Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast on Mentality of Some Raiders Fan, Remember Who You Are, AP Goes Hunting, More
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00:00 Hi everybody, this is Hondo Carpenter from Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation Las Vegas
00:08 Raiders Insider Podcast.
00:11 And I promised you if AP got the job, I would do an episode, Hondo, in a hoodie.
00:21 There you go.
00:22 All right, Matt Holadek from thespun.com joins us as he does each week.
00:28 I promised the people I would do it.
00:30 This was a gift to me from a member of the Raiders organization.
00:35 And he got it.
00:36 AP got the job.
00:38 Let's get right into it.
00:39 By the way, Matt is the editor and publisher of thespun.com.
00:42 He covers the NFL.
00:43 He lives and works in Gotham, in New York City.
00:47 He covers the NFL in totality.
00:50 I cover it with a macro view.
00:52 I cover it with a micro view, looking just at the Raiders.
00:56 He covers the entire National Football League.
00:58 It's why we have him in every single week, because I think it's good to get a perspective
01:03 of the Raiders among 32.
01:06 I try to give you the perspective of the Raiders as one.
01:09 So it's great to have you.
01:11 He earned it.
01:12 He got it.
01:13 Your thoughts on Antonio Pierce?
01:14 Yeah, I mean, we last talked and it seemed to be trending that way.
01:19 He did get the job, ultimately.
01:22 And I think the important thing is you said that he earned it with the way that they were
01:25 able to play for him in the second half of the season in 2023 as the interim.
01:31 And I think the players spoke up.
01:33 They wanted him to get the job.
01:35 They believe in him.
01:37 And now it's time for the players to deliver, I think.
01:42 This is what they wanted.
01:43 They got to continue to go out and play hard for him and continue to go out and execute.
01:47 And I think it's time for AP to deliver.
01:49 It's a major opportunity for him.
01:53 He's doing it in a division.
01:56 He's going to be doing it in a division that I think the top three head coaches in the
02:02 division, the three head coaches he'll be going up against, are as good as any three
02:07 coaches in any other division in the NFL, if not better.
02:12 So it's going to be, you know, he obviously has some adjustment already from being the
02:17 interim guy, but it's going to be tough.
02:19 But I think he's well deserved.
02:20 I think he earned this opportunity.
02:23 And I'm really excited to see how it plays out when they're not there.
02:27 Matt, you know, I have very strong affinity for Raider Nation.
02:32 They have really won my heart in the five years I've been covering this team and tremendous
02:36 people.
02:38 But what I don't get is I have been flooded with comments.
02:44 Oh, great.
02:45 We got a first year head coach in a division with Andy Reid.
02:49 Excuse me, in a division with Sean Payton and in a division with Jim Harbaugh.
02:54 And I tell people he beat two of those guys this year without OTAs, without mini camps,
03:02 without training camp, without his own staff.
03:05 And oh, by the way, a first year quarterback with all those things against him, he beat
03:09 two of the three.
03:11 Come on now.
03:12 Come on now.
03:15 Because Raider fans act like.
03:19 All right, I'm going to say this.
03:24 And everybody knows I'm fat, 256 pounds.
03:27 I'm not a skinny man.
03:28 Would you agree with that, Matt?
03:29 As one of my best friends?
03:30 I would agree with that.
03:33 So I'm allowed to make fat comments because I'm fat.
03:40 All right.
03:41 Everybody knows that one person who's always the bridesmaid, who's never the bride.
03:51 You just know, OK?
03:54 Sometimes Raider fans, now I realize it's because it's been 40 years of futility.
04:00 I mean, that's on the Davis family.
04:03 40 years of futility.
04:06 But there are times I want to grab Raider fans by the shoulder or by the foot and say,
04:15 you're the freaking Raiders.
04:18 You are one of the most iconic.
04:21 If there was a Mount Rushmore of NFL teams, you're on it.
04:25 OK, it's been a rough 40 years.
04:29 I'm not arguing that.
04:31 But you're the Raiders.
04:32 We're going to struggle because we're in a division with Andy Reid and Jim Hunt.
04:38 John Payton, you're the Raiders.
04:40 And your coach just beat two of them with both arms and a leg tied behind his back.
04:47 And he kicked him in the butt kicking contest.
04:49 I mean, come on now.
