey from field general to fumbling commentator is like watching Superman trip over his cape – shocking, and a bit sad, but you can’t look away. The man who could read defenses like a book is now struggling to read the room.

Brady’s preparations for his new gig were as intense as his pregame rituals. His former teammate, Julian Edelman, caught Brady in full study mode during an impromptu visit. “It was really impressive to me and it brought me back to, like this is how he treated football,” Edelman gushed on the Jim Rome Show on September 7, 2024. “So, you know, he was everything. He wanted to be more in football.”

But all that prep work seemed to fly out the window faster than a Brady spiral once the lights came on. His commentary lacked the zip and precision of his passes, leaving fans longing for the days of Greg Olsen, whom Brady replaced. The irony? Brady himself admitted to being the “rookie” in this new game, telling colleagues, “I want to get up every day and try to prove to them. Hey guys, I know I’m the rookie, but I’ve got your back too.”

As veteran broadcaster Boomer Esiason wisely predicted, “It’s going to take a while for all of us to get used to Tom Brady. It’s not going to happen overnight.” But with a 10-year, $375 million deal on the line – more than he made in 23 years on the field – Brady doesn’t have the luxury of a long learning curve.

As Brady wrestles with his new role, the NFL community watches with bated breath. Will he adapt and overcome like he did so many times on the field?