Dana White: Jon Gruden Killed Deal For Tom Brady And Gronk To Play For Las Vegas
August 20th, 2022
“Hey Glazers, this is how you treat me after I’ve given you more gifts than you could imagine, and you were dying to hire me in 2018? You ungrateful %$#@#$%#^&*^@.
UPDATED 11:16 p.m.: Before Jon Gruden was canceled by Team Glazer and the NFL for offensive old emails, he was enshrined into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor in 2018.
After tonight’s news, Chucky should be reinstated immediately.
Speaking on an Ultimate Fighting Championship broadcast tonight, UFC President Dana White, a business partner with Tom Brady, said he had brokered a deal for Brady and Rob Gronkowski to join the Las Vegas Raiders instead of the Bucs.
And guess who killed it …
“I worked to put that deal together for Brady and Gronk to come to the Raiders and it was almost a done deal. And at the last minute, Gruden blew the deal up and said that he didn’t want him,” White said. “All hell broke loose, man. It was crazy. And Brady was already was looking at houses, and it wasn’t being said yet that Gronk was coming.”
Let that sink in.
Joe has no reason to believe White is lying — and Gronk confirms the story in the video below — so that should mean the Raiders were guilty of tampering with Brady in 2020 before his Patriots contract was up and he signed with Tampa Bay.
Back in February of this year, White told TMZ he pushed Brady to force a trade to Las Vegas after the Bucs’ January playoff loss to the Rams. Now that chatter makes a lot more sense.
Brady sure lives a complicated life for a guy who allegedly just wants family balance and to make movies and commercials, sell supplements and underwear, and to play football with his beloved Bucs teammates.
Gronk, who is in the same video, said “That’s exactly what happened,” after White finished his story. Gronk also said, “I’m glad it did not go through. It all worked out for the best. I am glad we went to Tampa — I love that place.”
Thanks for the second Super Bowl, Chucky!
See and hear White via the Twitter video below. And yes, that’s Gronk seated and listening on the left side of the video screen, and confirming the story. The UFC event was, in part, honoring Gronk and his family.
Dana White says Brady and Gronk ➡️ Raiders "was almost a done deal." 😳 #UFC278 pic.twitter.com/buWEXxi5Ho
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 21, 2022
August 20th, 2022 at 10:28 pm
I believe it, Jon Gruden is one of the worst GM’s in the history of the league, just look at what he did to the Bucs once he went to the Glazers and whined in order to get John McKay fired. The next year he controls the team and cuts John Lynch and lets Warren Sapp walk so he can give big money to Charlie Garner, sign Tim Brown, and every other injured washed up 35+ year old offense tackle available. The guy is a moron, was always a moron, and won the SB with Dungy’s team.
This is 100% a Gruden level move, and I 100% believe it.
August 20th, 2022 at 10:33 pm
Wow! There’s 0retty much nothing I won’t believe Brady will try now.
I wonder if this was the twam he was referring to on The Shop when he made that quote about staying with some other qb? Ir was it Fitzmagic in Miami?
And Gruden has ALWAYS been a fan if the elite qb’s. Can’t hardly believe he preferred Carr over Brady.
August 20th, 2022 at 10:38 pm
Lol. White isn’t an executive with the Raiders. He can’t broker anything. The guy was hammered and bloviating.
August 20th, 2022 at 10:39 pm
How is that tempering with brady he was free agent in 2020 gronk wasnt….
August 20th, 2022 at 10:40 pm
VATom – this is clearly talking about Brady when he left the Pats, not last year, as Brady wasn’t a FA and couldn’t go anywhere.
As for Gruden, you’re wrong, Gruden is all about Gruden, and Brady would completely outshine him, and if you know Gruden, you know Gruden can’t stand to not have the spotlight on him. It’s why Keyshawn had to go, why Sapp had to go, why Lynch had to go. Ronde and Brooks were allowed to stay because they were quiet guys who didn’t take the spotlight off of Gruden.
August 20th, 2022 at 10:45 pm
And people actually think Brady is coming back to the Bucs this season…
August 20th, 2022 at 10:46 pm
Are people really this stupid? Gruden isn’t the coach of the Raiders, he got fired, remember – they’re clearly talking about 2020 you dopes.
