In the days leading up to the Raiders decision to fire Antonio Pierce, there was a growing narrative around the NFL that his job was probably safe.
”I know a lot of folks think it’s a foregone conclusion that [the Raiders] are going to make a coaching change, but those folks are on the outside,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported two days before Pierce was fired.
”On the inside of the building it’s sounds like there’s a lot of optimism that Antonio Pierce will continue as the head coach of the Raiders,” Garafolo continued. “Davis has been pleased with the last couple of weeks, understands there’s not a lot of talent, and there is a lot of youth on the roster.”
On Wednesday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport talked about the final days of Pierce’s tenure in Las Vegas and he said he was leaning toward believing Pierce’s job was safe, as well.
But according to Rapoport, the influence of Tom Brady is what sealed Pierce’s fate.
“I probably thought with about a week to go in the season… that Antonio Pierce was probably staying. I thought Tom Telesco was probably staying and then it really became clear how much influence Tom Brady had,” Rapoport said on Raider Nation Radio’s Unnecessary Roughness.
“I sort of thought it and I talked to Mark Davis about it at the owner’s meeting in Dallas, but I didn’t quite really realize what it was going to be like until the season ended. It’s a lot of influence, it’s a lot of say, and I think it’s led to some pretty dramatic changes. I don’t know what the team is going to be like,” Rapoport continued.
“It’s got a ways to go as far as talent. And I remember hearing when like Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels got there, that they weren’t like entirely pleased with the talent. They kind of thought it was further away than a lot of people thought. Not that anyone could have been convinced at the time. But it’s really true, this team needs more good players.”
As for the “good” players on McDaniels’ roster, it’s safe to say he had a little more talent to work with than what the team has now.
Davante Adams, Chandler Jones, Hunter Renfrow, Derek Carr, Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller were all on the team in McDaniels’ first season.
That’s a whole lot better than what’s going on with the Raiders’ roster right now.
x: @raidersbeat
It was common knowledge that racist Tom was going to fire him. Antonio kicked his *** in the SUPERBOWL 🥣
Why does everything gotta be racist when something doesn’t go a black person’s way? Black people always cry racism when they don’t get their way. Ish is getting old and anyone with eyes and has common sense can see that black people are really the racist ones because they use the race card everytime. What it is..is black people don’t actually want to be equal they want to be the ones in control of everything and will play the race card until they achieve it. Anyone in this country can achieve anything if they put in the work and time to achieve it. You can’t just holler racism if your black or any minority and expect to get what you want without having put in the work that that achievement requires.
Thank God, don’t know if I could withstand another season looking at AP looking around like a dear staring into the headlights again, maybe a good DB assistant, but NOT A HC
It wasn’t all Antonio’s fault as the team was dessicated with injuries all year. They were ready to compete for the playoffs in ’24 I believe but….. Tomorrow Brady made the right decision as not even a high school football team needs a coach so dumb on football strategy that they don’t know when to punt , go for it on 4th down or kick a field goal. I mean I had a total grasp of this concept as a grade school kid. Jeeeesh
Decimated *** Tom** Brady
Oh yes and I have a coliseum in Oakland I wish to sell you if you think this is an accurate narrative that matches the methods of operation of this small company. I am sure that Brady is happy to take the blame all he way to the bank, you would too if you were cash flowing the millions he is in exchange for nothing but his two cents. There is only one common denominator of all the failure to this ship wreck in the desert and that is Markey Davis. Markey is the Manager of the General Partner all right, that is to say he owns the majority controlling interest so the buck stops with him. This is nothing more than failed leadership because he does not know what it is or even looks like. Markey does not get involved when he should because he is too weak and checked out. Then he does get involved when he should not, when it comes to firing people. Everything is done for him it and it always has been that way. So, all he has to do is give the Roman Coliseum thumbs down and there goes another Head Coaches head and carreer along with a bus load of assistants to the EDD. (Has Markey ever had a job, did he ever go to college? ) Brady a racist? Please, LOL, calling someone a racist off topic or with no evidence is nothing more than a hypocritical racial slur, code speak and a projection of one’s own prejudice, bigotry and racism. Talk that B.S. to Brady and you will find out why this is one of the few players no one ever talked $h*t to. These writers, appologists and shills can not spin or deflect the obvious. The Raiders are irrelevant because of Mark Davis’ failed leadership and incompetance. (Mark Davis needs a succession plan to sell his stake that his father stole from Wayne Valley, allegedley.) Yes, it would be in very good hands if Tom Brady owns it all. Tom Brady is the single most successful football person who has ever lived.
Mark Davis has undoubtedly been the problem and has used very poor judgement for the most part i think but Mark is not a football guy. He has very limited knowledge of football before Al passed away and still doesn’t. This was a big concern from what I used to read before Als death. So if Tom Brady is doing the decision making then thank heaven.
No, I don’t think Brady is racist, that would have come out a long time ago. I think it’s clear that he doesn’t resent an opponent for besting him on the playing field. Any good football mind knew this team needed a reset. Pierce got his year, it wasn’t fair with all the injuries, Adams stabbed him in the back, but it there were a lot of game day decisions that didn’t look good. Was it his call on the OC ? I guess so, or did someone higher up put the check book away on the Kingsbury deal. Chip Kelly wanted in last year. Who picked Getsy? A onetime failed coordinator, just because he beat the Raiders with a backup QB in 2023? What happened? Maybe it will all come out some day. They are sure flowing with cash now.
The end of “The Mr. Davis” reign was ugly, mostly because I think he knew his days were numbered and was trying desperate moves to win one more time. This Mr. Davis, was never involved with the daily operations, at best he was hanging out with some of the talent. Al should have had a succession plan, it’s been a mess. Mark readily admits he is not a football mind, (what was he doing before this gig?) and he just needs to settle back and let someone run the machine. Reggie McKenzie, Jon Gruden, both had the rug pulled out from under them for various reasons, the Patriot way experiment, everyone knew that was doomed. Brady can’t be fired, I guess, he bought in. Let’s Go.
Pierce gets a year but a part time owner in Brady gets forever right? All Brady did was hire his buddy & go back to his glory days.
We finally get a GM that can draft but Brady wants “my guy”’ in there. Brady just showed he got played by the Johnson camp…and BTW Reggie got more than enough time to show incompetent he was
Wayne Valley was a drunk POS. Brady is a moron, just like Mark, of course this report confirms how vindictive Brady is. People act like we hired Bill Polian, Al Davis, Jerry West in their prime
Just the media “insiders?” saving face for incorrectly reporting that AP was going to be retained. They were guessing all along, as usual.🤣
I think this article is ridiculous. The Raiders current roster is better, at worst equal to that of McDaniels first season. This team has much better team defense than McDaniels 1st season. The offensive line was probably a little better and QB Carr was better but no way was receiving group (tight ends inc.) better than this roster.
I wish you people reviewed articles better before publishing them.
It’s been over 20 yrs. since I’ve looked forward to a Raiders season with excitement. Good job Brady keep up the great job of bringing back the 3 word ” Just Win Baby ” Love it. We’re Back. RAIDERS!!!