Raiders have ‘maybe the happiest locker room ever’ after Josh McDaniels firing
The Raiders seem revitalized after team owner Mark Davis cleaned house with multiple firings, including head coach Josh McDaniels Tuesday night.
Vic Tafur of The Athletic described what “might have been the happiest locker room ever, and while no one was going to come out and say it, the reason was that the Raiders have a new head coach.”
Las Vegas All-Pro wideout Davante Adams was cracking jokes while he drained an 8-foot jumper over Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah on the new mini hoop in the Las Vegas locker room.
The feeling inside the locker room was lighter and players were looser, according to the report, which said offensive lineman were off to the side laughing and wrestling each other.
Adams, who’s been vocal about his frustration with the team’s struggles, explained the “definitive shift” that occurred and the team’s new mindset after Antonio Pierce replaced McDaniels.
Warning: Graphic Language
“Don’t get it confused, it’s not a celebration that we have a new coach and that there’s been changes made,” Adams said Thursday, per The Athletic. “It was time, obviously, one way or the other for some type of change. Just to bring a little juice in and revitalize the team a little bit.
“It’s more of a mindset that we’re trying to … not force, but just have moving forward to be as positive as possible.
“There is a definitive shift now where we can say things are different and we have an opportunity to change it. Our mindset is to have fun and enjoy our time in this building. It’s been feeling like work too much.”
Davis also fired general manager Dave Ziegler and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi in addition to McDaniels Tuesday.
Along with Pierce as head coach, Champ Kelly will serve as interim GM and quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree was promoted to offensive coordinator and play-caller.
Adams, defensive end Maxx Crosby, and running back Josh Jacobs reportedly had separate conversations with Davis following a team meeting with McDaniels where players aired grievances last Thursday.
Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow is happy not be “walking on eggshells” anymore.
“There is a different energy,” he said. “I think AP alluded to it, it’s fun when you have nothing to lose. Let’s go out there and have a great time and play hard and play fast.
“We’re not walking on eggshells everywhere.”
Crosby and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, who played with McDaniels in New England, praised Pierce for the energy he brings to the team.
“AP and I have had a great relationship ever since I’ve been here,” Crosby said. “I have the ultimate respect for him and the guys do as well.
“That’s all you can ask for, he is a leader of men and the guys are really responding well to the message that he is pushing.”
Eluemunor explained that “it wasn’t a good vibe” when McDaniels was head coach.
“A lot of us were trying to create energy on the sideline, and I’m sure fans could see it,” he said.
The wave of changes apparently has breathed new life into the Raiders following two embarrassing losses to the Bears and Lions.
Davis was reportedly unhappy with McDaniels’ decision to start Brian Hoyer — in place of an injured Jimmy Garoppolo — instead of O’Connell against in the disastrous 30-12 loss to the Bears.
The Raiders are now replacing Garoppolo with rookie O’Connell at quarterback going forward.
“Unfortunately, I had great hopes for Josh and Dave,” Davis told ESPN on Wednesday. “It just seemed we were going in the wrong direction.
“So, with the trade deadline, I just felt it was time to make a change, time to make a move.”
The Raiders (3-5) host the Giants (2-6) on Nov. 5.