Wow.
August 20th, 2022 at 10:48 pm
Dana White sure has a big mouth….If I were Brady, I’d tell him to keep it shut!!!
August 20th, 2022 at 10:49 pm
I call bullspit
August 20th, 2022 at 10:53 pm
I remember the raiders were players at the time. But they stuck with Carr despite all the years-long rumors that Gruden hated his quarterback. Then after Gruden’s cancelling, Carr says he still talks to Gruden everyday. I don’t know what to make of all of all this.
Assuming it’s true, I only feel further vindicated in my opinion at the time that we should not have fired Koetter to hire Gruden. People were caught up in the nostalgia of Chucky, despite his many failures in over management and failure to figure out the QB position (although imagine if he landed Favre.)
I only wonder if there is overlap between people who pushed for Gruden to be a coach and those who wanted him pushed out of the Ring of Honor.
August 20th, 2022 at 10:54 pm
@Rod Munch. Some people are so slow. It’s obvious this was in 2020 when Brady was a FA. This is a non story to me. Anything involving Brady is such great content generator. I fully expect plenty of click bait and screaming talking heads to run with this story. Dana White isn’t a legitimate source in my opinion. No credible reporter had this story.
August 20th, 2022 at 11:00 pm
Bucsfan13 – I wouldn’t say it’s a nonstory, it’s an interesting story, and shows what an idiot Gruden is. Also I trust the word of White over 99% of the ‘reporters’ out there.
But yeah, I’m amazed that there’s people that read that and think they’re talking about this year.
August 20th, 2022 at 11:04 pm
Raiders…no comment.
August 20th, 2022 at 11:10 pm
Brady has a squirrelly streak despite his blah .. blah… blah
August 20th, 2022 at 11:13 pm
I’m not sure I believe it got as far as White claims.
They could not have forced a trade last year anyway…Licht would not have done it. Rams did not have a high enough pick.
August 20th, 2022 at 11:14 pm
Sorry, Raiders didn’t.
August 20th, 2022 at 11:15 pm
Gruden was fired in October 21….pretty hard for him to have any influence this year……
August 20th, 2022 at 11:25 pm
Chucky’s ego bit him in the butt again. This time he had the chance to land the GOAT for 2020 and he simply did not want TB12 putting his $0.02 as Chuckie listens to no one but Chuckie. Heck all Buc fans knew that after he ran McKay out of Tampa and promptly the wheels fell off the organization and set up the Buccs to be anchored in the basement throughout that forgotten decade aka as the 2010s. As a Buc fan, I feel we owe Chuckie a very big thank you for screwing the pooch yet again!
August 20th, 2022 at 11:27 pm
Thanks, Chuckles
August 20th, 2022 at 11:31 pm
Lots of people told Tom “no” before he settled on Tampa. And then 1.5 years later he tried to make a squeeze play to force a trade. Then he unretired when that plan blew up. Now he went MIA during camp.
I’m sure the franchise and fan base will always be thankful for the Lombardi. But he has caused a lot of unnecessary drama for someone that claims to be fully dialed in on winning another Super Bowl.
August 20th, 2022 at 11:36 pm
I still do and always liked Gruden as an X’s and O’s guy but what in the hell were the Raiders thinking letting him have full control.
It would not take much homework to see how Jon took a legit contender here in Tampa and turned it into a meddling franchise that best case scenerio was a one and done wildcard.
August 20th, 2022 at 11:53 pm
This is a fabrication
Hilarious though
August 20th, 2022 at 11:55 pm
@Jerry. Tom’s been in the league 22 years. He knows how to block out noise. He’s won SBs and MVPs after so-called drama in the off-season. He’s not as mentally weak as some fans and bloggers. Grow up
August 21st, 2022 at 12:04 am
You idiot gronkowski sitting on the panel if this was a lie then gronk would’ve disputed it. Gronk was the one who brought the subject up. People make comments all the time without any knowledge half of you guys never even watched the show. This is the stupidity of social media
August 21st, 2022 at 12:22 am
It’s a non story to me because this was in 2020 minutes when Brady was a FA. He obviously didn’t sign with the Raiders. And Gronk likes to talk out of his butt. Remember the whole firestorm he caused when he went on the Manningcast and proudly proclaimed he didn’t want watch any film and he walked it back.