04:50 Matt, help me here.
04:53 I am trying to be mental Viagra for the spirit of Raider Nation to stand up and get, you're
05:04 the Raiders.
05:05 And now you got a coach who's going to walk in the room.
05:12 Let's get it on.
05:13 I mean, help me, Matt.
05:14 Help me.
05:15 I'm like the Beach Boys.
05:16 Help me, Rhonda.
05:17 You know, I understand where they're coming from because you feel, well, these other moves
05:24 haven't worked out.
05:25 So why would this one work out?
05:27 And I think in general, especially with social media, which is where I'm assuming a lot of
05:33 these comments are coming from, even though some are probably email as well or whatnot.
05:38 I think there's in general, there's a focus on the negative from fans.
05:42 And I think that's true for almost every fan base, no matter how successful the team is.
05:47 What sport, pro, college, whatever.
05:51 However, I do think that, you know, you have to have some type of resolve or faith that
05:58 maybe this time, you know, it is going to work out.
06:00 And you have to think that on the positive side there, like you said, Antonio Pierce
06:05 did show pretty well, had a great showing overall in his nine games as head coach.
06:12 He did beat the Broncos.
06:14 He did beat the Chiefs.
06:17 So he beat Sean Payton and beat the Chargers too.
06:19 Obviously, they were a team left for dead at that point, but still, you know, he beat
06:24 them.
06:25 Not at that point.
06:26 No, they were not at that point.
06:27 They were left to dead afterwards.
06:30 But going into that game, they weren't left to dead.
06:32 And I want to take umbrage with one other thing real quick.
06:34 So I'm going to go back to the girl who's always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
06:41 Chargers have the best stadium in the NFL and Matt, it isn't close.
06:46 And I'm not just saying as a guy that covers it.
06:47 I've had people bruised from all the national TVs and all of that who come in.
06:53 I've had players tell me that the best training facility and headquarter in the NFL, it's
06:59 not even close.
07:01 This is the hot girl.
07:04 There's that old country song.
07:06 She don't know she's beautiful.
07:08 I love that song.
07:09 Anybody has never heard that song?
07:11 Go Google it and just say, hey, play me.
07:13 She don't know she's beautiful.
07:16 After 40 years of futility, I feel bad because I don't think I think there's a whole generation
07:21 of Raider Nation that has no idea.
07:24 You're not the ugly chick that's always a bridesmaid.
07:27 You're the hottie who should be getting married.
07:29 You're the one that everybody looks up to.
07:31 You're the one that you walk in a room with.
07:34 My wife is stunningly beautiful.
07:37 I met her on September 9th in 1981.
07:39 It was a Wednesday.
07:41 I was 10.
07:42 She was eight.
07:43 Ever since then, I've always thought she walks in a room and she's gorgeous.
07:46 What makes Shannon so beautiful is she doesn't have an air of arrogance.
07:51 She doesn't believe it.
07:53 People tell her she's beautiful.
07:54 She's like, what?
07:57 Raider Nation, I don't believe anymore.
07:59 Maybe I need to bring them some greats and we need to do a couple of podcasts reminding
08:04 this generation who you are.
08:06 You are the bell of the ball.
08:08 You are the one.
08:09 Where's the other one?
08:11 You're not bringing in a first year coach who's never beat Andy Reid, who's never beat
08:16 Sean Payton.
08:17 He's done done it.
08:19 Help me, Matt.
08:20 Help me.
08:21 I'm frustrated.
08:22 No, I get where you're coming from.
08:25 I understand.
08:26 You know, I think it's just I think it's tough.
08:30 The fans need to see that need to see it happen over the course of a season, I think, to fully
08:36 believe.
08:37 And in the small sample size, obviously, Antonio Pierce has given you a lot of reasons for
08:42 hope and a lot of tangible.
08:46 Reasons to think that he could be successful out there.
08:48 I think it's going to be fascinating.
08:50 I think he like I said, I think he earned the job.
08:54 I expect the guy, the players to continue to play hard for him and continue to to be
08:59 in every game for him.
09:01 He's going to represent the franchise well.
09:04 So I'm excited.
09:05 I'm looking forward to it.
09:06 I think that this also gives not guarantee to be successful.
09:10 I think this gives the Raiders the best chance they've had in a while to potentially have
09:15 some type of long term stability because you're not just reaching for the next shiny toy to
09:22 lead your organization.
