Instead, the former NFL quarterback still has the spotlight firmly situated on him, even in the post-playing days. Now, Brady is wearing plenty of different hats.
The Fox broadcaster and part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders has been in contact with Matthew Stafford’s camp about bringing the 37-year-old quarterback to Sin City, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore.
That comes after Bonsignore’s initial report that Brady’s persuasiveness meant the Raiders couldn’t be ruled out as an option for the veteran signal caller.
Stafford’s availability has become a major storyline early in the NFL offseason after the Los Angeles Rams gave him permission to speak with other teams regarding his value. It remains to be seen whether he will ultimately be on the move, but the contract issue could ultimately result in Stafford’s departure.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
The quarterback is said to be seeking $50 million a year, according to NFL Network’s Peter Schrager. That would represent a raise from the current $40 million average annual value (AAV) that the existing contract is worth.
Given the Rams’ decision to let Stafford speak with other teams, it would appear they aren’t willing to meet that desire at the moment. There are currently nine quarterbacks making north of $50 million a year in AAV, while Stafford comes in at No. 15, according to OverTheCap.
Still, the Rams would have to make the final decision to move the quarterback if he found a team willing to pay up and part with the necessary capital to swing a trade.
Both Pete Carroll and John Spytek declined to address the rumors on Tuesday at the NFL combine.
“I don’t really want to talk about other teams’ players and get in trouble in my first press conference here,” Spytek said. “But I would just say that if there’s an opportunity for any player that we think can add value to the Raiders, we’ll look into it.”
Brady reportedly played a big role in the Raiders’ decision to hire the duo and Carroll previously said they would lean heavily on the former Patriot for his insight.
The Fox broadcaster has continued to make headlines during retirement, inking a 10-year, $375 million deal with the network to serve as the lead NFL analyst. That move famously bumped Greg Olsen, a fan favorite, from the booth.
Brady also managed to become part-owner of the Raiders, which created a conflict for his broadcasting duties. The league was later forced to create additional rules surrounding his access to other teams. Those rules were relaxed for the Super Bowl, but could become a talking point again if Brady continues to have a major role in team operations.
With free agency and the NFL draft fast approaching, it a conclusion to the Stafford saga should come sooner rather than later.
