The Las Vegas Raiders are in the midst of a complete rebuild. After attempting to shortcut and compete with Pete Carroll and Geno Smith for the 2025 NFL season, which ended in disaster, now it’s time for the Silver and Black to build a solid foundation for seasons to come.
Moreover, the Raiders have the opportunity to select Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza. Nonetheless, amid the issues that have plagued the Raiders for the past two decades, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith believes that the team’s majority owner, Mark Davis, should give minority owner Tom Brady full autonomy over the team’s decision under center.
“When it comes to the quarterback, I don’t give a damn who it is, shut the hell up and let Tom Brady make the call,” Smith said on the Jan. 21 edition of “First Take.“ “He’s a seven-time champion, a former sixth-round pick in the National Football League by the New England Patriots.
“This man, and what he has done with his career, is nothing short of phenomenal. This man is qualified. He is a minority owner [of] the franchise. Mark Davis moved the hell aside. We’re tired of looking at you…
“There is one man that has to make that decision, and that has to be Tom Brady. If Tom Brady isn’t the one that’s making this decision, and there’s some majority or some consensus or whatever. What the hell is he there for? He doesn’t need to be there. This is his call. He has to make this decision. I’m rooting for him. I root for him all day, every day.”
Fernando Mendoza Gets Tom Brady Message
While Brady was in Miami scouting Mendoza during the national title game against the Miami Hurricanes, ESPN college football analyst Jordan Rodgers said the Indiana star is the right guy for the Raiders to select. Moreover, he believes that Mendoza reminded Brady of himself during that game against Miami.
“I think Tom Brady looks at Fernando Mendoza and sees a lot of himself, somebody that excels at being accurate and decision-making,“ Rodgers said on the Jan. 20 edition of “Get Up.“ “… Throwing accurate footballs only [gets] harder [in the NFL]. They’re only better at the next level in making faster decisions. It’s harder at the next level. You don’t suddenly become a better decision-maker. That’s why Mendoza has such a high floor.”
Fernando Mendoza Can Turn the Raiders Around
Moreover, former NFL player Emmanuel Acho didn’t hold back on his hopes that Mendoza can turn the Silver and Black around.
“If anybody can do [turn the Raiders around], Mendoza can do it, “ Acho said on the Jan. 19 edition of “Speakeasy.“ “And here’s why. It’s not because he has some unfathomable skill set. It’s that he’s a very unflappable quarterback. He’s going to go in there like a veteran. Mendoza is not going to be the guy that you got to worry about as a quarterback off the field. You can check the box of, it’s not going to be any off-the-field thing that distracts Mendoza from being great.
“Then, you think about what did he do at Indiana? He’s already had one of the most historic turnarounds we’ve ever seen at the collegiate level, which is the feeder system into the pros. If Mendoza can have a historic turnaround at the collegiate level, he has the DNA to do it at the NFL level. Turning Indiana around is a greater feat than turning the Raiders around. Turning the Raiders around is a gigantic feat.”
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