GREAT ACHIEVEMENT: Raiders rookie TE Brock Bowers named to NFLPA All Pro team

Raiders phenomenal rookie TE Brock Bowers was already named to the AFC Pro Bowl team, in what we knew would be the first of many nods of recognition for him.

Wednesday it was the NFLPA’s turn. They released their third-annual Players All Pro team and Bowers made the squad.

He is the only rookie on the team and becomes just the third rookie to ever make the squad.

What makes the NFLPA Players All Pro team unique is its decided by the players themselves.

Bowers was an easy choice, really. He had an historic season by any measure. Including breaking a rookie tight end receiving record that had stood for 63 years, setting a new rookie receptions record (twice) and a new Raiders franchise single-season receptions record (112).

Not to mention — the important part — he led all tight ends this season in receiving (1194). He was unguardable, so whether they asked linebacker, safeties, or cornerbacks, they would all say Bowers was their toughest cover this season.

BEST DECISION: After firing HC Antonio pierce, Mark Davis Raiders owner has surprised his team with a brave bold move…

After firing head coach Antonio Pierce, Mark Davis, the owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, has stunned his team and the entire NFL world with a bold and surprising decision. This move has come at a time when the Raiders are struggling to find consistency, but it raises important questions about the future of the franchise. The decision to part ways with Pierce was a difficult one, especially considering his rapport with the players and the brief spark of energy he brought following the firing of Josh McDaniels earlier in the season.

Antonio Pierce was brought in as an interim coach with the hope that he would turn the team around, bringing new leadership and a fresh perspective. While there were moments of optimism, the Raiders’ overall performance remained uneven, leading to an underwhelming record. Davis, known for his sometimes controversial decisions, clearly felt that a more drastic change was needed to push the team toward success.

The firing of Pierce signifies a pivotal moment for the Raiders, as Davis now has to make yet another critical choice in finding a permanent replacement. The question on everyone’s mind is whether the team will bring in another experienced head coach or take a different route, possibly hiring a young, innovative leader. Whatever the decision, Davis’ bold move signals his commitment to turning the Raiders into a competitive force in the NFL. It also reflects a sense of urgency and a desire to shake things up, as he recognizes that time is running out to build a winning culture.

As the Raiders move forward, this decision could either lead to long-term success or further instability. One thing is certain, though: Mark Davis is not afraid to make tough decisions to get the team back on track. The next few months will be critical in shaping the future of the franchise.

CONFIRMED: Superstar Coach & QB to ‘Take Over’ Raiders as Packaged Deal on one condition

The Las Vegas Raiders now have an opening at head coach with the news that they’ve fired Antonio Pierce. This is the second head coach owner Mark Davis has fired in the last two years, which could be concerning to potential candidates.

However, Davis is known to think outside the box sometimes and that could lead him to one of the most famous faces in the football world. Deion Sanders has done a good job of turning Colorado from one of the worst college football programs in the Power 5 to a respectable team, but he could have eyes toward the NFL.

The Raiders also have an opening at quarterback and it just happens that the coach’s son Shedeur Sanders is going to be in the 2025 NFL Draft. This led to Henry McKenna of Fox Sports predicting that Deion and Shedeur Sanders will “take over” over the Raiders offseason.

“While the Tennessee Titans ended up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, in the case of Sanderses, it might not matter,” McKenna wrote. “Because while Shedeur is QB1, his dad might take control of their future and engineer the draft to fit them in the same way the Mannings once did for Eli. The Raiders might just need a change of leadership and quarterback. It’s a good team for Deion. And it’s not the worst fit for Shedeur. Now, I won’t go proclaiming that the Sanderses will have success in Vegas. But it would be fascinating to see Deion’s coup take place.”

Does Deion Sanders Want to Be in the NFL?

There’s been a lot of speculation about Sanders coaching in the NFL but it remains to be seen if that’s something he wants to do. Though he played in the NFL for over a decade, he has no experience coaching at that level.

He also has a good thing going in college. It’s going to put a lot of pressure on him and Shedeur to team up at the NFL level. Sanders has shown that he can handle high-pressure situations as a head coach but it may still be too early for him to make the jump and it’s unclear if he even wants to coach his son.

Could Sanders Duo Turn Raiders Around?

The most appealing thing about possibly hiring Sanders as head coach for the Raiders is that he’d likely force his son onto the team. Las Vegas holds the No. 6 pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft which likely puts them out of range to get Shedeur.

However, he could refuse to play for any team that isn’t the Raiders. Now, that could open up Las Vegas to a whole bunch of tampering issues but this would be an unprecedented situation and there may be nothing the NFL can do to stop it.

It would be a big gamble for the Raiders to make but it could work. Shedeur and Deion Sanders already turned around two college programs in Jackson State and Colorado. Perhaps they could also do it at the NFL level with a team like the Raiders.

