The Las Vegas Raiders don’t often see too much in the way of good news lately. However, head coach Antonio Pierce could be getting one of his weapons on offense back real soon. Additionally, an old friend may return to the league.
When the season got started, Raider Nation was sold on the notion that a two-tight end offense would take off. Unfortunately, Michael Mayer’s personal reasons and Luke Getsy’s incompetence prevented this from happening. Thankfully, Mayer appears to be in a better headspace as he returned to practice this week. We don’t know how quickly Scott and Norv Turner will reintegrate him into the offense, but it’s a positive development regardless.
While Mayer expressed gratitude to the Raiders coaching staff, he also went on to give a little bit of insight into what happened.
“The No. 1 important rule is that football’s not bigger than life. It isn’t, and it never has been. I just needed to figure some things out. That’s what I did, and I’m on my feet again. I feel great. I’m sleeping well. I’m doing all the things that I need to be doing to set myself up for success and help the team. Whatever they ask me to do … I’ma do it for ’em.”
In an intriguing twist, Mayer might not be the only Raider coming back (though not necessarily with the Raiders).
Former Raiders HC Jon Gruden could be back in the league…
In a move that very few probably saw coming, Gruden will be joining the ranks of Barstool Sports. Regardless of how you feel about Barstool as a company or its content, Gruden will certainly reach a large, global audience. The intriguing thing that surfaced regarding Gruden this week was hearing his name on the New York airwaves.
Boomer Esiason, a former NFL quarterback and WFAN radio host, revealed with surprising candor that, based on his conversations with a few individuals, Gruden is indeed interested in returning. Whether it’ll be with the Raiders is an entirely different conversation and one we won’t be having, especially with Pierce still fully entrenched as head coach.
“I’m telling you right now, (I made a) couple calls last night… I can confirm that he definitely wants to get back in. One hundred percent. I can also confirm, and I believe this to be true… this is, again, my opinion after speaking to at least two different people that are involved in coaching searches and things of that nature, that there are teams that are interested in him. If it’s not this year, it’s definitely next year. But he’s coming back. He’s definitely coming back.”
Gruden as a topic of conversation remains a divisive one among Raider Nation. Some still believe him to be a savior of sorts, while others point to his failures in his second stint, particularly his terrible drafting, as reason for caution. For the time being, it’ll be a situation worth keeping an eye on as we progress toward the end of season and into the offseason, where we will learn of Pierce’s future.
*Top Photo: Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal
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