How Tom Brady has been different amid Raiders' springtime workouts this year

A report from this past winter claimed that Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is seen as "the de facto boss when it comes to football matters" for the organization. 

It sounds like Brady is taking those alleged responsibilities seriously this spring. 

Tom Brady has been a resource for Raiders players this offseason

"He’s definitely been around more," Raiders tight end Brock Bowers recently said about Brady, as Sam Warren of The Athletic shared on Friday. "He’s a resource anytime we need him. It’s really good to have that kind of guy around. I mean, (he’s) the GOAT. It’s great to have him around, and he’ll help with any questions we have." 

There is a perception that Brady signed off on the Raiders' hiring of first-year head coach Klint Kubiak and on the club selecting Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza was widely seen as the best overall quarterback prospect in this year's draft class, and it likely didn't hurt that he is a so-called "TB12 disciple" who has already embraced many of the methods Brady used to complete the greatest playing career in pro football history. 

Tom Brady has been "very open," available to Raiders coaches

"He’s been very open," first-year Raiders offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko said about Brady on Thursday. "He’s somebody that we can pick up the phone and call, or you see him around the building. He’s the greatest of all time, so getting to be around him every day and any knowledge that you can pick up from him is just a great resource to have, and something that is very appealing sitting in my chair." 

Brady will be back on the road once he has to resume calling games as Fox's lead NFL analyst, but he'll also be just a phone- or video-call away from Raiders coaches. Meanwhile, he said back in the summer of 2024 that he felt it was "a tragedy that we’re forcing" rookie quarterbacks to play before they're ready. 

Mendoza has clearly impressed the Raiders' coaching staff throughout the spring. That said, one would think that Brady will push for veteran Kirk Cousins to start at least Las Vegas' Week 1 home game versus the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13.