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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering objective: becoming the greatest quarterback in league history. He achieved that goal. Today, in retirement, Brady has ventured into various endeavors. He works as a broadcaster for a major network. He's engaged in development ventures in Birmingham. He has endorsed cryptocurrency. He's spreading the NFL to Saudi Arabia. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's retirement ventures appear either eclectic or unfocused, depending on your viewpoint.

Side projects are one thing. But managing a professional franchise is not a part-time job. In addition to his other roles, Brady functions as the unofficial decision-maker for the Las Vegas franchise, presently the least successful team in the NFL.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on Sunday after enduring a 24-10 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were embarrassed by a underperforming team with a quarterback making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before garbage-time action in the final period. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a season record for any franchise this year. On defense, Las Vegas allowed big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been ineffective for the majority of the season. Any way you slice it, it was a thorough domination. At least Brady didn't have to witness it. The architect of this latest Vegas mess was working in Dallas on the network coverage for Eagles-Cowboys.

A Series of Questionable Choices

To be fair to Brady, he has only spent one season guiding the team's personnel choices, after becoming a partial stakeholder of the organization in 2024. But he was responsible for every significant move last offseason, and each one has proven unsuccessful. Those moves have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and aimless franchise in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't appoint 74-year-old Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a Super Bowl and a college national championship, to manage a protracted process back up the standings. He was supposed to return the team to competitiveness and then transition them with a solid foundation in place. Conversely, Carroll is staring at the prospect of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Franchise Turmoil

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has churned through coaches and front-office heads at a rate that would make even the Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a turnover rate that has eliminated any clear strategic direction. Nevertheless, it's Brady's influence that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," NFL Insider Tom Pelissero commented last offseason. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll said of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his chance to put his stamp on a franchise."

Brady was responsible for the key hires and set the Raiders on this rudderless course. He hired a close associate, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to act as general manager. He greenlit a roster plan to the coach's specifications, including dealing a draft selection for Geno Smith and drafting a RB No 6 overall despite having a bottom-tier O-line. He lured an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the league. And he signed off on entrusting a flaky blocking unit – the bedrock for that coordinator and ball carrier – to Carroll's son.

Catastrophic Outcomes

It's been a disaster. 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 implemented an old-fashioned defensive philosophy, the quarterback looks past his prime and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any aspirations for their rookie and the run game. At the very least, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, counting down the snaps to the conclusion of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was pronounced. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. Their star defender, now just five sacks away from the league all-time mark, leads a formidable defense. And there is optimism around the stellar-looking rookie class that includes multiple promising talents – a dynamic runner at RB and Carson Schwesinger at linebacker. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the short-term.

Granted, it was against the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders showed that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a full week to prepare, he was solid, taking what the opposition gave him and showing flashes of creativity. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Vision

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' first-year players represent promise. That's a reflection the Raiders don't want to look into. Good organizations understand their position in the ecosystem: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas began the season believing they were a few adjustments away from competitiveness. Despite the overwhelming evidence otherwise, they failed to adjust during the season. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be throwing out rookies to find out what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen significant action. There has reportedly already been tension between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the lack of action for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the o-line being a sieve. First-year pass catchers two young talents have totaled nine catches in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on the defensive side over rookies in need of reps.

Uncertain Direction

What is the future direction? Will the coach return or the GM or Smith? And who actually makes those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, signs off franchise-altering moves, and then disappears on other projects?

It's going to be a challenge for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division stacked with consistently successful teams. At the same time, other reconstructing teams have paths. The New York Jets are loaded with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have nothing. No foundation. No quarterback. No distinctive style. No plan.

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

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