Folks, use your common sense. Brady employs Don Yee as his agent. Drew Rosenhaus is Gronk’s agent. Both are powerhouse agents. Why would they have Dana White broker this so called deal. White wanted Brady in Vegas, but that doesn’t mean Brady wanted Vegas. Brady said when he wrote out of list of things that were important to him when he was looking at potential teams in FA. Being close to his older son was on the list. His son lives in NYC. You do the math.
August 21st, 2022 at 12:39 am
Brady and White are business partners. White is a big-time mover and shaker in Vegas (specifically with MGM Resorts which owns half that town) who has many, many contacts, specifically in Vegas and Los Angeles. White is also very tight with Mark Davis. Brady comes to Vegas and White, as a go-between, hooks up Brady (and possibly Davis too) with all sorts of big shots.
It’s not that difficult to do the math here.
August 21st, 2022 at 12:55 am
A Huge thanks to the Chuckster. He delivered not one but 2 bowls for us!!
August 21st, 2022 at 12:56 am
I agree with Jerry.
Thanks for the Lombardi Brady – but something just isn’t sitting right anymore. Good luck.
August 21st, 2022 at 1:02 am
I’m ready to damn the torpedoes and roll with Trask. Brady is a hired gun. He accomplished what he came here for. Time to move on from all this drama garbage.
August 21st, 2022 at 1:26 am
I do remember hearing that Carr was “that fugging guy” Brady was referring to, but then had heard Jimmy-G, Tua, & others, since!!!! So, who knows… But, I don’t doubt this story whatsoever, at all. And, I remember Vegas as being a Real STRONG landing spot for Gronk, as well!!!!
August 21st, 2022 at 1:37 am
Anyone can say anything. I’m the King of France and I have 7 wives. See. That was easy.
August 21st, 2022 at 2:06 am
At the end of the day, do you really give a flying F why a beautiful woman falls in love with you? Hell no, you give her all that you’re worth and enjoy everything that she has to give. Brady will be back.
Thank you Gruden for helping us win our first superbowl and indirectly helping us win our second.
August 21st, 2022 at 2:11 am
@Joe. Thank you for explaining to me exactly what would’ve happened. You’ve always been a plugged in behind the scenes guy around the Raiders. I think with some it’s all confirmation bias involving these Brady stories. Anything negative about Brady people who don’t like Brady will latch onto it and run with it.
August 21st, 2022 at 2:21 am
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t care what would’ve happened 3 years ago. Some of you people willing to dump Brady because maybe we weren’t his first choice? We weren’t the first choice for many for the last decade. Brady singed a two year deal, and then extended his deal for one year after we won a SB to help out with the cap. He didn’t have to do that. He fulfilled his promise of a SB and accomplished it. He could’ve easily waved goodbye At this point, I bet Brady wished he played out his two year deal and left. Yes, there’s some drama, but that comes with having such a high profile guy like Brady around the team. He’s a content goldmine for people. You think he wants all these so-called distractions around?No, he doesn’t. But he can’t help what is said and written about him.
August 21st, 2022 at 2:45 am
After watching the clip, literally loling at the guy surprised that Gronk is glad the deal didn’t go through. Obviously not a football fan.
August 21st, 2022 at 3:35 am
@Buczilla. Well said. Do you think we would’ve been Julio’s first choice if Brady wasn’t the QB? Julio would’ve chosen to play for Indy or GB. Brady made it possible for this team to attract high profile players in the first place. I do feel bad for the Dolphins and Raiders who now have to deal with this mess. No one wants an even hint of distraction. Tua handled it perfectly. This is kinda of an old story for the Raiders. Carr fielded questions about this rumor last year. Either way, I’m so sick of the sports pages becoming the gossip column. I suggest people watch the entire conversation for clear context, but that’s not how in works in today’s world. Dana White didn’t even bring it up, Gronk did. I gotta imagine Gronk will receive a nasty phone call from Brady. It’s like when Gronk ran his mouth saying he doesn’t watch film because Tom watches so much.
