Raiders Coach On Players Who Made 53-Man Roster: ‘We Have To Continue To Push. . . It’s A Tough League’

August 31, 2022August 31, 2022 Alan Snel Alex Leatherwood, Darren Waller, Henry Ruggs III, Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels

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By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

The Raiders have excelled financially by their move to the Las Vegas market and their palatial domed stadium near the Strip. The NFL’s highest ticket revenues, stadium corporate sponsors and personal seat license money have made the Raiders a very valuable franchise.

But the team’s high draft picks after the Raiders moved to this market have not proved to be very good investments.

Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels. Photo credit: LVSportsBiz.com

The team’s very first draft pick as a Las Vegas-based franchised was wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, the NFL Draft’s 12th overall pick who drove his car into a woman’s vehicle in the early morning hours of Nov. 2 and killed that woman and her dog. Ruggs was released later that day.

And fellow Alabama football product Alex Leatherwood, the Raiders’ number one draft pick in 2021, was waived by Las Vegas Tuesday. The Chicago Bears claimed Leatherwood off waivers. Leatherwood was the Draft’s 17th player selected last year.

“We talked about competition since we came here in every position group,” coach Josh McDaniel told the media Wednesday. “We felt like we did that (have competition) and gave every player an opportunity to play.”

Raiders former OLiner Alex Leatherwood — claimed off waivers by Chicago. Photo credit: LVSportsBiz.com

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“They’re still going to compete for roles. I look forward to coaching all these guys,” McDaniels said. “I look at them as one team, not two groups.”

One year ago the Raiders coach was Jon Gruden, who later resigned because of vulgar emails unearthed during an investigation of the Washington franchise. Gruden talked publicly for the first time about the emails that cost him his job in October and his current status at the Little Rock Touchdown Club in Arkansas.

Gruden said the emails were shameful and asked that people forgive him. He would like another shot at coaching in football after serving as head coach of the Raiders (twice) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He told the room that he goes to church, has been married for 31 years and has three good sons.