Shortly earlier than it was realized on Thursday that the Las Vegas Raiders had fired normal supervisor Tom Telesco, a report emerged claiming that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was “intrigued by” probably changing into the subsequent head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Nonetheless, Johnson “would possibly need his personal normal supervisor in place” as an alternative of present Jaguars GM Trent Baalke.
In Friday’s version of The Athletic’s “Scoop Metropolis” e-newsletter, NFL insider Dianna Russini shared how Raiders minority proprietor Tom Brady’s involvement in Las Vegas’ seek for a brand new head coach might lead to Johnson rejecting golf equipment such because the Jaguars and Chicago Bears to affix the Raiders.
“This had nothing to do with Telesco as a GM,” Russini mentioned in regards to the Raiders’ newest offseason transfer. “This has the whole lot to do with what Brady needs to convey to Las Vegas. From what I collect, he actually needs a head coach and a GM in tandem who know one another and communicate the identical language.
“Any individual who we all know needs to have plenty of energy within the decision-making course of: Johnson, who has agreed to interview with the Raiders — one thing I can inform you was not going to occur if Brady had not been concerned with this group.”
No matter whether or not or not Brady is actually “operating” the Raiders as was alleged earlier within the week, it is now clear he’s, on the very least, an lively a part of the franchise’s newest reset. Some are satisfied Brady needs to lure former New England Patriots head coach Invoice Belichick away from the North Carolina Tar Heels, however North Carolina normal supervisor Mike Lombardi insisted on Thursday that latest chats between the 2 legends had been largely about Brady “listening for recommendation.” On Friday, Russini echoed Lombardi’s replace and mentioned the dialog “was not about Belichick leaving the College of North Carolina to teach the Raiders.”
Many assumed way back to this previous fall that Brady would wish to rent former teammate and one-time Related Press Coach of the 12 months Award winner Mike Vrabel, however New England reportedly is “the heavy favourite” to win Vrabel’s providers. The Raiders do not but have a promising younger quarterback on the roster, as do golf equipment such because the Patriots, Jaguars, and Bears, but it surely appears the considered working below Brady may very well be sufficient to trigger Johnson to reexamine the place he could wish to land, assuming he decides to go away Detroit this winter.
