The decisions to fire head coach Antonio Pierce and GM Tom Telesco came as a surprise to many in the Raiders’ building, and according to at least one, the GM and head coach were having meetings about the future of the coaching staff and roster right up to the time they were fired.
For now, there’s a massive void on the football side of the organization and it remains to be seen where the team is going to go from here.
While interviews for the vacant GM and head coaching positions are taking place, it’s no secret that minority owner Tom Brady is expected to have a huge voice in the direction of the organization.
According to Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter, there are essentially three people calling the shots right now on the football side of operations in the Raiders’ building.
“I believe in the building; I don’t think anybody has a clue of what’s happening next,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. I think it’s a three-person brain trust. I think some of the other owners obviously have an opinion, but I think it’s [Mark] Davis and Brady and [Richard] Seymour, and that’s it. I think maybe some of the other owners, but that’s it.”
“I don’t think anybody else knows or has a clue,” Hondo continued. “And I think that they already had their eye on probably who they want as a general manager, but they’re going to go out, do a ton of interviews, A, because they have to, and B, because I think they want to talk to some of the best minds.”
Raider fans are familiar with Davis and Brady, but Seymore hasn’t spent nearly as much time in the spotlight since re-associating himself with the team.
Former Raiders team president Amy Trask talked about Seymore on the Maggie & Perloff show this week and she believes Seymour is a voice that Raider fans can feel good about having in the building since joining the team as a minority owner.
“There’s another name that we’re not hearing bandied about as we hear Tom [Brady’s] name bandied about, and that is Richard Seymour,” Trask said. “The reason I mentioned that is just as Tom [Brady] has purchased an equity interest in the team, so too has Richard. I had the tremendous pleasure of working with Richard when we were both with the organization at the same time and I know him to be wise, and intelligent and thoughtful. I use thoughtful in every sense of the word. I think they should take input from Richard…”
At some point, the Raiders will add a general manager to the mix, and flagship radio host JT the Brick said this week that a “big and bold” hire could be coming with the team’s next head coach.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter offered his opinion of the Raiders front office situation on Thursday, and he believes the team is gearing up to accommodate one or more of the top coaching candidates on their list.
”They did not feel that Tom Telesco would be somebody as appealing to some of the head coaching candidates that they are speaking with,” Schefter said. “They are speaking with Ben Johnson in the coming days here… and we’ll see what transpires.”
Johnson is considered a long shot to join the Raiders, largely because he might have better opportunities elsewhere. But with the addition of Brady, there’s a chance the Raiders might be able to attract one of the top candidates in this year’s hiring cycle.
A December report from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer suggested the Raiders might be able to offer Johnson everything he is looking for.
“He has two criteria for looking at opportunities. Number one, he’ll want a team that’ll create alignment between the head coach and general manager. Number two, he’ll want to work for an owner who is willing to honestly identify his/her team’s weaknesses and address them aggressively,” Breer reported last month.
“With that as the backdrop, as I hear it, Johnson will only interview this year for jobs he can really envision himself taking,” Breer continued. “He won’t interview just to interview. And in the interview, rather than trying to assess an organization’s situation, or win the job, he’ll be selling his vision of what he believes it’ll take to win—so if an owner hires him, it’ll happen with buy-in into how he plans to build his own program.”
Mike Vrabel will also factor into the mix for the Raiders, and it’s no secret that Vrabel has a very close relationship with Brady. Vrabel left his interview with the Patriots without agreeing to a deal, so it’s too early to close the door on any of this year’s “top” candidates.
One other name getting a lot of attention for the Raiders’ job is former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, and some believe Carroll will be the choice if the Raiders can’t get Vrabel or Johnson.
Carroll has a Super Bowl on his resume as well as three separate head coaching tenures in the NFL.
x: @raidersbeat
They Need More than That Triad… as Between the Three of them there is not enough Brain Matter to assemble even One Brain when it comes to Successful Operation of a Professional Football Franchise. Being a Famous Player does NOT give you the skills to operate a Football Organization. I hate watching this continuing Clown Act – but I don’t own the Team.
Ah, so a failson who’s biggest accomplishment was being born Al Davis’ son and two former players without any scouting, player personnel or executive experience.
Brilliant.
To me I think the team should be casting more of a wide net than what is being reported. I hope they have been watching the CFP and see some of the innovative young coaches that have appeared this far. They have some good coaches and players that are really turning heads. It’s my hope that they are not once again lulled by a big name coach or a players choice coach that do nothing to rebuild the culture and make players and other coaches accountable no matter who they are. I have been a coach of small time teams for a long time and one thing I have found out is that just because someone looks good on another team doesn’t mean that they will be a fit for your team. All you have to do is think about what I just said to understand what the teams problems have been. I hope they make a surprise hire that will blow everyone’s mind. And that my friends will turn out to be the correct hire. To me I will go with Young and Hungry equals Dangerous!!