Former head coach Josh McDaniels was recently spotted in a very familiar venue as the Las Vegas Raiders are set to finish their regular season. Color us shocked.
It’s a strange matter when you think about it. Many Raiders fans never believed McDaniels was the right choice for the Silver and Black. His New England Patriots roots aside, the debacle in Denver, and the way he screwed over the Indianapolis Colts—none of this inspired anything. From the outset, it was clear that both he and general manager Dave Ziegler were looking to outfit players that “fit their mold,” a mold that again was “Patriot-heavy.” Alas, it didn’t work.
Nonetheless, when we consider what interim coach Antonio Pierce has managed to do during his run, there’s a plausible “what-if.” Imagine if Pierce had inherited the job from the get-go this season. Would the Raiders be in playoff contention or better? It’s a legitimate question. As for McDaniels, it wasn’t hard to see that the Raiders were heading for a double-digit losing campaign. After being jettisoned from Sin City, it’s not surprising that he has returned to Daddy, right?
Josh McDaniels spotted in New England, good riddance?
According to Associated Press writer Kyle Hightower, McDaniels was spotted attending the Patriots game, entering the VIP gate at Gillette Stadium.
Say what you will about Josh McDaniels’ run with the Raiders; his resume as an offensive coordinator is impressive. It’s hard not to agree with that. The drop-off for Bill Belichick’s Patriots when McDaniels isn’t running the offense is quite noticeable. In fact, their offense has been an eyesore these last two years. Therefore, it is logical to consider McDaniels as the person who can revitalize the offense in New England.
What’s interesting is the fact that Belichick’s future is in doubt. However, McDaniels running the offense in New England once again would likely translate to instant success. As for the Raiders, despite playing more inspired after McDaniels’ exit, their offense is still looking for an identity—perhaps we’ll get a clearer picture real soon.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