09:26 And you may find somebody who is going to be there for the long haul, because if he's
09:30 if he wins there, you know, he's not going to be looking for another job.
09:36 It's one of those organizations where, excuse me, if you have success.
09:42 You're going they're going to keep you around, they're going to make sure you feel and know
09:49 how appreciated you are.
09:50 So you know, as a guy that covers this team and I care about the team, but I'm not a fan.
09:57 My wife and kids are, but I'm not.
10:00 I get.
10:01 I thought, all right, I've got to dichotomize my argument.
10:07 I get the 40 years of futility.
10:10 Right.
10:11 I totally get that.
10:14 It's germane.
10:15 It makes sense to me.
10:17 But just because it's been 40 years of being futile doesn't mean you give up who you are.
10:24 I mean, I wish some of these younger Raider fan would look at some of these OGs.
10:30 And by the way, I learned that means original gangster, meaning the old the old guard.
10:35 They would look at some of these OGs that they would go to the to the tailgates and
10:40 find some of these guys who are older than 50, then older than 40.
10:45 And say, remind me of who we are.
10:49 It's almost like Lion King when Simba looks into the water and his dad's been killed and
10:53 his dad reflection says to him, remember who you are.
10:57 Raider Nation to remember who you are.
11:00 You're the freaking Raiders.
11:02 Three Super Bowl trophies.
11:04 Your franchise changed professional sports at any level.
11:10 You got a coach now who knows who you are.
11:14 I mean, listen, Andy Reid's the best coach in the NFL.
11:18 He's the best.
11:20 And your first year coach, no OTAs, no training camp, no mini camp, no trade deadline, walked
11:27 in there on Christmas Day with all the cameras and Nickelodeon, sliming the crowd.
11:33 And everyone thought the Raiders were going to be the Raiders for the last 40 years and
11:37 just lay down and they punched him in the face with made Taylor Swift watch it.
11:43 And then hounded them.
11:45 Now, I'm not a fan.
11:47 I love football.
11:50 But man, get rid of your inferiority complex.
11:55 Know who you are.
11:57 Man, am I wrong?
11:59 No, I understand.
12:01 I totally agree with you.
12:02 I think it's fascinating to see because, again, I'll say from my experience as, you know,
12:13 I'll be 37 in September.
12:15 So as a Giants fan, I've seen two, two, sort of really seen absorbed to win a lot for three.
12:24 I was born right after the first Super Bowl in 87.
12:30 So I've seen a good amount of success, but a bad decade.
12:33 And you see a lot of younger Giants fans start to act like that, where you're like, hey,
12:39 you know, this is a franchise that beat Tom Brady in the Super Bowl twice.
12:43 This is a franchise that has won four Super Bowls in the last 36, 38 years, 37 years.
12:49 You know, and I think it's the same thing with the Raiders.
12:52 Obviously, the Raiders, the drought, the heavy drought goes for 20 years.
12:59 The championship drought is 40.
13:03 But you know, this is a team that still has that tradition, still has that reputation,
13:08 still has that fan base, that loyalty.
13:11 And I think there are some building blocks for success here.
13:13 So I do think it's something that, yeah, you know, you got to respect your opponents.
13:17 Everybody knows how good Andrew Reid and Patrick Mahomes are.
13:21 Everybody understands that Sean Payton's been coaching for a long time, won a Super Bowl.
13:26 Everybody understands that, you know, the Chargers have always had talent recently.
13:30 It's been a matter of injuries and kind of cursed, almost a cursed franchise.
13:36 Plus, I don't think Brandon Staley was very good.
13:38 Now you have a guy who is a good coach.
13:40 So you got to respect your opponents.
13:42 But I think you also have to say that, listen, we can do this.
13:45 You know, this is a team that they swept the Broncos this year with two different head
13:49 coaches.
13:50 They beat the Chiefs in Kansas City.
13:52 They almost swept LA.
13:56 So this is a team that won.
13:57 If they would have had AP, they would have swept LA.
14:01 This is a team that won four out of six divisional games, and the two they lost, they were, you
14:06 know, right in it.
14:07 So you know, you have to feel pretty good.
14:11 Are there things you got to build up?
14:12 Obviously, yeah, you got to build up, you know, your roster.
