Tom Brady will have to admit to ‘tuck rule’ play being a fumble, jokes Raiders coach Josh McDaniels
Tom Brady will have to admit the tuck rule game is a fumble for his purchase of a minority stake in the team, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels jokes
Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels has insisted that Tom Brady will have to admit beyond a shadow of a doubt that his “tuck rule” game is a fumble ahead of the Raiders’ seven-way minority stake purchase in the Super Bowl.
When asked by reporters if Brady should clarify his stance on the infamous 2001 postseason play, McDaniels joked, “One hundred percent. No question.’
The play took place during Brady’s sophomore season with the New England Patriots on January 19, 2002. With the Patriots down 13–10 in the final moments of the game, Brady was fired by his former Michigan teammate, Raiders defenseman Charles Woodson.
The ball was lost and Oakland recovered, seemingly ending the Patriots’ chances of winning. However, much to the dismay of Raiders fans, the fumble was overturned on repeat due to the tuck rule. Referee Walt Coleman ruled that Brady’s arm moved forward as the ball was lost, turning a fumble and costly turnover into an incomplete pass.
With a new lease of life, Brady led the Patriots offense deeper into Raiders territory, where Adam Vinatieri kicked the tying field goal. The Patriots would win in overtime to capture their first of six Lombardi trophies with Brady at center.
Raiders coach Josh McDaniels joked that Tom Brady will have to admit his ‘fold rule’ was a fumble
Brady has entered into an agreement to buy a minority stake in the Raiders (seen with Mark Davis)
Brady would go on to make six appearances against the Raiders in the regular season, posting a 5-1 record against the Oakland-Las Vegas franchise.
After the tuck rule game, the Raiders would go into decline, not winning a playoff game since reaching the Super Bowl near the end of the 2003 season.
McDaniels also offered his own thoughts on Brady, whom he knows well from his time as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach with the Patriots, and the retired three-time MVP’s agreement to become a minority owner of the Raiders.
“I think everyone knows how I feel about Tom,” the incoming second-year Raiders coach said.
McDaniels knows Brady well from his time as offensive coordinator and QB coach with the Patriots
“So, of course, if that works out, I’m going to be incredibly excited about the fact that he’s someone who’s in Raider Nation and has a vested interest in us doing the best we can to try and bring a championship football team here to Vegas. .’
So I don’t know exactly where all that is. I think that’s a question well above my pay grade in terms of that sort of thing.
“But of course I had a great history with the player and an even better one with the person. So obviously it will be a huge honor to work with him again.
The size and cost of Brady’s interest have not been disclosed. Spokespersons for the team did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for confirmation.
The sale has been agreed and submitted to the NFL for approval, which could take some time. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports that there are no plans to tackle sales at the upcoming spring meeting.