Tom Brady, now minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, got his quarterbacks extra fired up before the preseason finale at the Dallas Cowboys. It didn’t help, though – because another player really blossomed shortly before his release.

As an NFL player, Tom Brady was not only in demand in the passing game, but also as a team leader and motivator of his colleagues. The 46-year-old has retained the latter even after his retirement.

The seven-time Super Bowl winner took over a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders a few months ago – a role he takes seriously. Before the Raiders’ last preseason game at the Dallas Cowboys, this was particularly evident.

So Brady gave the quarterbacks a clear message before they took the field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. “Go out there and ruin their night,” he said in the direction of the playmakers led by Jimmy Garoppolo.

His long-time colleague at the New England Patriots then did not come into play, and his words did not have the hoped-for effect otherwise either. The Raiders lost clearly with 16:31.

The outstanding player for the Cowboys was, of all people, quarterback Will Grier, for whom this will probably be his last appearance for the Texans, at least for the foreseeable future. After the trade for Trey Lance, Grier will fall victim to the Cowboys’ roster cut.

Grier bowed out with 29/35 passing for 305 yards, two passing touchdowns and to top it off, two rushing touchdowns. “I told him to go out there and bust his butt. It was a great opportunity and the team rallied around him. I’m so proud of him,” Head Coach Mike McCarthy said of Grier.

Raiders minority owner @TomBrady to Jimmy Garoppolo, Aidan O’Connell.

“Go ruin (the Cowboys) night.” pic.twitter.com/2U1QrTZl9d

– Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 26, 2023