LAME-DUCK NATION
The Raiders are trading the Black Hole for blackjack tables, which sounds like a lot of fun, but creates all kinds of logistical concerns and anxiety for their coaches and players until the new $1.7 billion stadium not far from the Las Vegas strip is ready.
Just to recap: NFL owners voted 31-1 last week in Phoenix to allow Mark Davis to become the latest to run out on his loyal fans because the politicians that run the city refused to give them free money for a new stadium. What makes this move unprecedented is there is no interim venue for the Raiders to play in Las Vegas before their stadium is ready for 2020 season.
The Raiders have lease options to remain in the Oakland Coliseum for the 2017 and 2018 seasons and Davis stated his desire to remain in Oakland for 2019 as well, which was not greeted warmly. It’s like a husband or wife filing for divorce because they found a new love, but deciding to remain living in the same house for another three years. That’s chutzpah. Davis learned well from his late father Al.
The Raiders will be lame ducks in Oakland for two years and then, if Oakland kicks them out, have to find a place to play in 2019. UNLV’s stadium is not adequate. There’s a chance they can play for one year in San Antonio, which previously had courted the Raiders. The best option, if available, would be sharing the 49ers stadium in Santa Clara, which should have been the permanent solution. Santa Clara is about the same distance from Oakland as it is from San Francisco.
In the past, when franchises announced they would be on the move, they finished out the season and ran out of town to an existing stadium in their new city until their new stadium — the reason they were moving — was built. For example, the Ravens temporarily played in old Memorial Stadium, the Cardinals played in Sun Devil Stadium and now the Rams are playing in the Los Angeles Coliseum for three years until their new $2.6 billion palace is built.
The Raiders’ situation creates two big problems:
l It’s a distraction for the coaches, players and their families knowing the team will be on the move by 2020 at the latest. Coach Jack Del Rio already has planned his speech when the players get together for the offseason program on April 17.
“The first thing I want them all to know is to remember the 30% rule,” Del Rio said.
Each year, rosters turn over about 30%. So, by the time the Raiders leave Oakland, probably half the players won’t be on the team anymore. That message is not so comforting, but it runs deeper.
“Don’t be worried about what we’re going to be doing two or three years from now. Be worried about taking care of your job so you can be a part of that in two or three years,” Del Rio said. “It’s about the here and now for the actual coach, for the actual players, for the actual product we are putting out there this year. But you can’t be blind to the fact that there are families involved. There are families involved and they need some information. There are wives at home right now asking their husbands and the husbands don’t have those answers.”
Del Rio knows “there is no handbook out there,” to use as reference material to guide him through the transition. Even though he did a great job last year leading the Raiders to the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and would have been legitimate Super Bowl contenders if Derek Carr didn’t break his leg in the 15th game, there is no guarantee he will be coaching the team when it makes it to Las Vegas. Del Rio, Carr and Khalil Mack give the Raiders strong leadership and that will be needed to navigate the next three years.
“There is time. Now is not the time,” Del Rio said. “Go back to the basic principle: It’s a year-toyear league. Heck, it’s a weekto-week league. Don’t get too far ahead of yourself.”
l What about the crazy Raiders fans? Will they remain loyal and support a young and talented team that should be playoff contenders for the foreseeable future? It got ugly in Cleveland in 1995 when the Browns announced they were moving to Baltimore but word didn’t get out they were moving until halfway through the season.
The dilapidated Oakland Coliseum is already a scary place, especially in the Black Hole. The parking lot looks like a Hells Angels convention. No team likes to play there except the Raiders. But what happens if their fans turn on them or just don’t show up? I asked Del Rio if the Raiders are concerned about losing their home field advantage. “I can’t answer that definitively,” he said. “I would say I doubt it because the first thing we have to do is play well and earn it. That’s where it starts. I’m banking on us, betting on us, doing well. We do well and enough people will be excited to watch it. There will be a certain number of people that are disappointed to the point where they can’t come and support anymore. That’s understandable.”
When the Raiders do make it to Vegas, coaches are going to have to come up with strict rules to keep the players out of the casinos the night before the game. Curfew is usually 11 p.m. Maybe it should be moved up to 7 p.m. “I’m more worried about my coaches,” one head coach said.
PATRIOT GAMES
Bill Belichick skipped the Tuesday AFC media breakfast at the league meetings last week. He cut out early to be at Florida’s pro day. Just as well. Belichick’s annual routine is to show up 25 minutes late for the breakfast and then spend the remaining 35 minutes being grouchy, rude and condescending as he mumbles his way to saying nothing. But he is a pretty good coach . ... Tom Brady’s unique training and diet regimen could be breakthrough stuff not only from the standpoint of staying healthy, but creating career longevity. He will be 40 in August but came out of games last year in better shape than 15 years ago. Brady has indicated a willingness to share his approach with other players — Aaron Rodgers says the way Brady takes care of his body is a model for all QBs — but Roger Goodell and his Deflategate investigators likely destroyed any chance of Brady working with the NFL itself on some of the innovations, which is much more involved than eating avocado ice cream. Brady told Robert Kraft last week he feels he can play six or seven more years at a high level and only a fool would doubt him . ... You have to give Goodell credit for saying he plans to attend the Patriots season opener on Sept. 7. He has skipped Foxborough the last two years and although it would look bad, I wouldn’t blame him for never going to Foxborough again. Patriots fans will never forgive him for what he did to Brady. Goodell will be subjecting himself to incredible hostility.
NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN
Ben McAdoo’s “never say never,” response is his way of brushing off a question. It usually means never. He used that answer last week when asked if Giants could sign Adrian Peterson. ... Never is about the same chance Geno Smith has of replacing Eli Manning when he retires, despite McAdoo talking him up last week . ... Imagine how Woody Johnson is going to feel if Darrelle Revis signs with the Patriots for $1 million, leaving the Jets on the hook for the remaining $5 million of his guaranteed money and then Revis has a bounceback season and helps New England win the Super Bowl. It will be enough to make Johnson throw up his fish and chips in London.
BOWLING IN VEGAS
At some point, I would anticipate Las Vegas bidding for a Super Bowl. Now that will be quite a week . ... It’s just amazing, isn’t it, how $750 million in free money from Vegas and suddenly NFL owners were not so concerned about the sports books and influence of gamblers. About 10 years ago, the NFL rejected a plan by a former NFL Network executive to have the network headquarters in Las Vegas. ... Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers, who played at Paramus Catholic, might be the best athlete in the draft. The problem: Where do you play him? Jim Harbaugh played him at linebacker last year. But at 6-1, 214, he’s not big enough to be an every down linebacker in the NFL. He played some corner at Michigan, but that’s not his best position. He will probably have to learn to play safety, but he’s also an explosive weapon as a punt returner and running back. One head coach asked me, “Okay, last play of the Super Bowl, where do you play him?” My answer: I’m not sure, but I want him on the field.