This wouldn’t occur to Kellen Moore, Ben Johnson or Mike McDonald. However for “some unusual reason why,” Antonio Pierce has to handle it.
When the Las Vegas Raiders went into Arrowhead Stadium on Monday and disillusioned Kansas Town, 20-14, it wasn’t simply extra evidence that the absences of Eric Bieniemy and Tyreek Hill have modified the best way we have a look at the Chiefs, it additionally served as the newest instance of why the intervening time tag shouldn’t be connected to Pierce’s identify.
“Hell of a task via the ones guys, our personnel, [defensive coordinator] Patrick Graham … it’s difficult,” Pierce stated as he were given emotional after the sport.
“That is what we would have liked. We stated sufficient is sufficient. It used to be going to take all 60 mins and it did. Hell of a task via our offense to complete it.”
On an afternoon by which the NFL proved that it might take hold of Christmas clear of the NBA, Baltimore’s 33-19 street victory over San Francisco is also what many are specializing in, as Lamar Jackson used the postgame press convention to name out the “disrespect” he and his workforce handled earlier than the sport. Then again, the true disrespect of the previous few weeks has come from Raiders proprietor Mark Davis as he’s but to announce Pierce as Las Vegas’ everlasting head trainer.
Ever Since Pierce took over when Josh McDaniels used to be fired, the Raiders have long gone 4-3, beat the Chargers and Chiefs, and at 7-8, aren’t totally out of the playoff image. Monday’s win used to be additionally the Raiders first over Kansas Town since 2020, and best their 2d time beating Patrick Mahomes.
Then again, the true reason why Davis’ state of being inactive is so disrespectful to Pierce is as it’s a ways too frequently every other instance of ways racism works within the NFL, particularly in the case of Black coaches.
Historical past — and homeowners — haven’t been type to Black males who put on the intervening time tag. Between 2010 and closing fall, there have been 14 occasions when a white trainer served below the intervening time tag. In that very same time period, there used to be by no means a time by which a Black intervening time trainer used to be changed via every other Black trainer. Leslie Frazier (2010) and Romeo Crennel (2011) are one of the few exceptions in league historical past by which a Black intervening time trainer has been promoted.
It’s as though Mark Davis doesn’t need to be informed from Dave Tepper’s mistake.
“I had a chat with Steve (Wilks), no guarantees have been made, but when he does a fantastic activity, he must be in attention,” Panthers proprietor Dave Tepper stated closing October when Wilks used to be introduced as Carolina’s intervening time trainer. Tepper selected Frank Reich over protecting Wilks — a call that went towards what the avid gamers sought after. Tepper fired Reich (1-10) closing month, the Panthers are atrocious, and Wilks has been vindicated as he serves because the 49ers defensive coordinator.
In 2021, the NFL made adjustments to the Rooney Rule, making it in order that groups must interview no less than two exterior minority applicants for head training positions and no less than one exterior minority candidate for a coordinator activity. So whilst Davis can’t “technically” elevate the tag off Pierce, he nonetheless can. He’s confirmed that he does what he desires earlier than.
Take a look at this out from a 2018 document from ProFootballTalk:
“Raiders proprietor Mark Davis showed what has been extensively suspected: He were given Jon Gruden to conform to turn out to be the following head trainer of the Raiders first, then fired Jack Del Rio, then carried out the desired Rooney Rule interviews.
After his press convention the previous day, Davis spoke to a bunch of Oakland journalists and stated that he first felt like Gruden used to be fascinated with returning to the Raiders greater than two months in the past, once they met in Florida in overdue October or early November, in step with Tim Kawakami of The Athletic.”
With video games left towards the Colts and Broncos — two groups who’re additionally nonetheless combating to make the postseason — the Raiders may just make issues fascinating in the event that they win out. However although they don’t, Antonio Pierce has already proven why he must be the following full-time Black head trainer within the NFL, as we’ve been pressured to look at — once more — the hurdles that Black coaches must handle.
“I think just like the No. 1 factor I will be able to say about him is he’s simply direct,” Raiders big name defensive finish Maxx Crosby stated about Pierce closing month. “He’s blunt about the whole lot, he’s going to provide the reality. Infrequently you don’t need to pay attention it, however you’d fairly have that than someone sugarcoat sh*t. A man like AP, you’ve were given to recognize it, as a result of he’s been a participant, he’s been in our footwear, he’s been at the different facet — he’s been training — and he’s observed all of it. A man like that, that may step in entrance of the room and insist recognize, it makes everyone else be a bit extra dialed in, have a bit little bit of anxiety — like, I want to be on level, however on the similar time, you need to play for someone like that as a result of you already know he’s were given your again.”