14:15 You have to make a determination.
14:16 And I don't know if you need to make it just yet.
14:19 But after next year, you have to know, is Adel Connell going to be our starter?
14:23 Or is he going to be, you know, a backup behind somebody else?
14:27 So yeah, there's stuff you got to work on, stuff you got to figure out.
14:30 But I do think there's a lot of reasons for optimism with the Raider fan base, Raider
14:34 Nation.
14:36 I got to tell you, Matt.
14:37 By the way, I think fans are going to want me to do more in a hoodie if I'm going to
14:45 get passionate like that.
14:46 Yeah, you're preaching.
14:47 What'd you say?
14:49 I said you're preaching today.
14:51 Well, you know, I'm just going to tell you why.
14:54 So I get on the plane.
14:55 The other day, and I mean, just listening to fans and reading my emails.
15:01 You know, I'm a history buff.
15:05 I love history and I love to watch the History Channel.
15:09 I love to learn history.
15:11 And sometimes I think part of that is being raised by a dad.
15:15 Who wanted me to know history, who used to say, if you don't know your history, you
15:22 repeat history and all that kind of stuff.
15:24 So for me.
15:27 I wanted AP to get it because he's a great man, I respect him and I honor him.
15:35 He's a good person.
15:36 I want to see good people succeed.
15:38 So to me.
15:39 What I was hearing, oh, does it matter?
15:43 We're going to lose anyways.
15:46 And I'm thinking, really?
15:49 I just I couldn't fathom that.
15:51 I couldn't grasp that to me.
15:54 And I thought, you know what?
15:56 Somebody needs to say it and not and with me not being a fan, it's probably better.
16:01 It comes from me.
16:02 All right.
16:03 I want to.
16:04 Show you something, I got some trying to text here, get somebody a message.
16:09 Because I want to show you something that I think you're going to like.
16:13 So I'm texting Shannon.
16:15 And she's in the other room, I'm trying to I want to show you something, but while I'm
16:21 waiting for Shannon, I want to ask you this.
16:23 Let's look at this weekend's games.
16:24 Let's start Detroit 49ers.
16:29 To me, if Detroit is within seven points in the fourth quarter, they can win this
16:34 game, I predict San Francisco.
16:37 But I'm going to give Detroit there within seven going into the fourth quarter, I
16:41 think they can win it.
16:42 Your thoughts?
16:42 Yeah, I just got to say, you know, even better than I do for being from Michigan,
16:47 how awesome it is to see Detroit in an NFC title game to see, you know, the way
16:52 they've kind of galvanized that entire state and that fan base.
16:56 Now, that is a fan base that was starved, that had no tradition, nothing to fall back
17:02 on. And he's given them hope and given them tangible results.
17:06 They can win that game out there on Sunday.
17:09 There's no doubt in my mind.
17:11 Now, I'm taking San Francisco because I think that they've been the best team in
17:15 the NFC for pretty much the whole season.
17:19 I think they proved it when they smoked Dallas and when they smoked Philly in the
17:23 regular season and they came out of that little mini slump they had and they just
17:28 rolled teams.
17:29 I also think that they got some of the cobwebs shaken off last week because of the
17:37 fact that they probably should have lost that game to Green Bay the way that they
17:41 played. I think that there were opportunities there for them to win that game
17:46 before they did.
17:47 They, you know, they kind of blew those chances, but because of how not sharp they
17:51 were, they easily could have lost that game.
17:53 So I think they kind of shook that off.
17:56 I expect them to win, but I do think that Detroit will be in it.
18:00 It's going to be a tough physical battle.
18:03 And I think if you're a Lions fan, you got to feel amazing about everything that's
18:08 transpired so far.
18:09 And you're excited for Sunday.
18:12 I think you got to be excited for the future with Dan Campbell there.
18:14 I got to tell you, I am.
18:17 This is no exaggeration.
18:20 I've probably had close to 200 people that I personally know tell me they got
18:26 tickets, they're going to the game.
18:27 I was talking to a ticket broker yesterday who told me that this may be the, it's
18:35 still going to be a huge niner advantage in attendance.
18:39 But he said this may be the most opposing team fans in that stadium all year.
18:47 Lion fans will show up, man, they will spend the money and they're going to be
18:50 out there, you know, tailgating.
