ESPN: Inside Raiders' 2025 collapse, Tom Brady's influence

[ALLRAIDERWORLD21]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/475 ... ysfunction


Good read..here’s an excerpt on the Oline..
"A lot of guys were out of their natural position," left tackle Kolton Miller told ESPN. "It's not easy, but [Brennan Carroll] tried to get the best of us together each week."

An agent of a Raiders offensive lineman said that his client told him the position group met multiple times on their own with Smith and Jeanty, and specifically without coaches, so the quarterback and running back could talk to them about how they wanted the offensive line to create blocks.

"It was that bad," the agent told ESPN. "They were meeting on their own and trying to figure it out together, which I have never heard of in my history of working in this league."

"There is some sort of nepotism going on," a fourth agent of a Raiders player said.

[raiders93]

So clearly the article paints a lot of our issues as being a result of dysfunctional leadership - Part of me wonders if Brady in his current capacity doesn’t just add to that real or perceived dysfunction. A recurring theme in that article (and fairly easy to notice as a fan) is nobody knows who’s actually in charge here.

Sometimes it’s Mark. Sometimes it’s the coach. GM seems to be, on average, the most toothless position here. Somewhere between deferential to the coach Mark hired… or only here because you’re a buddy of the coach mark hired.

And now you add the biggest face in football to the equation (Brady)… except his capacity is unclear - his involvement appears limited - his power appears limitless… he has no experience running a team.

So I ask… is this version of Brady a draw for prospective coaches? Or is he emblematic of why you should avoid here at all costs? Fwiw - Brady doing this full time would undoubtedly be a draw for coaches imo. The part time thing is where I wonder if he’s just another boss to report to who has tons of power and little clue

[Sold My Soul]

I think Brady can be heavily involved in a coaching search without committing to being in the building every day all year. It's a huge decision and I want Spytek to have someone to discuss it with who's smart, informed and committed to the Raiders. I still want to hire a guy who Spytek is extremely excited about as head coach.

I think Brady knows a helluva lot more about what you need in an NFL head coach than other owners - he's played for several and won SBs with 2. I have no doubt that he'd be well prepared for any HC interview.

My biggest requirement for anyone involved in the process is that they enter with an open mind - don't fall in love with Jon Gruden II before letting the process help you make a decision.

Ive taken one hell of a lot of shits in my day, some of them worthy of a turd award.

Doesn't make me a proctologist.

[ALLRAIDERWORLD21]

Thanks for posting this. A very fair assessment IMO.

I have a whole lot of stench left of all this Pats West sjit..so I am jaded about those that belong to that clan.

Prove my opinions wrong about it. So far Brady can't.

You're welcome..ESPN tends not to give the Raiders alot of attenton unless we're flailing in the wind, they like to report about our grievances. This story however was gold being that it confirmed what we were all suspecting. Plus we have have the first pick, they can say whatever they want, we have all the control now up until draft day.

[ALLRAIDERWORLD21]

Shows you how important it is to finish rather than just get worked up.

Somehow I feel like your username is well known in Krafts massage hangouts

[Reno Hightower]

Was talking with the missus on the way home and mentioned his strip club visits. She asked the question, "What other owner goes to strip clubs"

I had no answer

Now that Jim Irsay has expired Mark is probably alone in that regard. Al would not have approved.

[Reno Hightower]

JPJ is one of those guys who would leave the Raiders and do better on another team.

He could take O'Connell with him.

[Marzan]

This article seems pretty legit and well written which is a rarity for ESPN. And it goes to show that at the end of the day, Mark Davis’ lack of leadership skills are the root of the our problems. He simply doesn’t create a proper governance structure. There’s too many cooks and the hierarchy is not well defined. He needs to empower Spytek and make it clear that he runs the place, not Brady.

[Sir Raider Duck, OMS]

Now that Jim Irsay has expired Mark is probably alone in that regard. Al would not have approved.

Let's not forget the disaster that was Al from the early 90s on (with the exception of the Gruden 1.0 years and the season afterwards). In Al's final decade, we were literally the worst team in the league.

[GoodTimeCharlie]

That 1st pick got the Raiders all newsworthy.

https://www.theringer.com/2026/01/07/nf ... -nfl-draft

[Dr Death]

That 1st pick got the Raiders all newsworthy.

https://www.theringer.com/2026/01/07/nf ... -nfl-draft

Headline can be taken with a grain of salt. No one except Doofus and Spytek actually knows if Brady is calling the shots...lol. These writers are f[raiders_icon]cking ridiculous.

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Not sure if this has been posted somewhere already…


Raiders' 2026 home opponents

Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titans


Raiders' 2026 road opponents

Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers
Cleveland Browns
New Orleans Saints

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Headline can be taken with a grain of salt. No one except Doofus and Spytek actually knows if Brady is calling the shots...lol. These writers are fcking ridiculous.

Author admits to being a long time Raider man and Brady hater, so I can understand the sensationalism. Been reading the same here all season.

[chucker]

Ive taken one hell of a lot of shits in my day, some of them worthy of a turd award.

Doesn't make me a proctologist.

You need to keep working at it. It's possible you're still full.

[Attyla]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nfl/articl ... 19428.html

[Attyla]

Some interesting commentary regarding what is going on