August 21st, 2022 at 3:46 am
Joe,
You seem to have let your research guard down.
In 2020, when Brady was a free agent, it was no secret that more teams than the Bucs were interested in the aging quarterback, including the Raiders.
How does this come off as tampering?
After the 2022 playoff loss to the Rams, you also say Brady was attempting (for the second time) to become a Raider.
How is that possible?
Gruden was already fired and, just as with the Dolphins, if the Bucs owned his rights he wasn’t going anywhere.
You’ve made this story far more complicated than it needs to be.
Brady has already said there was a 2020 team interested in him other than the Bucs. Now we know it was the Raiders, and now we know Carr was the guy Brady couldn’t believe they would want over him. And now, once again, we have learned Gruden was/is an idiot.
I also agree that fame is finally grabbing hold of Tom Brady. He’s become a tabloid darling, selling this, acting in that and appears to be everywhere at once, with the exception of training camp.
He wouldn’t be the first to go through a midlife crises. But hey, he’s in midlife.
August 21st, 2022 at 3:49 am
Brady’s going to Brady.
Fill in the blanks from there.
Why? Because he can.
But, he’s always made the best of his “current” operating reality and I presume he’ll do the same after his elbow rehab.
August 21st, 2022 at 3:54 am
Gruden was completely overrated as a coach. His SB win for the Bucs was so damned easy. The Raiders under Callahan was his team, unchanged and dumber, still using his playbook. Chucky completely failed in all of his coaching gigs after that one season. He was even worse as an exec, and this story just proves it.
Gruden and the Raiders preferred Carr. 49ers and Shanahan preferred Jimmy G.
Both situations infuriated Brady, who couldn’t believe either one. Thank you, Gru. Thank you, Shanahan.
Now as for this season….we have a new problem….
August 21st, 2022 at 6:30 am
This also cements Gronk as my favorite free agent aquisition of all time. The dude is classy. He always has a good word for Tampa and the team. Solid guy.
August 21st, 2022 at 6:42 am
Maybe the Raiders’ ownership leaked the Gruden emails…
Hainsey and Goedeke are the starters now- just clean up the penalties and get ready for the big stage.
The D looked pretty good- some decent depth at LB and DLine.
August 21st, 2022 at 6:43 am
“Firsttimeposter”
No its not your first time posting here. Is that you “trask to the future” or “bucboy”. Or could just be a troll.
Yah screw brady and lets roll with trask. 0-16 would be a fun season for yAh. 😂 we need a dumb as fook emoji. Maybe crossed eye face with crap for brains coming out.
If story even true. I mean gronk with family trying to sell name and be relevant outside of football? And honestly who cares if we were first choice or not. I mean who really cares. We were the losing(est) franchise in all 4 major sports . The best player could have sole doubts. Other options? Like jordan going to the wizards who were in same boat at time …but jordan didnt win it all like brady and most people thought both were washed up. Even bellichick did
August 21st, 2022 at 6:56 am
I know one of those Joes wrote about the incompetence of Keith Armstrong. We need another! Bowles needs to answer for why this guy is still employed. He’s skated from criticism since he’s got here. Our ST has finished in the bottom since he’s got here. He also sucked in Atlanta. You have to wonder why they keep him on. I won’t go there, but..,
August 21st, 2022 at 6:58 am
Sure ma glad we didn’t rehire Chucky and watch him pass on Brady and a super bowl. Go Bucs!
August 21st, 2022 at 7:38 am
gruden won with a defense he didn’t build, and transformed the roster into the beginning of the lost decade. of course he couldn’t see beyond his ego to what brady brought to a team- his qb assessments were are and will be garbage. well maybe not will-be since he is d.o.n.e. hahaha. plus…..dude is a total jackarse. k as in karma.
August 21st, 2022 at 7:40 am
This is crazy, and I agree with Joe- we should immediate reinstate Chucky to the ROH for securing our 2nd SB.
