As we have now proceeded through our first full week without football, “news” surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders flowed. Rumors about trades, signings, and firings swirled around Raiders camp. Yet, nothing happened.
Perennial Nonsense
Rumors about Derek Carr and Jon Gruden emerge every season, yet every season, these rumors are taken as novel. People stay admittedly bored. Others enjoyed a Super Bowl boat parade and watch a quarterback stumble aimlessly through a Florida marina.
Disappointment
Raiders fans did not even achieve a taste of the playoffs to tide us over until next season. The point being: when midseason news vanishes, something will always rise to take its place, and for the Raiders, speculation has a nasty trend of rising to the top.
Tired of Losing
There is a lot of frustration amongst RaiderNation, and these rumors set the smoldering embers ablaze. Sure, every team would love to boast a top-tier offense and defense. Akin to every human would love their dream spouse and dream car. But, the Raiders’ goal of attaining an all-around great team might be easier than the latter example.
Deep End
This offseason, the NFL free agency pool teems with impressive defensive talent that Las Vegas could acquire. On the other hand, there are minor, in-house adjustments the Raiders can make on offense that would fire their efficiency through the roof. Refocusing their red zone offense to something a bit more basic (because whatever Gruden has been instilling has been quite subpar) like getting Darren Waller involved would prevent the team from leading the league in redzone field goals.
Collective Wrong
The typical hivemind around the responses to speculations around Las Vegas. While there is no denying it would help, solely having a superstar on one’s free-agent wish list shows a lack of thought and effort. The Raiders do not have a strapped salary cap this season and can get creative with multiple free agents, improving their team and proving wrong the neverending rumors.
Stop the Nonsense
Rumors can get us through the offseason, but believing every posted rumor catalyzes absolute turmoil. Do your own research, ignore oddsmakers putting the Raiders at the top of the list of “(Insert Superstar Here)’s Landing Spot.” It is incredibly simple to get caught up in the “If I Were GM” hypotheticals, but it is also important to remember that the people in charge probably know what is best.
