Before leaving New England and deciding to join the Buccaneers, the Las Vegas Raiders were one of the teams reportedly interested in signing quarterback Tom Brady.
Raiders tight end Darren Waller decided to address the previous possible link between Brady and Las Vegas.
«I’ve heard it from multiple sources that I respect and have been close to,» Waller told Forbes last week. «They’re like, ‘Yeah, Brady for the Raiders was a lock.'»
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Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up in front of the New England Patriots tunnel before the game between the Buccaneers and the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 3, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Instead, Brady won his seventh career Super Bowl in his first season in Tampa Bay in 2020. After 23 seasons, the future Hall of Fame quarterback announced he was «retiring for good» earlier this month.
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Before the 2022 season began, UFC president Dana White claimed that he was personally involved in the Raiders’ plans to acquire Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski.
«I worked to put that deal together for Brady and Gronk to come to the Raiders,» White said in August during an appearance at «UFC 278 with the Gronks.»
White added that it was Jon Gruden who rejected the plan: «It was almost a done deal. At the last minute, Gruden blew up the deal and said he didn’t want them.»
Tom Brady was not happy with his performance in the first half of his game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. (Chris Greythen)
In an interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal in August 2022, Raiders owner Mark Davis said he had no recollection of a deal involving Brady and Gronkwski.
«I heard about [White’s comments]. That was two or three years ago or something? I don’t know, man. Talk to Dana. I remember Tom Brady went to Tampa Bay. That’s basically what I remember. I have no idea. Dana has the stories.»
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Gruden was named the Raiders’ head coach for his tenure with the team in 2018 with quarterback Derek Carr at center. Carr is a free agent after being released by the Raiders last week.
But Gruden resigned last year amid a scandal in which leaked emails showed his use of misogynistic and homophobic language in messages over a seven-year period.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) participates in a mandatory minicamp at the AdventHealth Training Center. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)
Waller was named to the Pro Bowl in 2020 and signed a three-year, $51 million extension last year.
When it comes to who the Raiders’ next quarterback will be, he said he has no say in the decision.
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«I have no information. So I’m waiting to see what happens like everyone else,» he said.
But Waller would be in favor of the team getting four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers this offseason.
«Anyone who has played soccer would agree with Aaron Rodgers coming to the team,» he said. «If he comes to the team, I won’t be disappointed.»