August 21st, 2022 at 7:40 am
So if I have the time line right Brady was listening to offers from Miami while working a deal to go to Las Vegas through Dana White. The Vegas deal gets killed by Gruden, and Miami couldn’t close, so Brady comes to Tampa. After losing to the Rams White tells Brady to force a trade to Vegas again probably selling Tom on the fact he has inside info McDanials will be his new coach. Tom would come in knowing the offense already, makes sense. At the time Licht comes out, and strongly says we have Tom’s rights, and we ain’t trading him. Tom retires, than comes back. We keep saying Brady will be in Miami next year, but Vegas would be the better bet. If Carr has a bad year?
August 21st, 2022 at 7:42 am
Even the sun shines on a dogs ass.
Kudos to Arians/Licht/Glazers for being humble enough to go after Brady and to
mention it publicly.
The real “deflategate” is on the other teams for not having the cojones to chase down the goat. They should all be reminded of that again in 2022 when we win the super bowl.
August 21st, 2022 at 7:53 am
This is finally the one that makes sense.
All the other people saying that it was San Francisco or Miami were always wrong.
How many articles on this site said it was San Fran. Go back to the archives.
August 21st, 2022 at 8:09 am
As to Dana White being a business partner with Tom Brady, I am not sure he fits in the top 20 of Tom Brady’s business partners.
7 business partners who have way more business connections than Dana White are:
Alex Guerrero — cofounder in the health and wellness business TB12.
WME’s Jason Hodes– agent for all things non-football, including endorsements and business deals for Brady’s various entertainment vehicles.
Stephanie Jones — the president of Jonesworks involved in and promotes his various business endeavors, as well as his personal brand.
Peter Mattoon — an investment manager works with Brady on his business ventures, including TB12, Autograph, Brady Brand, and Religion of Sports.
Ben Rawitz — Partner over 15 years. Serves as a producer and partner at Shadow Lion, Brady’s creative studio.
Jonathan West — partner at Latham & Watkins, Leads the legal team helping Brady build his business empire, including managing his trademark strategy.
Don Yee — his sports agent at Yee & Dubin
August 21st, 2022 at 8:12 am
Now we also know what QB Brady’s was talking about when he said You’re sticking with that MFer? Everyone assumed it was Jimmy G., but it was D.Carr.
August 21st, 2022 at 8:29 am
Dang. This one piece of info puts the entire picture into perspective.
August 21st, 2022 at 8:30 am
Who gives a fu$$!! We have way bigger problems right now. Dana White can go suck an egg!
August 21st, 2022 at 8:43 am
OMG the comments…..this was 2020 before the Bucs signed Brady and before they won the Super Bowl.
August 21st, 2022 at 9:19 am
thanks for 2 lombardis coach
August 21st, 2022 at 9:25 am
^^
August 21st, 2022 at 9:57 am
Geno – good points on your earlier post about other business partners. But like FL, NV also has no state income tax. Basically 7% pay raise for half the games. So the stock of the NV business partner is worth at least that much more.
August 21st, 2022 at 10:08 am
@Joe, I fully am in agreement with reinstating Gruden into the Ring of Honor given his actions to help Brady and Gronk come to Tampa and play an instrumental role in winning a Lombardi Trophy.
I was pretty unhappy with Gruden for what he did to the Bucs in the years after they won the Super Bowl but the actions he took more recently go a long way in making up all the damage!
OK, I was being a bit sarcastic. And while I am not much of a fan of Gruden as a Head Coach/GM I feel he got royally screwed when the Raider’s owner conspired with the NFL to get him off the team and I hope he crushes them in the ongoing litigation. I thought the Raider’s owner & GM were stupid for giving Gruden that 10-year contract but they did give it to him and the actions they took to get out of it are wrong.
August 21st, 2022 at 10:42 am
Sometimes I think people forgot how to read? And by the way it was Rich McKay.
