The Las Vegas Raiders have parted ways with Kenyan Drake today. The team signed Drake last season to a lucrative contract, but after failing to live up to expectations, the Raiders have moved on. However, it should be noted that not all of it falls on Drake’s shoulders. New head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler filled the running back stable with new names. Regrettably, the writing appeared to be on the wall for Drake after an unimpressive preseason. Be that as it may, Drake made his feelings known. He has expressed what can only be described as disappointment towards the organization.
What did Kenyan Drake have to say about his release from the Raiders?
Josina Anderson, of CBS Sports, shared via her Twitter account a conversation she had with Drake shortly after his release.
“I’m just vibing at the crib right now. I’m just waiting on the next 24 hours. I don’t think anyone would trade for me just because of the contract situation, either way, the Raiders have to pay me. Honestly, I feel like the writing has been on the wall recently–like within the last two to three weeks. I never felt like I had a fair shot to really compete for the job coming off the injury.”
There’s an argument to be made about whether the Raiders ever intended on keeping Drake once he returned. Obviously, the organization loaded up on the position via the NFL draft and free agency. However, the NFL is a business and Drake knows this as well.
“At the end of the day, that’s business. I feel like as time progressed through camp, there really wasn’t a role for me to have anymore because they had guys that they brought in, they traded for & I was kind of the odd man out, especially coming off my injury. Other than that, I’m at peace with it because I know my capabilities as a player, and I know people are going to use me.”
Is Drake still a playmaker?
The fact is, Drake just didn’t seem to fit with what McDaniels was doing. The Raiders are likely to go with Josh Jacobs, Zamir White, Ameer Abdullah, and Brandon Bolden. You hate to see players lose their jobs over injuries, but that’s far too commonplace in the NFL. Whether it was a lack of motivation or perhaps a feeling of being slighted, Drake was out. He’s still talented and can be used as a dual-threat option in the right offense. At some point, he’ll likely get a call.
[pickup_prop id=”21987″]
*Top Photo: Sporting News
