How much more can Raiders fans take? Mark Davis has taken their beloved team from Oakland and secured a move to Las Vegas. He has given away one home game per year in recent years, and not just any game. Now first-year head coach Jon Gruden has gotten in on the act, and his latest
Jon Gruden soured on Khalil Mack early on
Mack felt disrespected by Gruden, wanted nothing to do with playing for him
So, animosity on both sides.
Loyalty means nothing now.
By player or organization, makes no difference.
Each is out to ensure a future.
And if that means breaking up the band, so be it.
This sould be considered Grudens second big whiff. Bryant and Mack will go down as failures in the G2 era. Each for their own reasons.
Winning SBs is what counts. If Gruden cant get that done, he will go down as another coaching failure. Who got paid really well.
Just for the sake of saying it again, why is Tom Flores not in the hall of fame having won two SBs as head coach? And why is there so little outrage about it.
*should be considered…….
Getting that contract done between Mack and the Bears took no time at all.
Maybe Gruden should have gotten together with Mack’s agent over coffee at 4am and just gotten the deal done?
On the other hand, maybe Mack should have showed up to meet the staff and had his agent get the deal done?
Here was my prediction, and what I would offered if the deal was in my hands. I posted this yesterday on this site. It’s almost identical to what Mack accepted from the Bears. I could have done this deal with Mack…oh well…
“My proposal: $140M over 6 years, $90M guaranteed, $50M signing bonus. I would place a significant portion, if it can be done, of the guaranteed funds into 2020, when the Raiders move and those funds get an automatic increase given no Nevada state income tax.”
The actual deal with Mack: $141M over 6 years. $90M guaranteed.
A lot of Raider fans would be happy to have you as GM signing Mack at the moment.
Don’t think this really had much to do with the money in the end – Mack didn’t fit with Gruden’s vision of team control and the Donald deal gave Mack a baseline and Gruden an excuse to make a (poor value) deal to free up some salary cap/cash for some lesser players.
Looking ahead, I can’t wait to see the team claiming Mack as another Raider in Canton when he gets there … very thought makes me want to puke today but it will happen as nobody seems to feel any shame about their actions or any obligation to tell the truth.
Wonder if Reggie has his bags packed yet or is thinking about retiring? His team chose not to keep the best pick he made – and likely ever will make…. taxi for McKenzie, please!
It can be done by placing money in escrow, and terms that can be defined in any way at the time of set up … not unless there is some arcane NFL reg we don’t know about. Using Denver as the example again, John Elway gave his team cap relief by moving much his guaranteed money to the back end of his contract. Elway counted against their cap for about 4-5 years after his retirement. The team had owed him around $70-75M over those years.
Any sources Steve? This so crazy. Future hof. Hope we turn the cap saved and picks into gold.
Of course. I don’t make stuff up. Hence, you never read here that Mack would be in uniform week 1 or wouldn’t be traded. As well-sourced as can be.
Cork,
Does this mean that Irvin becomes Batman now and Key hopefully takes over as Robin?
We’ll all have to hope so!!
Ego doesn’t win championships. Dominating defenses do and I’ll NEVER understand this trade. I know one thing, Jon Gruden better understand that you must have a dominating defense to go with that offense you envision. Derek Carr can break every passing record known to man over the next several years, what I want to see if if any of that yields a Lombardi trophy. Because as far as I’m concerned that is what the Raiders must do to make today’s events a distant memory.
I am so tired of being a disappointed Raiders fan, since 1974. Just had to put my 1 cent in. As a organizational coach, making a decision as such, is rediculous move. I am as a fan, just hoping that he(Gruden) has made combine team choice, not to sign Mack. Mack is not a player, that falls off the trees. In NFL, such great player is not easy to find. Mack was the best player on Raiders. So Gruden owes us Raiders fans, an explanation on, as a coach, how is he viewing the team and what is his future goals for the players. Very frustrating day to say the list.
Have a bad feeling that Chuckie II is going to turn out to be a complete disaster. Kind of like if you’ve ever tried to reheat a souffle. Just doesn’t really come out the same
Mack will not make the Bears a contender. Trubisky might … or not. Either way the presence or absence of Mack will not make the Bears a contender. The only thing Mack can do is help Trubisky out a bit. The price for that potential benefit was indefensible.
The Bears have crippled their roster building ability, and they will pay dearly when Trubisky’s rookie contract runs out, unless Trubisky fails and they have a better QB on a rookie contract. If they have to pay excellent, or even good, veteran QB money, they are screwed when that day comes. They can’t have Mack and a Super Bowl winning caliber QB on the same roster, unless that QB is on a rookie contract, or unless then rest of the roster is very mediocre, which means they won’t be much above a .500 team. They certainly couldn’t pay the Raider OL, AND Mack, AND a Super Bowl winning caliber veteran QB, ALL under one salary cap. That simply can’t be done.
