When he sold a percentage stake in the team to Tom Brady, Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis made it clear that the future Hall of Famer would be a key cog in the operation. Then Brady took a job with FOX Sports to be their No. 1 NFL game analyst, creating some hurdles he must navigate around.
Brady has clearly been involved in certain aspects for the Raiders, like the hiring of head coaches and the choice of quarterback (for better or worse, so far). But just how fully involved he is, or how often he's even in the building, given his other commitments, will be a question mark until further notice.
Or actually, Brady's involvement with the Raiders will be a question until the NFL makes him choose between being a broadcaster or owning a stake in a team, if that day ever comes. But if we know anything, he'll probably never be forced to make that choice in deference to who he is.
And with what FOX is paying him, he's certainly not giving up that gig. Either way, the fanbase, by and large, wants Brady to be more involved if he's going to own part of the team. New head coach Klint Kubiak is making it sound like Brady is holding up his end of the bargain.
Klint Kubiak makes Tom Brady sound very involved with Las Vegas Raiders
On The Pat McAfee Show, in the wake of the Raiders signing Kirk Cousins to be the mentor or bridge to presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, ESPN's Adam Schefter made it clear that Brady has been involved in what has been done this offseason.
"None of this surprises Tom Brady," Schefter said. "Absolutely none of it. He is in on all of it. ... He wants the Raiders to win very badly and he offers his input."
Schefter did make it clear that he, like everyone else, doesn't know just how heavily Brady is involved in Raiders' business. But Schefter did note that Brady is in the loop on everything that's happening in Las Vegas.
At the recent NFL League Meetings, head coach Klint Kubiak, of course, was asked about Brady.
"It’s been a growing relationship because we talk quite a bit,” Kubiak said. “We text almost every day. We get on the phone. He’s extremely supportive, giving great advice, talking about his experience in New England, things that that he did in Tampa, and he’s just always giving great advice and being very supportive of me."
Brady certainly has valuable perspective and insight on many things that can help Kubiak succeed, and succeed quickly. But the first-time head coach offered an odd-sounding nugget regarding what all he asks Brady for advice about.
"In all aspects of my job I’m reaching out to him and asking for his advice, and he’s given advice,” Kubiak said. “And I ask him to give advice I don’t want to hear — it’s OK to hurt my feelings. I’d rather it be that way. I have all the confidence in the world we’re going to keep building that relationship.”
"In all aspects of my job, I'm reaching out to him for advice."
Brady has never been a head coach, or a coach of any kind at any level. So, what exactly he can add to or advise on in terms of any detailed aspect of Kubiak's current job is unclear at best, and leans toward being a nothingburger of supposed insight. But it's good that he cares enough to weigh in.
Kubiak can and should tap into Brady as a valuable resource, but there are (or should be) some logical limits to that. Overall, though, Raiders fans want Brady to be as involved as he possibly can be, and based on Kubiak's comments, it appears that he is.