BREAKING: Mark Davis Fires Raiders HC Antonio Pierce Following…..

The Las Vegas Raiders fired head coach Antonio Pierce after one full season as head coach.

The Las Vegas Raiders parted ways with head coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday after his first full season at the helm.

Pierce came in as the interim coach in 2023 after the firing of Josh McDaniels, leading the Raiders to a 5-4 record in the process and earning a position as the coach full-time. 2024 was not as prosperous, with the Raiders encountering an abysmal 10-game losing streak and finishing 4-13 on the year.

On Monday, Pierce addressed the media after a finale loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and he was confident about maintaining his position as head coach. He shrugged off the rumors.

“It’s only coming from the outside,” he told reporters. “It’s not inside the building. So, to me, there’s nothing to clean up until I hear from inside the building.”

The Pierce tenure was short and ultimately forgettable. It was mired by an offseason-long quarterback controversy between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew II, and it did not end at the decision of who would become the starter.

There were injuries and poor playcalling from Luke Getsy hindered the Raiders early on. Interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner was able to turn it around some when he took the reins, but too little, too late.

That being said, Pierce acknowledged that through it all, the team and the organization were never fractured.

“I think it was critical, because again, the way the season went, the expectations that we have for ourselves, to go through that and never see this team point fingers at one another,” Pierce said. “There was never any bickering. There were no in-house issues or fires or anything that was detrimental to the team. Even with movement with the staff or players, nobody flinched. There was no blinking. We just kept moving on, next man up mentality, and they really embraced that throughout the entire season. I’m really proud of how we finished, even last night. … So, they really took a lot of pride. You can see the emotions and the hurt after that loss last night. That was sad to see from our guys, but like I told them, one loss, one season, that’s not who we are and that’s not going to define us.”

The Raiders released a statement shortly after the firing:

“The Las Vegas Raiders have relieved Antonio Pierce of his duties as head coach. We appreciate Antonio’s leadership, first as an interim head coach and this past season as head coach. Antonio grew up a Raiders fan and his Silver and Black roots run deep. We are grateful for his ability to reignite what it means to be a Raider throughout the entire organization. We wish nothing but the best for Antonio and his family in the future.”

CONFIRMED: He must leave the team now: Raiders Predicted to Trade $25 Million Starter QB to New Team with the arrival of………..

The Las Vegas Raiders made many mistakes in 2024 but one of the biggest was signing quarterback Gardner Minshew and then making him a starter. He ended up going 2-7 as the starting quarterback while throwing nine touchdowns to 10 interceptions.

Minshew has shown that he can play well in the right system but he’s clearly not a good fit in Las Vegas. Luckily, the Raiders may not need to cut him outright. Benjamin Solak of ESPN is predicting that they will find a trade partner for Minshew.

“The Raiders will almost certainly have another camp quarterback battle next offseason, but between whom? I predict they’ll trade Gardner Minshew to a team that needs a veteran, opening the competition between Aidan O’Connell and a rookie early draft pick, either Sanders or Ward,” Solak wrote in a Jan. 6 column. “It’s a bad quarterback class, but the Raiders are so desperate I could see them trading up to be the team that takes the first passer off the board.”

It remains to be seen which teams could have interest in Minshew. The Indianapolis Colts would make some sense. He played well under Shane Steichen last season and with Anthony Richardson’s struggles this season, the Colts may want a veteran they can trust behind him.

Raiders QB or Bust?

Minshew will be much more expendable for the Raiders if they are able to draft a quarterback early. It’s no secret that Las Vegas will be interested in the top passers in the draft but they don’t draft until No. 6 in the first round.

That could put them out of the range of landing a quarterback they like. ESPN’s Matt Miller gave an option if the Raiders can’t get a quarterback.

“It feels like quarterback or bust for the Raiders after missing out on all six first-round quarterbacks last year,” Miller wrote. “Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders are the only quarterbacks with first-round projections, and the Raiders’ late-season wins might have dropped them out of the mix for both. If a quarterback can’t be had in the draft, a top-tier wide receiver — Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan? — would boost an offense that has struggled to score this season.”

Insider Discusses Tre’von Moehrig’s Status

Amid the quarterback chatter, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler touched on the topic of Tre’von Moehrig. The former second-round pick safety had a strong season in 2024 and will be a free agent this offseason.

Fowler believes that Moehrig could be looking at a big payday.

“Moehrig is a standout player in a loaded free agent safety class,” Fowler wrote. “Perhaps that safety depth helps Las Vegas in re-signing him, but the Raiders will be in transition, and he can command top dollar elsewhere. He had two picks this season.”

The Raiders have many needs and may not want to splurge on a safety. Moehrig is an important part of the defense and should be a priority free agent for Las Vegas. However, if his price gets too high, the Raiders may need to let him walk. That’ll be a tough decision to make as he’s been one of the few draft picks by the team to play well.