18:52 And it's, you're going to know the difference between the San Francisco 49er
18:56 tailgate and the beer and cross.
19:00 Without a doubt.
19:01 Yeah, it's going to be a lot of fun.
19:03 All right.
19:04 Baltimore Chiefs.
19:06 I predicted the Chiefs to make the Superbowl at the beginning of the year.
19:09 They're not the Chiefs team that we thought they would be.
19:14 Lamar is everything we thought he would be.
19:17 I think they're peaking.
19:19 Even though I predicted Kansas City to win it at the very beginning, I'm going
19:23 Baltimore on this one.
19:24 I'm taking Baltimore for the win, but Patriots to, I mean, but Chiefs to keep it
19:30 within the four points and cover the margin.
19:32 I had the Chiefs win the Superbowl again in the preseason as well.
19:36 I think the interesting thing that you have to find out in this game is did the
19:43 Chiefs figure something out offensively last week, or is it just a matter of they
19:48 own Buffalo in the playoffs?
19:50 Because if you look at the way their offense played last week for a lot of the
19:54 game, they had explosive plays the way we're used to seeing, you know, they, they,
20:01 Mahomes was able to connect downfield.
20:05 Travis Kelsey looked like himself.
20:07 They ran the ball extremely well.
20:09 That looked like the Chiefs offense that we saw in the Superbowl in February, 2023
20:14 when they beat the Eagles and that we're used to seeing.
20:16 So is that going to be able to carry over against an elite defense in Baltimore, or
20:21 was it just a matter of they really just own the bills?
20:24 I think though, I expect the Chiefs to play well, but I do think Baltimore wins
20:32 this game.
20:33 I think Baltimore has been the best team in the AFC, and I think there are some
20:36 years where it just kind of sets up that the two best teams are going to play each
20:40 other.
20:41 Now that happened last year too with the Eagles and the Chiefs.
20:44 I think it's set up again this way.
20:47 I mean, you look at Baltimore, this is an amazing stat that I found.
20:52 I think it speaks to a couple of things.
20:55 This is the first AFC title game that the Ravens have ever hosted.
20:59 And when you think about the last 25 years, how many good teams they've had,
21:04 they've won two Super Bowls.
21:06 They've been to a couple other AFC title games on the road.
21:09 I think it shows you, a few years ago, they were the ones, they got upset in the
21:15 divisional round by the Titans.
21:17 But I think it speaks to how dominant the Patriots were for so long that the Ravens
21:23 never even really had the opportunity to host an AFC title game until now.
21:27 And again, how dominant the Chiefs have been since the Patriots dynasty ended.
21:32 But I think this is a moment that Baltimore, I think, has been ready for the
21:35 organization, the city.
21:37 So I think they win that game and I think it sets up an unbelievable Super Bowl
21:42 matchup in a couple of weeks between San Francisco and Baltimore.
21:46 We're going to get to some more Raider talk in a minute.
21:49 We're going to talk about the offensive coordinator and the general manager, but I
21:53 want to just quickly stay on this theme.
21:55 Every NFL team could have went and got Lamar Jackson this year.
22:01 The Baltimore Ravens said, "Great, go negotiate."
22:03 How many teams now regret, "What a dumb move."
22:11 I said in the offseason, people said, "Oh, Hondo, you don't know what you're
22:14 talking about. He can't throw the ball."
22:16 And I said, "He hasn't had receivers.
22:18 Hasn't had any receivers.
22:22 Is he?"
22:24 Now, I still think Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL.
22:28 I'm not, I don't think it's close.
22:32 But now that he has some receivers, are we going to see Lamar begin encroaching
22:39 on Patrick being the best, or is he going to be up at least in that discussion as
22:44 the best two or three?
22:45 I just, it's hard for me, as good as some of these other guys are, it's hard for
22:51 me to say anybody is as good as Mahomes because Mahomes, I think, is just
22:54 unbelievable.
22:56 There's a possibility.
22:58 He's exponentially better.
22:59 There's a possibility when all is said and done.
23:02 I don't think he'll match Tom Brady's Super Bowl wins because seventh Super
23:05 Bowl wins is insane.
23:06 But there's a possibility when all is said and done, a lot of people, the
23:10 consensus is this might be the best quarterback that we've seen in terms of
23:16 just everything.
