Tom Brady: Hurting His Image in 2011 NFL Offseason, or Is Media Just Starving?

The lockout has left a lot of news outlets and reporters digging for relevant topics to cover. Of course, the word "relevant" is skewed somewhat because there's nothing to talk about.

Thus, "relevant" may or may not describe New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's recent escapade in Mexico, where according to TMZ, Brady was seen water sliding.

Water sliding? Really?

First, it was the hair in a ponytail while dancing in the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during Carnival. Then, it was the fashion faux pas of wearing a Panama hat at the Kentucky Derby.

Next thing you know, we'll be talking about him posing for pantyhose commercials. Oh, wait...that was someone else.

I'm not about to shoot a reaction video of my own mental breakdown; the media has a right to talk about this type of "news." He is in the public spotlight, after all. Still, it's hard to defend jumping all over him for every move he makes.

Of course, that would be a lot easier if Brady wasn't...well, making it so easy. Whether it's Uggs for Men, GQ, etc., Brady isn't doing himself any favors if he wants to quit being the butt of the joke in New York, or even nationwide.

And look at the list of places he's been recently: Carnival, the Kentucky Derby. It's clear he's accepted it, and possibly has even embraced it.

Covering his every move may seem excessive, but as one of the premiere quarterbacks in the league, with probably the most beautiful and recognizable wife of any football player in the league, it's no wonder he's permanently under a microscope.

At the same time, the intensified focus on it all is just a side effect of the circumstances. Not only the ones mentioned above, but the most important of all: the lockout. Writers are drawing at straws for new material to talk about, and chomping at the bit when anything "newsy" comes out.

If you call this "news" though, you may be looking at the world through tabloid-tinted sunglasses.

It's hard to put anyone at fault for the recent outbreak of reports that have been staining Brady's "football image," although some of his choices aren't exactly doing wonders to help it. No one could possibly deny that Brady has done this to himself, in a sense. At the same time, who are we to judge Brady for having a life?

And as long as he keeps playing MVP football, who really cares?

Brady is simply living his life, and the media are simply doing their jobs.

Erik Frenz is the co-host of the PatsPropaganda & Frenz podcast. Follow Erik on Twitter @erikfrenz.