"Tom Brady's influence could be a wild card" - NFL insider raises red flag on Raiders' plans for the future

Tom Brady has certainly had his hands full this year. Between embarking on a new career with FOX in the broadcasting booth and finalizing the purchase of a piece of the Las Vegas Raiders, the NFL icon has kept himself involved in the game.

However, things aren't all that rosy when it comes to the Raiders. Antonio Pierce breathed a bit of life into the franchise after taking over from Josh McDaniels last year but we've seen little to signify that he will be the Raiders' long-term head coach. With just two wins heading into Week 16, the Raiders are firmly in the running for the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft.

Raiders majority owner Mark Davis has time and again made it clear that Brady will be involved in any decision the franchise takes in 2025 with a host of changes expected in Sin City. NFL insider Albert Breer believes the seven-time Super Bowl champion's involvement with the franchise could be difficult to pinpoint. In his weekly mailbag, Breer wrote:

"The Raiders haven’t looked like one of the most put-together teams in the league, and they haven’t shown the identity Pierce promised to give them. Late-game management has been a problem.

"Tom Brady’s influence over Mark Davis could be a wild card. I do think Brady is too invested in broadcasting now—with the NFC title game and Super Bowl to call—to be engaged in a coaching search. But … I also think Davis will listen to his suggestions, so he may not need to be that involved to have an impact."

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NFL has already made feelings clear on Tom Brady's conflict of interest over Raiders ownership

Questions and eyebrows were understandably raised when NFL owners voted Brady's 5% ownership of the Raiders through. Given his 10-year, $375 million deal with FOX, Brady would have access to personnel a whole lot of information during production meetings at his day job, something that would represent a clear conflict of interest due to his ownership of the Raiders.

The NFL has since reportedly laid down some ground rules, prohibiting Brady from attending production meetings. New York Giants legend Tiki Barber also raised the issue when Brady criticized Daniel Jones for "quitting" on the Giants.

"Do you think he’s having that conversation because he doesn’t do production meetings because he’s not allowed to. If you have any conversation with anyone on the Giants, you’re not saying that," Barber said on a WFAN show.

As time progresses, Brady's job in the booth and his minority ownership with the Raiders may continue to be scrutinized.