If these current rookie contract guys all pan out, wait and see: the Raiders will be stuck wit the same gut wrenching situation when those rookie contracts have to be replaced with big paydays. The NFL changed the rules when it became unworkable to have wild bidding wars for just-drafted picks (like JaMarcus). They simply replaced the old salary system with another one with a more subtle team-busting salary rules. On the other hand, players make a lot of money now. Maybe they deserve it. But, don’t expect ANY GM to be able to hold together teams with multiple great rookies converting to veteran contracts.
Mack could have, and should have, been in the locker room … If not for Gruden, then for his brothers. Mack reneged on his contract. Gruden would never let his ego SOLELY decide whether to sign someone or not – otherwise, he would be stupid and will fail miserably (I guess that could be his future). He might have his own vision of what it takes to build a team, and that might clash with yours or mine, and that might clash with Corkran misplaced poisonous attitude about Raider decisions that had no logical alternatives. I doubt Gruden is nearly as hard nosed as the only other coach/GM who has been able to build a perennial winner (that ruthless guy in New England). End of discussion about Gruden hating Mack and Mack hating Gruden having a lot to do with the decision. Whether they hated each other or not, the deal could not have been made … sensibly … at Mack’s payday in Chicago.
The Raiders could not have offered market prices for Mack without seriously impairing the slow grind that it takes to turn a laughing stock team into a perennial contender. Market prices are not always sane prices. And, there can be another team with different circumstances that allow them to do things other teams can’t.
You can disagree with my opinions, but they really aren’t opinions. This Bears’ strategy never works. That is a historical fact, and the Bears are slow learners, apparently: There have been 9 players “bought” with 2 (and even 3) first round draft picks since 1986. Five of the 9 played in zero Pro Bowls after the trade. Three of them played in 1 each Pro Bowls after the trade. One of them, Eric Dickerson, played in 2 Pro Bowls (and a third after being traded again). History says it’s a fool’s game to pay huge for a savior player.
Jay Cutler, anyone? Ricky Williams maybe? Herschel Walker? Jeff George? Maybe the Bears bid for Mack will work out. But, history shows extremely clearly that every team who has traded two #1’s has been hammered … at least back to 1986. I can’t take credit for that research (nor blame if it’s inaccurate). I just copied it from a thoughtful and balanced article on ESPN.com.
I emphasize that, as a fan of Mack and the Raiders that it really, really hurts to see this happen. It was jaw dropping to watch Mack work. But, like moving the Raiders that Corkran keeps whining about: in the end, there were no sensible options.
The fact that Gruden has a pretty bad over all record as a coach, and worse as a GM … and Raiders everywhere are hoping that can be completely different this time around – is a separate issue.
Several people commenting on this blog more-or-less understood most of this issue this morning. I’m puzzled what changed their minds.
This is spot on, brother. Well-reasoned and thoughtful analysis–something lacking today in the midst of the Chicken Littles. You should be writing for the Snake Pit. Move over Bill and Steve!
Randy, very nice response.
I feel a bit duped, was hoping for articles that supported our team.
There’s been a cloud over our team since Al started to noticeably backslide as a GM. If there was ever an ego getting in the way of winning it was the old Al. The Raider msg boards showed a crack start taking place in the fan base.
I remember well, “Just win baby!” That was before the fracture. I have no understanding about fan whining when it comes to trying to win.
Things happen. What I loved about Mack besides his focus and effort, was his humbleness. I understand he was so, so good, that he’s lost some of that, not good for the team.
The HC’s main job is to make sure his team is ready to compete. The last thing he needs is a player, and the best player even more so, to challenge his preparations.
For all the shade written about Gruden II, it’s clear he hoped Mack would return to the fold, or the team would have been receiving offers for Mack before or during the draft, which in hindsight would have been best for the team.
As a Raider Fan, I say screw Mack and anyone else who craps on our team, writers and fans on the other side of the crack included. As a human, I wish Mack the best. When he was a Raider he was really something special, but one player, no matter how special, is not more important than the team.
I’m not big on negativity. I’m still fond of Jack Del Rio even though I believe Gruden is a big improvement.
If Gruden II doesn’t workout (but he probably will), and someone else replaces him, then I will quit supporting Gruden, and wouldn’t mind so much seeing articles, to a point, with negative comments written about a HC that got canned, but still wouldn’t enjoy the bashing gossip of he said she said.
Return to the fold? For less than he was worth. There was no contact since February, clearly they had no intention on extending Mack, people are always talking about hometown discounts. I’ve been a raider fan long enough to have seen Stabler go to Houston, Allen go to KC, and C-Wood go to the packers. I get that we lose players. This doesn’t feel like that. This feels like ego; and that’s what sucks about it to me. The raiders drafted Mack he was a generational player and we let him walk due to ego of the coach? It’s done and the only thing we can do now is let it play out. I’ll continue to root for the raiders as hard as I ever have. I hope we can have a winning team this year and going forward. I would like to add that it just so happened the raiders got to the 2 players making over $20 million dollars first. It is coming salaries have risen, look who are coming up on new contracts Clowney,Bosa, Fowler and don’t forget corners. I believe at some point the salary cap is going to have to go up to accommodate that.