Opinion: Separating Fandom From Reason Is Easy

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Maybe no fanbase lives in the past more than the Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders. The uproar over the Tom Brady news shows it.

Earlier this week, news broke that Tom Brady would buy a small ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. By all indications, the ownership percentage would not include enough to make substantive decisions regarding the franchise. Yet, by the hand-wringing, you’d think that Brady would change the team colors and nickname. Under those circumstances, one thing remains clear: a large section of the fanbase lives too much in the past and needs to grow up and let it go.

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What Brady Brings

Honestly, Brady brings a notoriety and brand elevation that extends outside of fandom. When they moved to Las Vegas, the Raiders became an entertainment entity, as well as a football team. Gone is the day of a football-centric operation. Las Vegas is a global entertainment hub. Having the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL will only fatten the team’s wallet and raise visibility. Although Brady will never make a single football decision, his impact is that of branding. Like it or not, Mark Davis sees business first and football second. While that news may not thrill many, remember: the Raiders is his family business. Money remains the undefeated bottom line. Imagine the branding benefits in and around the team.

Weird Reaction

Fans took to social to express their displeasure with a hated rival signing on. If you are honest, the Raiders were briefly a rival of the Patriots, early in the 2000s. After the Tuck Rule Game, the teams began to trend in opposite directions. While the Raiders reached a Super Bowl, the Patriots began to establish two separate dynasties and a two-decade reign of dominance. In pouring over the responses and the vitriol, people really still despise Tom Brady over a play that occurred twenty years ago.

The Tuck Rule

For the last time, the Patriots were not to blame for the Tuck Rule. Additionally, while the refs blew the call, the real blame resides with the Raiders. How can a team that fancied itself a Super Bowl contender rely on a coach that called three straight running plays and still did not go for it on fourth and one? The Patriots did not have any timeouts. The Raiders trusted their punter, in inclement weather and it came back to bite them. Jon Gruden walks away from all the blame that Tom Brady shoulders. It’s a long time since the fanbase stops crying over a play.

“Homegrown” Raiders

The notion of Mark Davis upsetting a long-tradition of primarily Raider-led teams is actually wrong. Chargers coach Sid Gillman gave Al Davis his first pro football job. Daryle Lamonica played four seasons in Buffalo before Oakland. Jim Plunkett and Mike Haynes toiled in New England first. So, the notion of enemies taking over is childish. The Raiders thrived on the ability to take castoffs from other teams and enjoy success. Basic Raiders history that so many people fail every single day.

The Glory Days

I always find it funny when I hear two groups of people mention the glory days for the Raiders. First, either they are super young with only recollections based on YouTube videos and NFL Network. Or, they are old enough to remember but still be stuck in the past. Those players and that style of football are long gone. Stop with the memes of how many Lombardi trophies. It’s sad to see poorly constructed images of dusty memories. Respect that era, but look towards the future. There is no more ” Raider Way” For almost forty years, that way means losses and blaming the NFL for some convoluted conspiracy that never happens. Being stuck in the past is a weak flex.

Hidden Aspect Of Brady Association

With a small percentage of ownership, Tom Brady could influence the Raiders on a personal level. Who better to advise the young franchise quarterback that the team will eventually draft? From mechanics to progressions, having those eyes would improve any quarterback. In all honesty, what other Hall of Fame-level quarterbacks in the modern era would line up to help? None. Additionally, seeing a recently retired player means that even talking to prospective free agents could also benefit the team in the long run.

Overview

In most businesses, the bottom matters most. Football is no different. Tom Brady could become a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. He will not care if you hate-post/tweet. The Raiders don’t care about fan boycotts, jersey burning, and whiny adults who think their opinion carries any sort of weight within headquarters. That level of delusion astounds so many. It makes intellectual discourse nearly impossible. Many in the media won’t say this, because of a fear of upsetting apple carts. Yet, so many in the fanbase need to grow up, touch grass and realize the franchise has mostly been atrocious for two-fifths of a century. Shut the door on the past while respecting it. Then, look forward to a better future.