By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
They’re Raiders season ticket holders and one of their perks is that they’re among the first NFL fans in the country to soak up the scenes at summer training camp thanks to the Raiders playing the first preseason game in the league.
They dressed bigtime in the Silver and Black logo gear. The Raiders practice fields are next to the team’s headquarters near the St. Rose Parkway and Starr Avenue intersection in Henderson on land that was sold by the city to the Raiders at a reduced price.
A horn sounded, ending a practice session and the media rolled in to the natural grass practice fields at about 8:45AM. On the field closest to the media, linemen went through drills with staffers holding red pads, while receivers ran speedily for about 10 yards or so, planted a leg to make a cut and hauled in football practices.
Security is strict about where reporters can stand. One fella advised a media member to move back with the tone of a military drill sergeant.
The franchise has rebooted after a well-documented roller-coaster season marked by everything from a fatal car tragedy on a local Las Vegas street to a head coach’s toxic emails from years ago. In 2022, training camp began with a new head coach, GM and new team president .
To a man, from coaches to players, the phrases focused on the same themes like great attitudes about new schemes and great efforts to learning new systems.
After practice ends at about 10:15 AM, offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi, a friendly fella, walked to the lectern and talked about the good attitudes toward learning the new schemes.
A new cornerback from the Colts, Rock Ya-Sin, wasn’t the most vocal guy when he strolled to the lectern.
But all that changed when quarterback Derek Carr walked into the media room to field questions.
“The older players are helping the younger guys,” Carr said, discussing the new offensive system. “Those are good signs.”
LVSportsBiz.com asked Carr whether the new coaches and new president and their renewed sense of stability will affect the product on the field.
Carr said he spoke with new Raiders team president Sandra Douglass Morgan and he expects the renewed stability will keep questions about distractions to a minimum.
Defensive end Chandler Jones, the former Cardinals player in his first year at the Raiders, strolled in and joked, “Hope I didn’t keep you guys waiting. I see all these long faces.”
The 32-year-old fielded media questions professionally and cheerfully, noting that his unorthodox style is something that’s difficult for opponents to prepare for.