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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a unwavering mission: becoming the greatest quarterback in league history. He accomplished that dream. Now, in retirement, Brady has ventured into various endeavors. He works as a commentator for a major network. He's engaged in construction projects in Birmingham. He has promoted digital assets. He's expanding the NFL to the Middle East. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his dog. Brady's post-career ventures appear either eclectic or aimless, based on your perspective.

Secondary ventures are understandable. But managing a NFL team is hardly a casual commitment. In addition to his various responsibilities, Brady also serves as the unofficial decision-maker for the Las Vegas franchise, presently the most hapless team in the league.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on this past weekend after suffering a 24-10 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just get defeated; they were embarrassed by a struggling team with a QB making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before garbage-time plays in the final period. Geno Smith was sacked 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a single-game high for any team this season. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for most of the campaign. However you analyze it, it was a thorough domination. Fortunately Brady didn't have to watch. The architect of this latest Vegas mess was working in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Collection of Dubious Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only been involved for a year leading the team's personnel choices, becoming a partial stakeholder of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every major decision last summer, and all of them has proven unsuccessful. Those decisions have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and directionless franchise in the NFL.

This wasn't supposed to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't hire veteran coach Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a NCAA title, to oversee a protracted process back up the standings. He was expected to return the team to relevance and then transition them with a solid foundation in place. Instead, Carroll is staring at the prospect of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Organizational Dysfunction

This isn't all Brady's fault, of course. Mark Davis is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has churned through coaches and executives at a speed that would make even the New York Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a turnover rate that has eliminated any coherent long-term vision. Still, it's Brady's fingerprints that are evident throughout this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," NFL Insider a prominent journalist said last offseason. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll said of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his chance to leave his mark on a team."

Brady made the crucial appointments and set the Raiders on this directionless path. He hired a close associate, his college buddy and co-worker in Tampa, to serve as general manager. He greenlit a team strategy to the coach's specifications, including dealing a third-round pick for Smith and selecting a RB No 6 overall despite having a bottom-tier offensive line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the college ranks, making him the top-earning OC in the league. And he signed off on handing a flaky offensive line – the bedrock for that coach and ball carrier – to Carroll's son.

Catastrophic Results

It's been a complete failure. The previous year's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were scrappy and competitive. The current Raiders are a disorganized situation. Carroll has installed an old-fashioned defensive scheme, the quarterback looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has undermined any hopes for their rookie and the run game. If nothing else, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the plays to the end of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was stark. The situation often seems dire with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. Their star defender, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the league single-season record, leads a formidable defense. And there is positive outlook around the impressive first-year players that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at running back and Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Admittedly, it was facing the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders demonstrated that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to prepare, he was effective, accepting what the opposition gave him and showing glimpses of improvisation. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his first start since 1995.

Absence of Vision

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' rookie class symbolize future potential. That's a reflection the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises understand their situation in the ecosystem: you're either a contender, a competitive squad, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season thinking they were a couple of moves away from competitiveness. In spite of the clear indications otherwise, they haven't pivoted midstream. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing rookies to discover what they have for the coming years. But only two first-year players have seen significant action. There has reportedly already been tension between the coaches and the front office regarding the limited playing time for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the offensive line being a weak point. First-year pass catchers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have totaled nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on defense over rookies in need of reps.

Unclear Direction

Where is the future direction? Will the coach return or Spytek or the quarterback? And who truly decides those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise function when its primary influencer participates sporadically, signs off franchise-altering moves, and then vanishes on side quests?

It will prove a struggle for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division stacked with consistently successful teams. Meanwhile, other reconstructing teams have clear trajectories. The New York Jets are stocked with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have nothing. No core. No franchise QB. No identity. No plan.

The only thing more dangerous than being ineffective in the NFL is not knowing you're bad. The Raiders don't know where they are, what they are building, or who will call the shots in the offseason.

Tom Brady once excelled at football through intense dedication. The Raiders could benefit from more than an hour of it.