The Las Vegas Raiders still have not hired a new head coach. Why that is the case remains to be seen.
Some believe it's because the Raiders are simply waiting on a coach who is still in the playoffs, like Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, for example.
Others believe it might have something to do with concerns about the franchise as a whole, which is logical to believe because of the instability Las Vegas has had over the years, especially at head coach.
But NFL Network's Tom Pelissero has presented another possible issue for the Raiders' head coach search.
He reports that candidates have been emerging from interviews confused about the Raiders' situation inside the actual building, especially as it pertains to minority owner Tom Brady.
“Las Vegas… you’ve got Tom Brady ostensibly running the football operation along with John Spytek. That’s directly a quote from owner Mark Davis. And yet, people come out of those interviews just going, ‘Who exactly is running the building?’” Pelissero said on the Rich Eisen Show.
“What exactly… what am I looking at here? Tom lives in Miami," Pelissero added. "How is he co-running the football operations from 2000 miles away? Again, and in a really tough division where you’re going up against Sean Payton, and Andy Reid and Jim Harbaugh.”
I mean, he does have a cell phone...
In all seriousness, it's fair to wonder about the operation in Las Vegas and Brady's presence with the team.
According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Brady wasn't in the building "more than a handful of times this season," as Brady spent most of his time at home in Florida and fulfilling his FOX broadcasting duties.
In his absence, Russini noted that Brady's longtime trainer, business partner and Raiders wellness coordinator, Alex Guerrero, has been Brady's "eyes and ears."
Russini did add, however, that Brady "is involved every day, communicating with Guerrero, owner Mark Davis and GM John Spytek, coaches and players."
Even still, it's clear Brady's lack of a physical presence on a daily basis is important to candidates and it could end up thwarting the Raiders' ability to get the head coach they truly want.
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