No one forgets the Las Vegas Raiders drama. They’ve been the NFL’s mavericks for years, built on hard work, moxie, and silver-and-black identity. Al Davis’ fabled “Just Win, Baby” anthem launched a franchise that was all about control and flash. But the Raiders’ past few seasons have been more about glimpses of something than anything. Vegas was no lone rock from a firing door of head coaches to on-court issues.

The club became famous last year for celebrating a regular-season win with cigars. It’s Vegas, of course, and glitz is queen, but celebrating middle-class? No one liked it—and no one didn’t. The vibe was…off-brand for a team that used to be a Super Bowl machine. And with Tom Brady, who epitomizes the culture of the championship as a minority owner, you’d think some moderation would be in order.

UNC’s take on Tom Brady’s ensemble

On the other side of college football, the University of North Carolina is making its name. Led by GM Michael Lombardi (who is the Patriots’ “no-nonsense” guy) the offense isn’t targeting flashy wins, just long-term dominance. Lombardi, the former right-hand man to Bill Belichick, has given UNC the “Patriot Way” of discipline and strategy.

UNC is not on the national radar of the SEC giants, but Lombardi’s dream is simple: create a beast program piece by piece. The Tar Heels play for the long haul, not the short—unlike the Raiders’ recent cigar-pepping bing.

When he appeared on The Jim Rome Show, Lombardi didn’t shy away from the Raiders’ cigar moment. “[The Raiders] smoked cigars last year after they won a regular season game. Is that really The Patriot Way? I don’t think so,” he said, sending NFL fandom berserk. And for Lombardi, a man who has spent his life at the center of championship cultures, the bonfire was not only premature—it was downright shameful.

Further piling on the fire was a rumor that Raiders’ owner (and Brady’s friend) Mark Davis was interested in Bill Belichick to put a stop to things. Lombardi squashed those rumors like a man of few words. “We’re here at UNC to do a job, and we’re going to finish it,” he said. Translation? No Belichick in Vegas.

The Belichick controversy: Raiders’ pipe dream?

When the NFL saw the thought of Belichick teamed up with Brady once again, NFL fans were salivating. But, you know, Belichick in Vegas is about as possible as him joining a TikTok dance crew. The immortal coach with his bulldog attitude and obsession with excellence wouldn’t be one to adopt a team in search of its soul.

Still, the rumors were loud. There were rumors that Brady himself had called Belichick, and the two of them would recreate New England magic at Sin City. But Lombardi’s words weren’t murky: Belichick is staying put at UNC, continuing his college mission. The closest Belichick will come to Vegas for now is a highlight show in his sweatshirt.

But the Raiders are on the verge. Now that Tom Brady is a minority owner, hopefully, things are shifting for the better, but obviously it won’t happen overnight. Lombardi’s critique outlines the disconnect between Vegas’ circus and the spartan, winning-centric culture Brady and Belichick once fostered in New England.

And Belichick, well, he’ll be the coach we keep hearing about — that’s the nature of the beast. But if Lombardi’s words have made any sense, one thing is clear: the Raiders should define success differently than they do cigars — or championship-level coaches.

Sin City might be lights and big partying, but the Raiders have earned the smoke.