No football broadcaster’s debut had ever been as hyped up as Tom Brady’s.
In retrospect, it was inevitable that it would underwhelm.
After being told by various people in the NFL and broadcasting world that Brady would excel right off the bat, the reality was that he sounded like someone still getting used to the role when he called last week’s Dallas Cowboys-Cleveland Browns game alongside Kevin Burkhardt.
Initial reviews noted that while Brady wasn’t bad, he seemed nervous, hesitant to speak, and working through cadence and timing issues.
Early on in Brady’s second stint wearing the headset for Fox, he already sounds like an improving broadcaster.
Calling his second (of how many?) Cowboys games, Brady’s work during the first quarter of Sunday’s showdown with the New Orleans Saints showcased an analyst who understands what’s asked of him and how he can add to the viewing experience.
His breakdown on Derek Carr’s 70-yard touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed brought some of that excitement that Scott Hanson and others were looking for.
Across the board, many of the media critics and other media members who had muted reactions to Brady’s debut had quickly come around based on the improvements they heard so far.
Brady said this past week that he was aware of some issues that he needed to fix.
“Certainly a lot of fun, definitely some things to clean up. So it’s all a learning process,” Brady said. “Felt like I was doing what I should be doing, and I just know it’s going to get better.”
Just like on the football field, it appears that Brady knows how to make quick adjustments and improve.