Patriots QB Tom Brady yesterday said that he hopes WEEI’s Alex Reimer "doesn’t lose his job over the disparaging comment he made last week about Brady’s 5-year-old daughter, Vivian," according to Nora Princiotti of the BOSTON GLOBE. Brady said, "Criticism is part of sports but I certainly don’t think that my children or any other children, really, deserve to be in that,” Brady said. “So, that’s how I felt.” WEEI suspended Reimer last night, saying that the radio station was "disappointed and embarrassed by the on-air remark last Thursday." But Brady said that he "understands people make mistakes and that he wouldn’t wish for anyone to lose their job." Brady: "I’d hate for someone to have to change their life over something like that. It’s certainly not what he intended.” Patriots Owner Robert Kraft supported Brady, saying that kids are "off limits as far as media criticism goes." Kraft: “You don’t talk about someone’s child no matter who the adult is" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/30). ESPN.com's Mike Reiss noted Brady "expressed no regrets" about doing the Facebook Watch "Tom vs. Time" series despite Reimer's comment. Brady: "I thought it was fun. I thought it was a great opportunity. The fans like it. And that's really what we were looking for" (ESPN.com, 1/29).
TAKING THE HIGH ROAD: In Boston, Steve Buckley writes if Reimer "manages to save his job, he's going to owe Brady more than an apology." Brady is "displaying a measure of maturity and humanity to which Reimer should hope to aspire." Buckley: "Does he deserve a lengthy suspension? Of course. But I hope he gets a chance to fix this" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/30). In Providence, Mark Patinkin writes, "Trash-talk a man’s daughter and all bets are off. Brady was nicer about it than I’d have been." All Reimer cared about was "showing how cleverly cynical he could be" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 1/30). USA TODAY's Dan Wolken asks, "Why does Brady besmirch himself by appearing on those airwaves in the first place?" Boston has been "more notorious than most for radio hosts who pull one outrageous stunt after another with little consequence to their careers." The brand of sports talk that "seems particular to Boston isn’t just blockheaded, it’s downright embarrassing for anyone with a sense of decency" (USA TODAY, 1/30). But in Boston, Jaclyn Cashman writes Brady "should have known when he included his family in the Facebook documentary that the media and trolls would have something disparaging to say about his picture-perfect life." Brady should "not be surprised a single guy with no kids who’s a sports commentator might make an off-color remark about a child" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/30).
TOUGH PRICE TO PAY: Brady said he would re-evaluate if he would go on WEEI in the future, and the Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy said WEEI is a station that has "very edgy programs," but that edginess sometimes "takes a price." Shaughnessy: "Good for Tom for going on there and saying, ‘You know what, I’ve heard some stuff was said. Not interested. I’ll re-evaluate if I want to keep doing this'" ("Season Ticket," BOSTONGLOBE.com, 1/29). In Boston, Jessica Heslam writes, "WEEI’s sports radio behemoth may lose its biggest star. And it’s not Kirk Minihane or Gerry Callahan or any of the other on-air talk jocks. It’s Tom Brady" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/30).
