LAS VEGAS — Tom Brady caused a social media firestorm Monday night when cameras caught the Raiders minority owner sitting in the coaches’ booth wearing a headset during the team’s loss to the Chargers at Allegiant Stadium.

The scene, as well as a sideline report from Peter Schrager during ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” broadcast that claimed Brady goes through film with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, raised questions about how extensive the legendary quarterback’s role is in shaping each week’s game plan. As well as whether that gives the Raiders a competitive advantage given Brady gets access to opposing players and coaches through his duties as Fox’s lead NFL analyst.

Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday that Brady is not involved in the team’s game preparation.

“He is not planning games with us, he’s not talking to us about anything other than our conversations that we have, that are really random,” Carroll said. “They’re not set up, they’re not structured in any way.”

Carroll said Brady is aware of the fine line he has to walk as a broadcaster and minority owner.

“He knows. He’s very respectful of what he does otherwise,” Carroll said. “He’s of the opinion that he doesn’t want to be that kind of a factor, so he’s not.”

That doesn’t mean Brady isn’t involved with the Raiders. He played an integral role in the team’s decision to hire Carroll and general manager John Spytek, Brady’s former college teammate at Michigan, this offseason. And Carroll, Spytek and Kelly lean on him for insight.

“We have conversations. I talk to Tom. Chip talks to Tom regularly. I mean, we have a tremendous asset,” Carroll said. “And we all get along well, and we respect each other. And so we just talk about life and football whenever it comes. And he has great insight, so we’re lucky to have him as an owner.”

No lines crossed

The NFL, which posted a video of Brady in the coaches’ booth Monday night on social media but later removed it, said in a statement Tuesday that he was well within his rights to be there.

“There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game,” the league said. “Brady was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a limited partner.”

Brady faced restrictions last year because of his dual roles with Fox and the Raiders. Some of those rules were relaxed this year, but he’s still limited in what he’s allowed to do compared to other broadcasters.

“Tom continues to be prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings. He may attend production meetings remotely but may not attend in person at the team facility or hotel,” the NFL statement said. “He may also conduct an interview off-site with a player, like he did last year a couple times, including for the Super Bowl. Of course, as with any production meeting with broadcast teams, it’s up to the club, coach or players to determine what they say in those sessions.”

Advantage to the Raiders?

Brady’s duties as an owner and broadcaster have raised eyebrows among the public and media for the conflict of interest it raises.

For instance, Brady will call the Bears’ game against the Cowboys on Sunday. The Raiders play Chicago in Week 4, so Brady could potentially gain insight on an upcoming opponent through his job at Fox.

Brady also called the Commanders’ win over the Giants in Week 1. The Raiders face Washington on the road Sunday.

Of course, teams could just stop sharing as much information with Brady during production meetings. But that could lead to less interesting broadcasts for Fox.

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