- Jimmy Garoppolo’s status with the Las Vegas Raiders is in doubt after failing a physical.
- Garoppolo suffered a season-ending ankle injury against the Miami Dolphins on December 4, 2022.
- Oddsmakers have inserted Tom Brady as the favorite to replace Garoppolo if he doesn’t play for the Raiders.
Could Tom Brady be heading back to an NFL field? According to oddsmakers at BetUS, if Jimmy Garoppolo is unavailable, Brady has the best odds of starting for the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.
In March, the Raiders signed Garoppolo to a three-year, $72.75 million contract. Included in the contract was $34 million guaranteed. It would certainly be interesting to be a fly on the wall in Mark Davis’ office right about now.
However, the Raiders were savvy enough to recently add an amendment to his contract. Garoppolo reportedly underwent ankle surgery in March after signing in Las Vegas. The injury motivated the Raiders to include language in the contract that gives them an out if things don’t go well.
Addendum G
Known as Addendum G, a waiver in Garoppolo’s deal would allow the Raiders to terminate the contract if the ankle injury prevents him from contributing to the franchise.
Additionally, language in Addendum G includes that Garoppolo must acknowledge the risk of further injury, which includes permanent disability. However, this will all be void if Garoppolo can pass a physical and be active for a minimum of one regular-season game.
Here is the clause on the adjusted contract for Jimmy Garoppolo https://t.co/7cn2xKBXhh pic.twitter.com/nr8t9mjjIb
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 28, 2023
The Raiders were fortunate enough to do their homework when writing Garoppolo’s contract. However, there isn’t a strong option on the depth chart behind Garoppolo. Currently, veteran journeyman Brian Hoyer is QB2 for the Raiders.
Behind Hoyer, the Raiders have Aidan O’Connell and Chase Garbers on their roster. O’Connell is a 24-year-old rookie, while Garbers went undrafted last year.
The Raiders’ legal team did a fine job writing this contract, but should the Raiders have been interested in Garoppolo to begin with? It wouldn’t be the first time someone gambled in Las Vegas.
Brady Floated As Likely Replacement For Garoppolo
Brady and Garoppolo were teammates from 2014 to 2016 with the New England Patriots. There was some tension in the organization after the Patriots let go of Garoppolo. Reportedly, Bill Belichick wanted to retain Garoppolo, while owner Bob Kraft was loyal to Brady.
Since that point, it felt like Brady and Belichick were going in opposite directions. Now, Brady could be the guy to fill in for Garoppolo in Las Vegas. As far as oddsmakers are concerned, this scenario isn’t as far-fetched as you may believe.
Currently, Brady is favored to be the Raiders’ Week 1 starter if Garoppolo isn’t playing. Brady has +175 odds at BetUS. This puts Brady ahead of Hoyer, who would be No. 1 on the depth chart for now, if it is confirmed that Garoppolo can’t suit up.
Hoyer, who backed up Brady from 2009 to 2011 and from 2017 to 2019 in New England, is not who Raiders fans want to see taking snaps from under center in Week 1. If not Hoyer or Brady, Matt Ryan at +300 odds might be the most logical choice.
Brady announced that he was returning from football for the second time in his career this past year. At 45 years of age, Brady still had a productive season. In 2022, he passed for 4,694 yards, 25 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
This was only after two years of leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their second Super Bowl. Prior to the 2022 season, Brady announced his retirement from the NFL on February 1, 2022. Not long after, 41 days to be exact, he returned from retirement and signed a one-year deal to play another season for the Buccaneers.
Brady On A Spending Spree
In March, Brady purchased a minority stake in the Las Vegas Aces. The seven-time Super Bowl champ noted that he hopes to grow women’s sports and empower future generations.
As a minority owner of the Aces, Brady has a piece of the defending WNBA champions and one of the best teams in the league. Brady made the following comments:
“I have always been a huge fan of women’s sports, and I admire the work that the Aces’ players, staff, and the WNBA continue to do to grow the sport and empower future generations of athletes. To be able to contribute in any way to that mission as a member of the Aces is an incredible honor.”
Brady did not stop there. The successful entrepreneur purchased another minority stake in a Las Vegas franchise. On May 22, it was reported that Brady had bought ownership in the Las Vegas Raiders.
𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Legendry QB Tom Brady has officially agreed to buy a minority share of the Raiders.
His agreement has been submitted to the league and will now need to be approved by the NFL.
(via @AlbertBreer) pic.twitter.com/m9GQ6YUjfd
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 22, 2023
For it to be official, the NFL has to approve the transaction. Brady flirted with the idea of buying a stake in the Miami Dolphins after retiring for the first time. Once that deal fell through, he re-signed with the Buccaneers.
It is unlikely that the NFL will reject Brady’s bid to become a part-time owner. With NFL ownership right around the corner, what would happen if Brady wants to play?
There are no rules against owners playing for their own team. However, Brady would be required to clear a big step.
NFL Owners’ Approval Required To Play
If Brady’s ownership is approved by the NFL, then the door isn’t completely shut on him returning. That being said, Brady would need approval from the owners of all 32 NFL teams to suit up as a player.
Brady is good for business, but getting 32 owners on board with a part-time owner on a roster would be tough. This step likely throws a pretty big wrench into playing for the Raiders. It is Brady, though, so who knows what will happen.
In addition to buying a minority stake in the Aces and Raiders, Brady has a television gig to fall back on. Last year, the 45-year-old signed a record-breaking 10-year, $375 million contract to announce games for FOX Sports. The Raiders ownership is not expected to put his broadcasting contract into jeopardy.
He is expected to start working as an announcer for FOX at the beginning of the 2024 season. So, while oddsmakers are giving Brady a decent chance of returning as a player, there are plenty of other things to keep him preoccupied.
