Jimmy Garoppolo may never play a down for the Las Vegas Raiders

Little did everyone know while Jimmy Garoppolo was rocking a custom all-black suit at his Las Vegas Raiders introductory press conference that there would be a chance he might never play a down for the team. Garoppolo signed a three-year, $72.75 million deal with the Raiders this offseason which initially included a signing bonus of over $11 million. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, they have obtained the Jimmy Garoppolo/Raiders contract and that signing bonus was moved into Garoppolo’s 2023 base salary, which he will have to pass a physical before receiving any money at all.

This whole situation has become bizarre and certainly lends credence to the idea that Tom Brady, who is becoming part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason, might eventually just strap on the shoulder pads and helmet and go play quarterback for them as well.

Jimmy Garoppolo contract details with Las Vegas Raiders paving way for Tom Brady?

Here is what Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wrote on the Jimmy Garoppolo contract situation:

"As originally negotiated, Garoppolo had an $11.25 million signing bonus and a base salary of $11.25 million for 2023. The foot injury resulted in the Raiders removing the signing bonus, with the full $22.5 million becoming base salary in 2023.He won’t get any of it until he passes a physical. In the interim, the Raiders can cut him “for any reason related” to Addendum G.The elimination of the signing bonus and the presence of Addendum G explains the delay in getting the deal done. And it underscores the possibility that Garoppolo might never play for the Raiders — and he might never get paid a penny by them.Mike Florio"

And so, speculation will now run rampant about whether or not Jimmy Garoppolo will actually be able to ever suit up for the Raiders. Keep in mind, there was a school of thought that Garoppolo could potentially have returned for the 49ers in the Super Bowl if they would have made it past the Philadelphia Eagles, but that of course didn’t happen.

Now, here near the end of May, we’re hearing reports of Garoppolo having foot surgery in March, and the timetable for his return is a major question mark. This is a much bigger story than anyone seems to be letting on, but other major NFL reporters are focusing more on the foot surgery in March than they are on the very intriguing addendums made to Garoppolo’s contract.

Although some people might call it a “tinfoil hat” type of theory or “conspiracy theory”, the timing of the reports on both Garoppolo’s foot surgery and his contract situation mixed with Tom Brady trying to finalize becoming part owner of the Raiders? Well, there can’t be a coincidence there.

The Raiders don’t have a viable backup option to Garoppolo if he is set to miss really any extended time, not on the roster anyway. Are they going to trot out Brian Hoyer as this year’s starter? Rookie Aidan O’Connell?

Isn’t it interesting to anyone that you haven’t heard much at all about Tom Brady entering into his 10-year, $375 million TV deal with FOX? That deal was set to go into motion as soon as Brady was officially done playing. Things regarding that situation have been rather quiet, haven’t they?

Because of how well Tom Brady was playing last year, because of how strong the rumors of him going to Las Vegas were initially, and now that we can add Jimmy Garoppolo’s health and contract as major unknown factors into the mix, I’m more inclined to believe that Tom Brady will be playing — for the Raiders — in 2023 until the season starts and he’s officially working for FOX.