Brady and Gronk were almost Raiders
doubledragon
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This story is insane, UFC President Dana White says he tried to broker a deal where Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski were going to the Las Vegas Raiders but Jon Gruden ruined it.
Dana White admits Tom Brady was ‘not happy’ about failed Raiders deal
UFC president Dana White expanded on his story revealing that Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski almost struck a deal to join the Las Vegas Raiders.
Ever since the Raiders moved to Las Vegas, there has been plenty of thrilling NFL-UFC crossover — after all, it was none other than Bruce Buffer who officially introduced the Raiders on Monday Night Football last season.
It turns out that there’s plenty of crossing over behind the scenes, too, as Rob Gronkowski recently revealed that he and Tom Brady nearly chose Las Vegas instead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And who was the person working to make the dream a reality? UFC president Dana White, who shared his recruitment story on live television after Gronkowski brought it to light.
Although Gronkowski said he’s happy he went to the Bucs, apparently Brady was “not happy” with the way things went down, according to White.
“Yeah, it’s true,” White affirmed. “I talked Brady into playing for the Raiders, and Gronk was coming with him. And they were negotiating the deal, and they were really close to getting it done, and then Gruden pulled the deal. Brady was not happy about it, and neither was I. And that’s that. He went to the Buccaneers and won a Super Bowl.”
White continued on how disappointed he was that the deal fell through at the last minute.
“I own a f****** box there [at Allegiant Stadium] — I wanted Brady, you know what I mean? Crazy,” White said as reporters laughed. “It would have been amazing for the city and amazing for the Raiders…their first year there, they got Brady and Gronk?”
Tom Brady was “not happy” about failed Raiders deal, and neither was Dana White
It seems that all parties involved were upset when the deal went through, especially because it was at the behest of Jon Gruden, who was fired from the team last season after it was revealed that he used racial and gendered slurs in past emails.
There’s no telling what Brady and Gronk would have accomplished in Las Vegas in 2020 or 2021, but if the two were still there in 2022, they could have been reunited with former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and former teammate Chandler Jones. Also, it’s reasonable to assume that Brady would have brought his recruiting skills to the Bucs after stars like Richard Sherman and Julio Jones admitted that Brady called them and influenced their respective decisions.
Gronk can laugh about it now, but White and Las Vegas lost out on the opportunity of a lifetime — or at least a very sure bet on a Super Bowl win.
Comments
Brady looks awesome in that Raiders uniform.
Can you imagine how awesome Brady would have looked in the Raiders uniform? I can't believe the Raiders screwed it up, idiots.
We could have seen Brady in the silver and black!
I agree that Tommy looks great in that raiders uniform. I think things worked out just fine though.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
This is how I like to remember Brady
I know it seems a bit strange, but this was always one of my favorite photos of Brady.
^ that was during one of the thanksgiving games. maybe around 2010 or 2011?
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
The Raiders do have some talent, I just don't believe in Derek Carr.
That division will be a meat grinder this year
Agree but I think Chargers will come out on top, they have upward momentum and possibly an elite qb.
Yes, if I'm not mistaken, that turkey leg Brady photo is from the 2012 Thanksgiving blowout of the Jets 49-19, but the real joy of that game was a comical blunder by the Jets that will forever be remembered as......the buttfumble.
Yes, and I remember when the Jets drafted Geno Smith, the veteran Mark Sanchez tried to teach the young rookie the qualities of being a Jets quarterback.