August 21st, 2022 at 10:53 am
This happened when Brady was a FA, and Gronks rights were still owned by the Patriots. Gronk said white was exactly right. What exactly is up for debate here? Would Bill have traded Gronk in conference? Probably, but the price would’ve been higher than what the bucs paid. At least now we know the QB and coach Brady disparaged. You’re going with that bleeping guy? (Carr)
This seals the deal for me, as far as Gruden is concerned. What a complete and total fool. You had a chance to get the best QB, and TE in league history, you nixed it? Gruden should never have left the booth. He could’ve listened to the sound of his own voice in perpetuity. He’s always been a terrible talent evaluator, and self important blowhard. The lone Superbowl he won had more to do with knowing the other teams playbook than anything. That and a dominant defense, that he had little to do with.
August 21st, 2022 at 11:07 am
To be fair…at the time, very few were sure Brady had any gas left in the tank. Looking back now, it’s pretty obvious…but it was viewed as a gamble back then.
August 21st, 2022 at 11:36 am
So the M*****r f*****r Tom Brady called out was Derek Carr
August 21st, 2022 at 11:47 am
@Buccaneer Bonzai, it’s true that many questioned how much gas was left in the tank for TB12 at that time, but of all people, Gruden should have been able to watch him practice for 20 minutes and realize the tank was still well over three-quarters full. And if there really was a deal on the table to bring him over to the Raiders then he would have had that opportunity.
August 21st, 2022 at 11:51 am
@GOB “This seals the deal for me, as far as Gruden is concerned. What a complete and total fool. You had a chance to get the best QB, and TE in league history, you nixed it? Gruden should never have left the booth.”
^^^^^^^^THIS!
There are probably many Raider fans who would agree with you today.
August 21st, 2022 at 12:32 pm
i dont get the fuss. carr was in the middle of a $140 contract and was attending pro bowls. Probably couldnt get a trade partner.
who knew how long you would get brady for.
i love brady, but the raiders are set at qb. im not sure we are, or how long brady stays.
August 21st, 2022 at 12:35 pm
Now we know who “that m’fr” is…
August 21st, 2022 at 3:18 pm
I wish there was an easier way to find past posts, because I remember in 2020, saying probably the best landing spot for Brady is Vegas, it’s a new market, Derek Carr stinks and Gruden hates him anyways — everything makes sense, except for the fact that the Raiders would then be all about Brady and Gruden wouldn’t have the spotlight on himself, so it won’t happen.
To be fair to myself, I didn’t think Brady would ever consider coming to the Bucs, just because I’m a life-long Bucs fan and as such, I’m always used to having the rug pulled out from under us.
But this is such a Gruden move. Just like how he’d blame the GM for not taking Aaron Rodgers – and instead taking Cadillac Williams when the Bucs desperately needed a QB. Gruden WAS the GM. Bruce Allen was his hand picked stooge who did what Gruden told him to do, that’s the only reason he had the job after Gruden got Rich McKay fired for refusing to sign Andre Rison to a deal when the guy couldn’t break a 5.0 40.
August 21st, 2022 at 3:25 pm
Comes with the territory of super star status. Everyone wants a piece of success. IDGAF who he talked to and how many different teams. Guy won a Super Bowl his first. Almost took us to the big dance last year, and will probably be in that game this. Who cares about all this stuff. Bucs fans acting like an insecure chick who just got dumped.
The ONLY thing that should matter to anyone at this point in preseason is the O Line
August 21st, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Cool, thanks Gruden. Yet another horrific personnel decision on his part. I really liked him when he was here and so glad they got a Super Bowl with him but as time has gone on, it has become glaringly obvious how supremely overrated he is at absolutely everything.
As for Brady, Who cares? The guy was leaving New England and weighing his options. We heard he was tied to Miami, New Orleans, Tampa, and now Raiders and I’m sure there were several other teams. The Buccaneers weren’t the only ones.
August 21st, 2022 at 5:19 pm
David. Those teams didn’t want him we were his last and only choice bro . He came to a team and fan base that have no pride in their team that’s why he just up and left because he knew the fan base and franchise has made him bigger than the team.
August 21st, 2022 at 6:51 pm
The mystery is solved, Brady said “You’re sticking with the Mf-er? He was talking about Carr. This also explains AB telling Gruden to piss off, he thought Brady was coming to town. No one said Tampa was his first choice. Gruden is a moron, Davis probably tipped the league office about the emails to cancel Grudens contract.