Raiderstation

You heard it here first.

Time for the future.

This is the beginning of training camp. I can give a rats ass how bad he looks (although I think he will look good). He will be ready for game 1 next year and show everyone he is a top tier franchise QB. BOOK IT!

I do not grade on a curve for rookies.

If QBs can win MVP as a rookie, then QBs can get an F grades out there as a rookie.
I’m not giving a C performance a B because he’s a rookie.

And I’m not bending over backwards to explain every interception and whether it’s his fault.

He’s on the field playing NFL Football this weekend—not special Raider Fan Super Explained and Excuse Filled Rookie Ball.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Mendoza will look fine, if not really good. It's a tough defense. They will impose their will on him, but I think there is a reason Mendoza was taken 1st overall. Dude has a talented arm and is a lot more athletic than most guys we've had at the position. He's also a student of the game, and has been studying this offense for months now.

I'm not settling for consolation prizes. The QB on the opposite side of the field is Drew Lock. Seahawks offense looked drastically worst when he got in the game. JSN had his worst game of the year. I think this is a winnable game for us and that is my expectations for Mendoza. The kid gloves are off!

Team and home crowd rallies around Mendoza, Mendoza balls out in his first start and pulls off a 4th quarter nail biting win.

Hey, why not...

The last decades of Raider fandom have left me with very low expectations as to what constitutes success. So as long as Fernando:

a) Keeps his weight under 300 lbs.
b) Doesn’t lie to his coaches about learning the playbook.
c) Doesn’t take amphetamines before a game.
d) Doesn't get a season ending injury….

I will be a happy man.

Marzan wrote: Wed Nov 11, 2026 5:29 am The last decades of Raider fandom have left me with very low expectations as to what constitutes success. So as long as Fernando:

a) Keeps his weight under 300 lbs.
b) Doesn’t lie to his coaches about learning the playbook.
c) Doesn’t take amphetamines before a game.
d) Doesn't get a season ending injury….

I will be a happy man.

And purple sizzurp.

I don't care whether we win or not (would love a win, just not going to be disappointed by a loss) because this is a training game.

But more importantly, this is the first time since Gannon that I have said, that is my QB out there. This weekend, that is my QB out there.

Marzan wrote: Wed Nov 11, 2026 5:29 am The last decades of Raider fandom have left me with very low expectations as to what constitutes success. So as long as Fernando:

a) Keeps his weight under 300 lbs.
b) Doesn’t lie to his coaches about learning the playbook.
c) Doesn’t take amphetamines before a game.
d) Doesn't get a season ending injury….

I will be a happy man.

At least I don't have to worry about him crying on the field. Mendoza is mentally tough.

Or fumbling it out of the end zone.

Twice.

Willmark wrote: Wed Nov 11, 2026 6:16 am Or fumbling it out of the end zone.

Twice.

Or putting us at 4th and 48

raider_kin wrote: Wed Nov 11, 2026 6:24 am Or putting us at 4th and 48

or having a mugshot

Just don't get injured. We are the Raiders after all.

Notes for…well any QB Really.

Lesson One: The end zone is where the ball is supposed to go.
Lesson Two: Preferably while still in your possession.
Lesson Three: Doing this more than once is bad. Really bad.

FYI amphetamines were pretty common before a game in the 70's, and Stabler, in his book talks about taking them quite often during the season. He said there was a bowl in the locker room and guys would grab handfuls of them and then head out. He said it was not uncommon to see guys beginning to tweak during the National Anthem.

Willmark wrote: Wed Nov 11, 2026 6:16 am Or fumbling it out of the end zone.

Twice.

I was done with him on the 2nd one.