Rumors are suggesting that Tom Brady might have played a significant role in the Las Vegas Raiders’ decision to part ways with their head coach, Josh McDaniels, and their general manager, Dave Ziegler.
The Raiders suddenly announced that they had decided to replace the HC and GM of the team. Although the team claimed these decisions were made for the betterment of the team, there are speculations about the reason behind these abrupt roster moves.
Examining Brady’s influence in Josh McDaniels firing
Skip Bayless and Mike Florio recently discussed Tom Brady’s influence on one of the highest-paid coaches, Josh McDaniels, firing on The Rich Eisen Show.
Mike Florio, a commentator from NBC Sports, expressed skepticism about Mark Davis, the owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, and his decision-making abilities.
“As Jed York once put it during a difficult time with the 49ers, you can’t remove the owner. And the challenge here is Mark Davis who has been making poor decisions over the past dozen years and is likely to make this next decision as well. Is he going to make a prudent one? The chances are slim.”
He questioned whether Tom Brady, given his history with Josh McDaniels, may have influenced Davis’s choices.
“With this in mind, we need to consider who might be advising him. How involved was Tom Brady in persuading Mark Davis’ decision on whether or not to dismiss Josh McDaniels? And what role will Brady play in the future? I would love to find out,” Florio added.
The former QB and Josh McDaniels have a long-standing professional relationship that dates back to 2001, when they both joined the New England Patriots. McDaniels started as a personnel assistant and later became the offensive coordinator. Together, they achieved remarkable success, including Super Bowl victories.
Despite their past success, McDaniels has faced challenges in his solo coaching endeavors, struggling to secure winning seasons. There were even reports of a heated exchange between Brady and McDaniels in 2023, although the former QB dismissed these rumors.
While it’s unclear to what extent Tom Brady was involved in the Raiders’ decisions, the football world remains intrigued by the potential influence of this iconic figure. The reason the team has provided for firing the HC is that his performance wasn’t satisfactory. The team had a record of 3-5 this season. Raiders claim that they have made this decision to improve the team’s performance.
Brady’s Raiders ownership deal still in impasse
Tom Brady has also been trying to get ownership of the Raiders. He bought it at a sale price, but his ownership deal is still in negotiations. Some sources suggest that it might not be approved at the proposed price.
The NFL and the Raiders seem interested in having the 46-year-old as part of their ownership group, given his legendary status in the league. However, the deal faces challenges and might require revision to gain league approval.
The league rejected the price at which Brady bought ownership of the team. They claim that the price is not acceptable.
The NFL owners are expected to review and approve Brady’s ownership deal, which requires the consent of 24 out of 32 owners. Some within the league hope to see the deal go through, and compromises might be explored to make it happen.