23:18 With that being said, I feel like the last couple of years when people say,
23:23 all right, Mahomes is one, who's next?
23:25 A lot of the first two names you heard mentioned were Joe Burrow and Josh
23:28 Allen, who I think are two of the top four quarterbacks.
23:33 Lamar kind of got pushed down a little bit or people didn't, you know, they
23:41 said, yeah, I know he's been an MVP, but you know, he can't throw like these
23:46 guys or he can't do this or he can't do that or he can't win in the playoffs.
23:50 Well, now he's showing he can do all those things and he's reminding
23:53 everybody how good he really is.
23:55 Yeah, I think, I think you can make a case, honestly, that the top five
24:00 quarterbacks in the NFL, if CJ Stroud is for real, if CJ Stroud that we saw this
24:06 year carries over to next year, you can make a case, I think, that the top.
24:10 Six or seven quarterbacks are all in the AFC, which is insane, but it's possible.
24:18 And I think if Patrick Holmes to me is clear cut one, but Lamar, I think is
24:24 saying, Hey, you know, don't forget about me when you're talking about
24:26 who's number two, number three behind him.
24:28 And I think he has a massive opportunity on Sunday ahead of him.
24:33 And, you know, I'm really looking forward to seeing it.
24:35 You know, you and I talked about this off, but when it happened, how stupid
24:44 do the Browns look for that dumb deal?
24:48 I mean, they go and pay Deshaun Watson, stupid money.
24:51 People in the NFL were livid because it just made no sense.
24:55 It's why the Browns are the Browns.
24:57 I've got a bunch of friends that are Browns fans.
24:59 You know, this is, this is our life.
25:02 How stupid do they look for what they spent on Deshaun Watson?
25:07 The funny thing about it is the deal has been a disaster on and off the field.
25:13 And then you look at the season, the Browns had, they won 11 and six.
25:17 And I know they lost in the playoffs, but they had a good year.
25:19 They got a good defense.
25:21 They have talent on that roster and they have to be kicking themselves saying
25:25 we're spending all this guaranteed money on a guy who has these off field issues.
25:30 Can't stay on the field.
25:32 And when he is on the field, he doesn't look like the player that he was four or
25:36 five years ago which is what they're paying him to be.
25:40 And we made the playoffs with four different quarterbacks playing, including
25:45 Joe Flacco coming off his couch at 38 years old.
25:47 So you're saying at one, at one point you're saying, well, you know, our
25:52 roster is pretty good, you know, I think Kevin Stefanski is a good head coach.
25:55 Maybe the things in the future is a little bit brighter, but on the other
25:58 hand, you're saying, why did we pay this dude all this money?
26:01 It's not even worth it.
26:03 And we won without him.
26:05 So, yeah, I think it is something that Browns fans have to be kicking themselves
26:10 over and also I think it was a little bit more, just one last bit of insult to injury.
26:16 They couldn't and I'm not saying I don't think Baker Mayfield's a great NFL
26:22 quarterback, I think he had a very good season, bounce back season, I was happy to
26:26 see it, but they, they were like, we got to get rid of Baker, Deshaun Watson, we're
26:34 paying him all this money, this is an upgrade, this is, you know, this is the
26:37 move we got to make.
26:39 And Baker Mayfield outplayed him this year and won a playoff game.
26:41 And I think it's just one of those things where you're like, if you're a Browns fan,
26:44 even if, even though you had a really good year overall, you're like, oh, come on.
26:49 I agree.
26:52 All right, Matt, I want to switch directions.
26:54 I texted Shannon, she's not checking her text, so I apologize.
26:58 I had a surprise for you.
26:59 Um, let's go in a different direction.
27:02 Let's talk about offensive coordinator for the, for the Raiders.
27:09 Um, in fact, let's put, put that to a side for a minute.
27:13 I'll talk about that last.
27:14 Let's talk about general manager.
27:15 Telesco.
27:17 Um, I know Saturday I was told by someone in the building, yup, champs getting it.
27:25 There was a shift, there was a division on, on Mark Davis's advisory committee,
27:31 the athletic, to Sean Reed of the athletic reported about it in detail.
27:36 Um, and the end of a hiring Tom Telesco.
27:39 Now I was not impressed with the hire of Telesco.
27:43 They're 40 million over the cap.
