Scoop City: A Show About the NFL

Episode: "Why Tom Brady in the Raiders’ Coaches’ Booth Could Impact You"

Date: September 18, 2025
Host: The Athletic
Featuring: James Palmer, Dianna Russini, Robert Mays

Episode Overview

This episode explores the evolving NFL landscape with a focus on three key issues:

1. Tom Brady’s unique position as a Raiders minority owner and coach’s booth presence – is it a genuine conflict of interest?
2. Early-season quarterback health and decisions for various teams
3. "Panic Meter" Check: Assessing how worried fans should be about the Bears, Dolphins, and Chiefs

The hosts, joined by The Athletic’s Robert Mays, analyze these topics with insider knowledge, lively debate, and timely humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. QB Injury Updates and Team Responses

Segment Begins: 05:00

• Jayden Daniels (Commanders):

  • Sprained knee, MRI confirmed; team maintaining secrecy about playing status.
  • Team likely to be cautious, possible game-time decision.
  • “They’re really doing a good job of, of keeping us guessing.” (Diana, 05:49)

• Brock Purdy (49ers):

  • Turf toe/"Deathfoot"; less severe than Joe Burrow’s injury, no surgery needed.
  • Expected back sooner than first thought, backup QB holding steady.
  • “This is really great news for the Rangers.” (Diana, 09:09)

• J.J. McCarthy (Vikings):

  • High ankle sprain, not placed on IR—hopeful for a quick return.
  • Carson Wentz steps in; strong endorsement from league coaches.
  • Kevin O’Connell is viewed as strong in QB reclamation.
  • “He wants J.J. McCarthy, but I think he loves the challenge.” (Diana, 14:07)

2. Tom Brady & The Raiders: Examining Conflict of Interest

Segment Begins: 15:26

• Issue Raised: Brady is both a minority owner of the Raiders and occupies the coaches’ booth for broadcasts, gaining access to sensitive information during production meetings.
• Industry Split: Some NFL execs don’t care, others see a “completely unfair advantage.”
  • “If Tom Brady really wants to get intel, he can go find it... Of course it makes it easier.” (Diana, 16:37)
  • “There is a circle of trust… It’s just understood.” (Diana, 20:11)
• Production Meeting Context:
  • Coaches and star players often reveal far more than in standard media situations, trusting broadcast crews to keep details confidential.
  • “To Bill Belichick on the podium with the media are two vastly different human beings. I can’t stress that enough.” (James Palmer, 17:26)
• Virtual Access & Rule Relaxation:
  • Brady attends meetings virtually; rules relaxed compared to last season.
• Potential Impact:
  • Even if Brady “keeps secrets,” the perception of an unfair edge is a league-wide concern.
  • “The perception of conflict of interest might be a greater issue right now than even the actual conflict of interest…” (James Palmer, 23:55)
• Brady’s Role Clarity:
  • Need for Brady and Raiders to define whether he’s merely a figurehead or an active football operator: “Tom Brady needs to own what he is with the Las Vegas Raiders, which is running the Las Vegas Raiders.” (Diana, 21:54)

3. Panic Meter: Key Franchises Under the Microscope

With Robert Mays
Segment Begins: 27:19

A. Chicago Bears

[30:33]

• Early Season Panic?
  • Tough opening schedule (two 14+ win teams); some room for patience.
  • Caleb Williams showing growth, but offense sloppy, OL struggling with injuries.
  • Defense underperforms, but Robert Mays draws hope from how NFL teams can rebound (e.g., 2023 Broncos’ turnaround).
  • “I am concerned. I’m not freaking out... I’m actually feeling like it’s not time to panic quite yet.” (Robert, 30:33)
  • Diana on Williams: “Where we’re seeing him have that trouble, is when he’s escaping. You can tell they’re coaching him to sit in the pocket...”
  • Opening drives look promising, but consistency issues remain.

