I'm officially A Las Vegan (yeah, we're making that a word)
Let me get this straight for the record.
I'm from Staten Island, New York. I grew up where you root for the Jets or Giants because geography told you to. I didn't listen. I picked the Silver and Black when the Silver and Black were still in Los Angeles, then Oakland, then... well, you know the rest. I bled black and silver through snowstorms, through bad decisions, through 3-14 seasons.
Now I live in Las Vegas. Long enough that my blood type is half boardwalk fries, half desert dust. The Raiders didn't just move here. They followed me. At least that's what I tell people at the bar.
So here's your real, fresh-from-Henderson training camp report, from a guy who finally doesn't have to fly cross-country to watch his team practice in 110 degrees.
It's Actually Happening: Camp Starts TODAY
This isn't stale OTA fluff. Rookies report today, July 23, at the Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson. Veterans report July 28.
If you want to see it yourself, the Raiders just finalized open practices: Aug 2, 3, 7, 8 at 7:30 a.m. at Henderson, and a big night practice Aug 11 at 6 p.m. at Allegiant Stadium. Set your alarm. Bring water. Lots of water. This ain't Tottenville High in November.
The Quarterback Soap Opera: The Present and The Future
This is the story. Kirk Cousins is your Week 1 starter. That has been the plan since mandatory minicamp, and ESPN's Adam Schefter just stamped it again this week.
Cousins took literally every first-team rep in spring. Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, Heisman winner, Indiana's national title miracle man, was running with the 3s.
But here's the twist from the last 24 hours: The team is going to "sprinkle" Mendoza in with the first team in camp. ESPN analyst Ben Solak says expect him under 50% of first-team reps early, but he'll have a "fair shot" to win the job.
And the off-field drama? As of yesterday, Mendoza is STILL unsigned. The holdup is that $38.11 million signing bonus on his 4-year, $57.2M deal. His agents want it all upfront like Burrow and Lawrence got. The Raiders are playing hardball. He could technically not report today, same with Rams rookie QB Ty Simpson who is waiting to see what Mendoza gets.
The kid himself said it best in minicamp: Cousins is "definitely helping me a lot" and he's trying to absorb it by "osmosis". Which is very respectful, and very smart when the guy in front of you has played in this Klint Kubiak offense for years.
Kubiak, by the way, first-time head coach, first full training camp cycle as the man. He said it plain: "We're an improved team... what team we're going to become, we'll find out come training camp when we put pads on".
Translation: No more pajama football. Real football starts now.
Who Else to Watch When You're Melting in the Stands
1. Jermod McCoy - The Steal. Just signed yesterday, 8 hours ago. Fourth-round CB from Tennessee, but graded as a first-rounder before his knee injury. $5.7M deal, and the team was being cautious with him in minicamp. If he stays healthy, he's the best corner we have. If not... well, we knew the risk at pick 101.
2. Ashton Jeanty + Brock Bowers = Our Entire Offense. No disrespect to everyone else, but fantasy guys have it right: the Raiders are Bowers and Jeanty and pray for rain. Jeanty is getting "a lot of pressure" per Kubiak, who wants to use him like McCaffrey. Bowers is TE1 in the league, period.
3. Maxx Crosby. Still not a full participant to close minicamp. He was doing warmups, being Maxx, but they are bringing him back slowly. We need him more than water in August.
4. The Great Receiver Shrug. We signed Brandon Johnson, added Jalen Nailor from Minnesota (he knows Cousins and Kubiak), and we still have Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, Dont'e Thornton. It's... a room. One analyst rated it a 3 out of 10. So yeah, keep an eye on that battle.
The big picture: ESPN just ranked the Raiders 6th in under-25 talent in the NFL, up from 11th last year. Mendoza (23), Jeanty (22), Bowers (23), Bech, Thornton, Powers-Johnson... This is finally a young core, not just a bunch of veterans on their last shot looking for a team. Speaking of which, 12 guys from last year's 3-14 squad are still unsigned free agents. Telling.
So that's it from Henderson. I'm going to go put on sunscreen, find a Raiders hat that hasn't faded in the Vegas sun, and watch rookies report.
From a kid who used to watch games on a fuzzy TV in Staten Island, screaming at Al Davis through the screen, to a guy who can now drive 20 minutes to training camp — it feels surreal.
Just Win, Baby. Even if we have to wait until Kirk teaches Fernando how to take a snap from under center first.
See you at Allegiant.