27:46 He hired the worst coach in the NFL and in Staley, all of that.
27:52 Um, but after his press conference, I came away very impressed.
27:59 Now he and I share many, many mutual friends and every one of them told me.
28:06 Hey, this is a guy of high integrity.
28:09 Remember he worked for the Spanos.
28:11 Says there were some things he couldn't do.
28:13 We know he can draft in the upper parts of the draft.
28:16 Right.
28:17 You know, he's a little weak.
28:18 He's a little weak in the lower parts of the draft.
28:21 And we know that the chargers perennially under achieve, but a lot of that has to
28:28 do with where he was at as well, but walking away when he talked about this
28:33 is a peace team, I'm going to get players that fit AP, I was impressed.
28:38 And, um, again, I still think champ was the better choice, but I
28:45 don't think he was a bad choice.
28:47 I'm certainly not against him.
28:49 It's not his fault.
28:50 He got hired.
28:50 I would have taken the job if it was you and I competing for a job.
28:53 And you're one of my best friends.
28:56 Um, I'm in, I'm encouraged by, by him.
29:00 What are your thoughts?
29:02 It's I'll tell you what, it surprised me from the outside perspective.
29:06 Cause I did think, you know, everything I've read and everything I talked about
29:11 with you and everything, it seemed like AP and champ Kelly with a pack deal.
29:15 They work together during the season.
29:17 Yes.
29:19 I mean, yes, exactly.
29:20 So it was a change and I know anytime there's kind of a last minute change,
29:25 I understand people are skeptical and.
29:27 You know, and I do think you touched on it.
29:30 Tom Telesco's resume with the chargers is spotty.
29:38 Seems a little harsh checker.
29:39 I don't know.
29:40 It's it's hit and miss there.
29:42 There's good points of bad.
29:43 It's not some holes.
29:44 Yes.
29:45 But I think if I'm, Hey, is that the surprise?
29:49 Yeah.
29:49 Say hi to uncle Matt.
29:51 Say hi.
29:52 Hey buddy.
29:52 Say hi to uncle Matt.
29:54 Say hi to uncle Matt.
29:57 Dexter wanted to say hi to uncle Matt.
29:58 Hey Dex.
30:00 Nice to meet you, buddy.
30:01 So, uh, you hear me getting spirited.
30:09 So he's banging up my, that's awesome.
30:12 He's he's fired up by the Raiders already.
30:14 So, um, but we're talking about his past.
30:17 I don't think checkered is fair.
30:20 Yeah.
30:20 I certainly think there are some holes that deserve to be questioned and discussed.
30:26 But again, I trust certain people.
30:31 How many times have I called you on people that I don't know that you do and
30:35 said, Matt, give me the lowdown on this guy or this gal, and you've told me,
30:39 man, good friend, Hondo.
30:41 I trust them.
30:42 They're honorable.
30:43 Okay.
30:43 I have learned to keep a small circle and in that small circle, they have all the
30:50 people that they have influence over.
30:52 And I trust that circle with what they tell me.
30:55 And man, I had, I had people texting me.
31:00 I'm saying, man, I know this doesn't look like a good hire, but let me tell you
31:04 why it is brother and telling me I'm going to listen to those people.
31:09 I'm going to trust those people.
31:11 And, um, and again, after his press conference, he was deferent.
31:15 He was, um, I thought he was very surreal, almost to the point of
31:21 ethereal, um, I, I, I asked him point blank, most general managers,
31:26 inherited team and shambles.
31:28 AP took this team, set it up on the rails and it's his team.
31:34 This is not Tom Telesco's team.
31:36 It's AP's team.
31:39 And I said, is it a blessing?
31:42 You're not having to go look for a coach and hoping he can win the locker room.
31:46 You got the coach who has the locker room.
31:48 And I thought his answer was brilliant.
31:51 Um, I thought when he talked about, I have to meet with the staff
31:54 to learn my roster was brilliant.
31:57 Again, just a lot of things about him.
31:59 I thought, uh, were interesting.
32:02 I think there's legitimate questions, but, uh, I walked away.
32:06 Did you see the press conference?
32:07 I saw some clips on Twitter.
