'I need that card': Tom Brady drops a 'life-altering' fortune on an extremely rare rookie card

Brady is more than a fan. He’s also Mendoza’s boss these days, as part owner of the Raiders, who signed the rookie in the first pick of this year’s NFL draft.

“Tom basically raised his hand and was like, ‘I want that card. I need that card,’” said his business partner Chris Costa. “It’s a life-altering amount of money for most people, if not all people.”

Tough negotiations

You might think a card collector who was contacted by the player many consider the greatest of all time might get a little starstruck and be easier to sway when asked to sell their collection’s crown jewel. Nuh-uh.

First, Brady had to find the owner, which he admits wasn’t easy. Then, he went back and forth with that collector for the better part of a month before capitulating to the owner’s demands — a big pile of cash as well as an autographed jersey. The two are also set to meet in person down the road.

“I figured you’ve got to invest in it and it’s going to hopefully bring some good luck to Las Vegas,” Brady said when showing off the card at Fanatics Fest last month.

The Mendoza mystery

While Brady is obviously bullish on Mendoza, he won’t be the Raiders’ starting quarterback when the season begins on September 13.

Kirk Cousins was signed as a free agent in April and promptly named the team’s starter.

Mendoza, though, has had a strong preseason, which has led to some calls to reconsider that decision. Officially, the Raiders have not made any statements about when Mendoza is expected to play.

“It’s baptism by fire every day at all positions — especially rookie quarterbacks,” said head coach Klint Kubiak during training camp. “I see an improving player that we’ve just got to keep being hard on to get better.”