UFC’s White: I almost brought Brady to Vegas
UFC president Dana White said Saturday he helped broker a deal for quarterback Tom Brady to play for the Raiders when Brady was a free agent in 2020, but then-Raiders coach Jon Gruden nullified it at the last minute.
White was persuaded to tell the story by former Patriots and Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski during the ‘‘UFC with the Gronks’’ broadcast on ESPN for UFC 278.
‘‘I worked to put that deal together for Brady and Gronk to come to the Raiders,’’ White said. ‘‘It was almost a done deal. And at the last minute, Gruden blew the deal up and said that he didn’t want him, and all hell broke loose, man. It was crazy.
‘‘And Brady was already looking at houses. It wasn’t said yet that Gronk was going to be coming. So Las Vegas would have had Brady and Gronk the year that the Bucs won the Super Bowl, except Gruden blew the deal up.’’
Vikings lose to 49ers
Nate Sudfeld led a 14-play, 79-yard drive capped by a go-ahead touchdown pass to JaMychal Hasty early in the fourth quarter, and the visiting 49ers went on to beat the Vikings 17-7 in preseason play.
Sudfeld started and went 13-for-17 for 102 yards in the competition with rookie Brock Purdy to back up starter Trey Lance, who didn’t play. Purdy finished 14-for-23 for 128 yards, but he dropped an exchange with running back Tyrion Davis-Price with the 49ers at the goal line.
Kellen Mond was 10-for-20 for 82 yards with two interceptions and Sean Mannion 10-for-15 for 65 yards as the two battle for the Vikings’ backup job behind Kirk Cousins.
Lions’ defense delivers late
Godwin Igwebuike scored on a two-yard run with 4:03 left to give the Lions the lead, and their defense stopped a two-point conversion attempt in the final minute to enable them to hold on for a 27-26 victory against the host Colts in preseason action.
Most of the Lions’ attention, however, was focused on quarterbacks David Blough and Tim Boyle, who are battling for the backup job behind starter Jared Goff, who didn’t play. Blough was 16-for-22 for 76 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and Boyle was 12-for-15 for 99 yards with a touchdown.
Lions coach Dan Campbell and Colts coach Frank Reich didn’t play most of their starters after two joint practices between the teams during the week.
Injury report
Panthers rookie quarterback Matt Corral, who is playing behind Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, suffered a torn Lisfranc ligament in his left foot during a preseason game Friday against the Patriots, and coach Matt Rhule said he is expected to need surgery.
◆ Rams coach Sean McVay said rookie offensive lineman Logan Bruss will miss the season with torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee suffered in a preseason game Friday against the Texans.