Rumors linking Tom Brady to the Raiders have picked up steam over the past few weeks, and the team’s interest in the 42-year-old quarterback appears to be legitimate.
The Raiders are planning to pursue Brady if he does not re-sign with the New England Patriots before the start of free agency next month, and sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Raiders coach Jon Gruden wants Brady to be his quarterback in 2020. Brady and Gruden have a good relationship, and Gruden has admired TB12 for quite some time.
Gruden, of course, was the head coach of the Raiders when the Patriots advanced to the AFC Championship Game in 2002 thanks in large part to the infamous “tuck rule” play. Gruden has openly said that call still irritates him to this day, but he clearly doesn’t hold it against Brady.
Brady fueled some of the Raiders rumors two weeks ago when he mingled with team owner Mark Davis at UFC 246. There were then reports that the six-time Super Bowl champion has purchased a home in Las Vegas, but there’s been no proof of that.
A report from Sunday made it sound like the Patriots are willing to spend big to keep Brady. While Schefter notes that the Raiders could offer Brady a solid offensive line and endless new marketing possibilities in Las Vegas, the odds still favor Brady remaining in New England.
There have been questions about Derek Carr's future with the Raiders since the moment Gruden rejoined the team, and the two may not have gotten along that well this past season. If the Raiders had a legitimate chance to sign Brady, Gruden would almost certainly be willing to part with Carr.
More must-reads: