If you're CBS Sports, which is scheduled to air eight more Patriots games this season, there is obvious concern, but the network is hoping the potential subplots will create more interest, not less.
"Time will tell and all that, but I guess what I would say is we don't want to lose a big star on any team, let alone a Tom Brady," said Rob Correa, the executive vice president of programming at CBS Sports. "But the silver lining for CBS is that maybe the Patriots will now be in a playoff race, which makes other teams, the Jets, for example, more relevant late in the season. You could have a playoff race in the AFC East now. We'd prefer to have Tom Brady playing for the Patriots, but if not, those are the potential positives anyway."