Notable Quote:
"If this goes on for three, four more weeks... you should like check in on me every 36 hours. But right now, I'm actually feeling like it's not time to panic quite yet." (Robert Mays, 32:39)

B. Miami Dolphins

[39:01]

• Organizational Uncertainty:
  • “Pretty high” panic in Miami; offseason questionable moves, lack of clear organizational vision.
  • Aging/expensive roster not aligning with transition attempts; internal personality issues (Ramsey, Hill).
  • Transition to “soft rebuild” underway, but unclear if leadership (GM/Coach) have owner’s trust for next phase.
  • “They’re in a very, very, very similar situation [to the Browns]... but while Cleveland, I think, could very clearly articulate to you what their plan is... I don’t think the Dolphins can do that. I think they’re hedging all over the place and it’s left them nowhere with no discernible direction.” (Robert, 45:49)
• Tua’s Comments:
  • Candidly admits he’s not Josh Allen.
  • “As a journalist, I love Tua’s honesty. He’s almost a little too honest all the time.” (James Palmer, 46:14)

C. Kansas City Chiefs

[46:54]

• No Panic Yet — But Trust Issues Emerging:
  • 0-2 start for first time in Mahomes era, but roster injuries create context.
  • Offensive line inconsistency, lack of trustworthy receivers, and Mahomes forced “to do too much” biggest worries.
  • “There is nothing they can go to on offense... whether or not that changes when the receivers come back, I think we wait and see about that.” (Robert, 47:36)
  • Diana on Mahomes: “They’re relying, they’re going too far that way and they know it... This isn’t 25-year-old Patrick Mahomes.”
• Mahomes’ Mindset:
  • “If Patrick Mahomes closed his eyes on this 30th birthday and said really to himself, what do I want? I think he’d say, I want trust. I don’t think he has any trust in what’s around him right now.” (James Palmer, 50:04)
• Travis Kelce as Reliable Target:
  • Mahomes’ trust with Kelce remains, but lacks it elsewhere.
  • Potential right tackle change discussed.

4. Lightning Round: Fun & Mailbag

Segment Begins: 57:24

• Kicker Superstitions:
  • Audience Q: If you were a kicker, would you slather balls in evaporated milk, use acupuncture, or sleep with them?
    • Dianna: “I would dip the football in olive oil, maybe a little garlic.”
    • James: Endorses the benefit of making the football softer like a crockpot.
• Kirk Cousins Trade Musings:
  • Despite QB injuries, no real trade market for Cousins—Falcons want him as insurance, most teams content at backup QB.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Tom Brady’s Access:
  “To Bill Belichick on the podium with the media are two vastly different human beings… [in production meetings] the conversation can go anywhere.” (James Palmer, 17:26)
• On the Bears’ Patience:
  "Concerned, not panicked." (Robert Mays, 37:27)
• On the Dolphins’ Identity Crisis:
  "I think this is just a team in no man’s land." (Robert, 40:43)
• On Chiefs' Play:
  "There is nothing they can go to on offense...there is a fear in that building that Patrick's going to keep trying to do more and...it's a little bit of a concern." (James Palmer, 50:04)
• On NFL QB Hardships:
  "Unless you’ve done it...you see fans try it at the stadium and...you’re rallying. I mean, look, Pat McAfee does it every Saturday on college game day...It’s so hard." (Dianna, 61:18)

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Topic | Time (MM:SS) | |---|---| | QB Injury Updates | 05:00 | | Tom Brady Conflict of Interest | 15:26 | | Panic Meter – Bears | 30:33 | | Panic Meter – Dolphins | 39:01 | | Panic Meter – Chiefs | 46:54 | | Kicker Superstitions + Kirk Cousins | 57:24 |

Summary

This Scoop City episode delivers insider analysis, front-office musings, and spirited banter on the conflict of interest Tom Brady may pose as a minority owner with coaches’ booth access, the challenges of navigating early-season QB injuries, and how much fans should really worry about a few struggling franchises. Expert guests, candid league reporting, and off-the-cuff humor make this an engaging episode for any NFL fan—especially those keeping an eye on the league’s most high-profile personalities and teams.