Raiderstation

Call your shot....or add your own.

Dante Moore:

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Dante-Moore-QB-UCLA

Fernando Mendoza:

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Fer ... California

May the football godz look kindly down upon the feeble and inept.

SkullCrusher wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 9:34 am ^I don't share your opinion about what the league thinks of the Raiders. We've done nothing under Goodell and I see no concerns from him about the Raiders at all.

Raiders under Gruden first time, we were the bad boys again. Gannon was not viewed as a bad guy. W brought him in and the league all knows the villain is always more interesting than the hero. The league needs us to be viable. Everyone makes more money if we are viable. Mendoza is a fantastic story. Using him to make the next superstar player makes a ton of sense. They can manipulate that to get the result. It all comes down to whether they can force the refs to keep Mendoza safe. And the way to do that is put every questionable hit he takes on a repeat loop on the sports networks and be aggressive with the fines.

Attyla wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 10:02 am Raiders under Gruden first time, we were the bad boys again. Gannon was not viewed as a bad guy. W brought him in and the league all knows the villain is always more interesting than the hero. The league needs us to be viable. Everyone makes more money if we are viable. Mendoza is a fantastic story. Using him to make the next superstar player makes a ton of sense. They can manipulate that to get the result. It all comes down to whether they can force the refs to keep Mendoza safe. And the way to do that is put every questionable hit he takes on a repeat loop on the sports networks and be aggressive with the fines.

Goodell started in 2006 and we've done shit in the league since, the ratings haven't soured, he doesn't care. If we didn't have the first pick we are equal to the Jets and Browns. No one cares.

I also don't see the NFL doing what you say with Mendoza because in general they haven't worked that way like say the NBA had done. They'll let players sink or swim, because it seems you are alluding to we'll get special treatment because of Mendoza, I'll believe that when I see it. The NFL hasn't had to worry about things like this because they ratings just grow naturally.

I will surrender the "Taylor Swift effect" could be an exception, they see a whole legion of non-football females as an emerging market and corps do work that way, always looking out for who they "don't have", while taking for granted those they do have. A tale as old as the rise of the stock market. It's also why we are getting spoon fed international games as we know and the NFL is a private company ffs.

The Raiders don't exactly have the best drafting record...maybe we'll finally hit the jackpot...we're due.

Oaktown Superman wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 8:32 am

FYI: I made this.

Mark back in the day?

SkullCrusher wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 9:34 am ^I don't share your opinion about what the league thinks of the Raiders. We've done nothing under Goodell and I see no concerns from him about the Raiders at all.

Raiders under Gruden first time, we were the bad boys again. Gannon was not viewed as a bad guy. W brought him in and the league all knows the villain is always more interesting than the hero. The league needs us to be viable. Everyone makes more money if we are viable. Mendoza is a fantastic story. Using him to make the next superstar player makes a ton of sense. They can manipulate that to get the result. It all comes down to whether they can force the refs to keep Mendoza safe. And the way to do that is put every questionable hit he takes on a repeat loop on the sports networks and be aggressive with the fines.

Yes, I have said this many times. The NFL is a better league when the Raiders are relevant. As it is, against their efforts to become a full fledged dumpster fire the Raiders are still viewed as one of the leagues flag ship franchises.

As bad as things have been the Raiders have been to 11 conference championships. Which if I am not mistaken still ranks third all time.

Mendoza joining the Raiders is a great story. Great stories generate interest, opinions and polarizing shock jock rants. All of which generate revenue in today's hyper media age.

Watch how well his jersey sells once he is drafted.

And, the kid is well grounded enough to handle the attention and keep his perspective.

I am convinced the Brady factor coupled with the "awe shucks" personality of Mendoza and the bad boy reputation of the Raiders of the past is the perfect storm. Get the right coach, use a sizeable amount of money on the line and we will see a new greatness of the Raiders and the league is going to help.

Toast wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 11:25 am Yes, I have said this many times. The NFL is a better league when the Raiders are relevant.

I really want to believe this but it's been 25 years and the leagues peek success has been all throughout this time.
Cowboy's fans probably say the same about themselves and I'm still squarely f[raiders_icon]ck the Cowboys.

tatalalicious wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 8:09 am Pretty funny watching Dan Patrick all upset at the very idea of the Raiders drafting Mendoza, passionately arguing that they need to trade the pick and "build the team first"? Which will never make sense to me. Never seen anything like it before, all this concern for a team at the top of the draft picking a qb.

Dan Patrick needs to be told that we are building the team first. Our biggest need is QB and it has been for years. We're going to try and fill that need with the first pick this year AND we're going to address the line also. You can do two things at once Dan.

SkullCrusher wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 12:15 pm I really want to believe this but it's been 25 years and the leagues peek success has been all throughout this time.
Cowboy's fans probably say the same about themselves and I'm still squarely fck the Cowboys.

The league likes this too. The moniker of America's Team is used as promotional fuel to drive revenues. But they remain one of the most valuable franchises in sport. But hate drives revenue as well. Which is why they need us as well. They need to hate us once again.

Attyla wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 8:36 am I don't even worry about him looking like garbage in camp. The guy will know the playbook because he is smart. The coaches will work with him from day one. And that includes the offensive coaching staff. OC, QB coach and the head coach will all be providing him with the tools to play. So yea, he starts game one with better protection and the best friends a rookie QB can get. A good RB and a blue chip TE are perfect weapons for a rookie QB until he learns to process the quicker game. He is going to make mistakes. That is a given. Good, get that out of the way early so we can accelerate the process. Year 2 Caleb was in the playoffs and we have a way more accurate guy.

He's smart and he's driven to succeed, which is one of if not the most important characteristics you want in any athlete.

SkullCrusher wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 12:15 pm I really want to believe this but it's been 25 years and the leagues peek success has been all throughout this time.
Cowboy's fans probably say the same about themselves and I'm still squarely fck the Cowboys.

How many teams have their own fight song now that Hail to The Redskins is past tense? Regardless of how shitty we have been we are still apart of the leagues success as the Raiders are a global brand and one of the most valuable organizations in pro sports.

When Al was alive and leveling law suites at everyone the establishment largely disliked us, in some circles hated us, but...He fostered an image, and that image endures, even today.

If they get the coaching hire right I am very optimistic, more than I have been for sometime and I typically go into the season upbeat about the team.

WolfRaider wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 6:55 am 20 years ago he would’ve been seen as generational. He’s ticking every box you want from a franchise QB. From on the field and off it. But people will say he’s not worth a top 1st round pick. Like you said, because it’s the raiders taking him

People are enamored by running backs who can throw a little. Accuracy, timing, anticipation, ball placement are things of the past. (Except the majority of Super Bowl winning QBs have those)

Dr Death wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 7:20 am

Saw that, very good interviewer. Not a skill that is required but it is always nice to see a well spoken player.