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New York – Mark Davis has a beef with Kirk Cousins. And a fashion grievance with Tom Brady.
Neither requires a meeting with the coaching staff. Although the Raiders owner might appreciate someone explaining how he became a supporting actor in his own burger joint and wardrobe.
Davis, during an exclusive interview with The Post at the NFL owners meetings Tuesday, said he is “pissed off.”
Apparently, owning the team only gets you so far.
First, Cousins moved to Las Vegas and discovered In-N-Out, the iconic West Coast burger chain Davis has been faithfully supporting for years. The Raiders quarterback recently went viral by revealing his go-to order and has apparently become friendly enough with the staff to get something beyond the standard menu treatment.
It’s a great story about a newcomer embracing his surroundings.
Unless you’re the guy who was eating there long before the quarterback arrived.
“I go to In-N-Out every day,” Davis said, tongue firmly in cheek. “And all of a sudden Kirk goes once, and all of a sudden that’s his place. Me? I have to wait in line. No respect for the owner.”
You can understand his frustration. Davis has put in the work. The visits. The orders. The unwavering commitment to a burger-based routine.
Cousins shows up, makes a few friends, and suddenly he’s the unofficial ambassador.
There ought to be a loyalty program for this sort of thing. At minimum, Davis deserves credit for establishing the run to the drive-through.
Then there’s Brady, who is a minority owner of the Raiders and the de facto leader of football operations.
Last year, Brady showed up to a game wearing a sharp white satin Raiders jacket. Social media noticed. People loved it.
Davis had one small objection: He had been wearing that look for two decades in honor of his late father, Al Davis.
Twenty years of fashion leadership, erased by one Brady entrance.
“I’ve got this white jacket that I’ve been wearing for 20 years,” Davis said. “It’s my jacket.”
Then Brady wears it once, and suddenly the longtime Davis staple becomes associated with the quarterback.
“What the hell?” Davis joked.
It’s a tough business, ownership. You help preserve the franchise’s traditions, keep the local burger economy humming and maintain a signature look for 20 years.
Then two quarterbacks come along and claim the cultural real estate.
Somewhere, there should be a rule against this. Perhaps something the owners can address at their next meeting, immediately after the football business.
Burger seniority. Jacket attribution. Basic respect.
Until then, Davis will presumably keep wearing his jacket.
And waiting in line for his burger.