32:09 Um, I think to me, I think the two questions that I would want to know if I
32:16 were interviewing him or talking to him as, um, as you know, Mark Davis,
32:19 somebody, but decision maker with the Raiders is what, what did you learn
32:26 from your 10 years with the Chargers?
32:27 You know, your, your hits, your misses, what do you feel passionate about
32:33 that you did well, continue to do well?
32:36 Where do you think you might've needed to improve or will improve?
32:39 Or what did you pick up institutionally about the GM job along the way?
32:44 Because a decade as a GM and NFL a long time, the second thing I would want to
32:48 know is, I know he, you just said, he said, I need to get my staff, learn my
32:51 roster more, I would want to know what his perception was being in the division
32:58 of the Raiders roster and the Raiders organization, because I think getting
33:02 that outside perspective from somebody who knows it better than, you know,
33:06 someone who was in the GM and the NFC North or the completely opposite division
33:11 or something like that, uh, could be interesting because he has some insight
33:15 potentially to what his coaches and players and executives in LA thought of
33:21 the Raiders roster, thought of the Raiders organization, uh, thought
33:25 of everything there.
33:26 So I think that could be helpful.
33:27 All right, let's go to offensive coordinator.
33:32 Uh, Zach Robinson, the passing in coordinator for the Rams is in it.
33:37 Um, Luke Getzey from the Bears is in it.
33:41 Cliff Kingsbury is in it.
33:44 Um, there's others.
33:47 They're, they're casting a wide net, excuse me.
33:50 They're casting a wide net.
33:51 And I love something that AP said.
33:55 He was asked, what are you looking for in an offensive coordinator?
33:58 He said 24 points.
34:00 And he talked about where the Raiders, we want to take deep shots.
34:04 We want chunk plays.
34:07 Um, I like the fact that AP is not going into this search zeroed in on one guy.
34:15 He's going to interview a bunch of people and basically you sell
34:20 me on why you want this job.
34:22 I really think the way AP is doing this is the right way.
34:26 He's not married to any, I mean, he's married to winning.
34:30 He's married to chunk plays and deep balls, but there's lots of ways to get there.
34:34 I just really am impressed with how he's doing this.
34:37 I'd like your thoughts on that.
34:38 I think whenever you have a first time full-time head coach, you're
34:43 interested in their hiring process and who do they target?
34:46 Everybody has connections in the league.
34:48 They have their circle.
34:49 Um, I think it's a, when you see somebody willing to kind of go outside
34:54 of that comfort zone, uh, with who they talk to and who they hire, I think
34:58 it's usually more often than not a good sign, the fact that he's trying to
35:02 get as many different, um, you know, opinions as possible and speak to as
35:06 many different guys as possible, I think is a good thing because it shows
35:10 that he's not afraid to expand his horizons and look into, you know, things
35:16 that he might not be familiar with.
35:18 I think the philosophy of 24 points right there is a good benchmark because
35:23 in the NFL, um, it's an offensive league.
35:27 Um, but if you're scoring 24 points on average, that puts you in position to
35:32 win a lot of games, especially if you have a pretty good defense, you know,
35:36 you're not going to go 17 and oh, no one does really, but you're not, you're
35:40 going to be in position to win a good amount of games if you can score upwards
35:45 of 24 wins, you're going to win 12 or 13 games.
35:48 If you can, you're going to, you should be in double digit victories.
35:51 If you can get, you know, that where they're offensive.
35:54 Yeah.
35:57 All right.
35:57 It's going to be fascinating to watch Matt.
35:59 Listen, I appreciate you.
36:01 Uh, it's going to be a great weekend to watch football.
36:04 You and I love to watch football and I appreciate all that you do and all that
36:08 you've done and thank you for joining us again, this is Matt Olatte, the
36:12 editor and publisher of the spun.com.
36:14 He is a terrific journalist.
36:16 You should check that page.
36:17 That page is actually in my favorites.
36:19 I read it every morning.
36:20 It's a different approach to sports.
36:23 I think you'd really like it.
36:24 And he does a good job joining us.
36:26 And I'm Hondo Carpenter from Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation, Las
36:29 Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast.
36:31 Part of the Fans First Sports Network.
36:32 Remember, you can find me on X, formerly known as Twitter @HondoCarpenter
36:37 and on IG @HondoSR.
36:40 We'll see you all later.
36:41 It's going to be a great week, Matt.
36:42 See you again next week.