Las Vegas is a place where the greatest entertainers of all time tend to wrap up their careers with residencies, a series of concerts that happen at single venue during a performer’s declining years.
So in that vein, Tom Brady and the Las Vegas Raiders seem like a perfect fit:
Raiders are poised to pursue quarterback Tom Brady if he doesn't re-sign with the Patriots before free agency begins, league sources told ESPN.https://t.co/rAloZCF2W1
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 2, 2020
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Raiders are angling to make a run at Brady if he doesn’t return to the Patriots. Head Coach Jon Gruden is said to have been a long-time Brady fan, wants him on the team, sounds prepared to hit the recruiting trail to bring the future Hall of Fame quarterback to Vegas. In addition to having a coach with whom Brady reportedly have a good relationship with, the Raiders can offer a solid offensive line, a sturdy running game, weapons on the perimeter, and draft capital to add to the group.
But for this to happen, Brady will have to spurn the Patriots. And New England isn’t going to let him go down without a fight.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport hears the Pats have their sights on keeping Brady in New England. Further, sources have informed Rapoport the tam is ready to pay Brady north of $30 million per year on what could possibly be a two-year deal. That would represent a significant pay-raise for Brady, whose largest single-season cap number was $22 million back in 2018. But Rapoport adds the Patriots will need to pay Brady and invest in the free agent market to get necessary help to make a real push for a sixth Super Bowl ring. And while that isn’t how New England usually operates, it might be the thing that keeps him with Bill Belichick for another year or two.
Brady, 42, is going to have a market full of interested teams should he hit free agency. There is no shortage of squads who would be interested in reigning the greatest player to lace ’em up at his position, even if he is playing in the twilight of his career. The Super Bowl won’t kick off for another five hours or so, but there some eyes have already moved onto the offseason.