Brown or no Brown, Raiders trustworthy received the MNF send-off they deserved
OAKLAND, Calif. — Let’s get this out of the best way first: So far as fashionable stadiums go, Oakland Alameda Coliseum is a dump. (That is a giant cause the Raiders are transferring to Las Vegas subsequent yr, to get the trendy stadium the Bay Space has no real interest in constructing.) However over time, even because it has slid additional right into a demise spiral of disrepair and neglect, the Coliseum has all the time retained a specific amount of attraction due to its historical past and its clientele.
Positive, there may be trash strewn in regards to the neighborhood that abuts the stadium, uncommon smells wafting out of each different tailgate and a touch of hazard that all the time lingers within the air (Is that blood on the bottom or is it barbecue sauce? Is that … Man Fieri hugging our coach?). However it’s all a part of a extraordinary neighborhood of people that really feel emotionally connected to this franchise, a lot of whom have felt that method for his or her complete lives.
Raiders followers have been exhausted, teased and affected by unhealthy soccer choices and unhealthy soccer groups for the higher a part of a decade, held hostage by a pair of householders seemingly hooked on nostalgia. But they’ve all the time turned out for residence video games with spectacular enthusiasm, ensconced in silver and black and prepared to direct menace on the opposing group. One thing distinctive and unique will disappear subsequent yr when the Oakland Raiders stop to exist; one thing company and soulless can be changing it, and that may be why it appeared like everybody there was absorbing each second of the ultimate residence opener on the Coliseum and the stadium’s closing Monday Night time Soccer sport.
“Monday Night time Soccer was once our night time!” former Raiders coach Tom Flores mentioned in an emotional pregame tribute to lately deceased Raiders. “So simply win, child!”
Even Raiders coach Jon Gruden could not resist becoming a member of in, sprinting to the top zone to high-five followers and even hugging a person in a full-body gorilla go well with earlier than the night time was over. “That is one of many causes I got here again to teach,” Gruden mentioned. “I miss happening to the Black Gap after a win. These individuals are crazier than I’m, and I am nuts.”
Derek Carr shined on Monday night time, although Jon Gruden joked after the sport that they’d “have to have a look at these 4 incompletions.” AP Photograph/D. Ross Cameron
Nobody knew what to anticipate from the Raiders in opposition to the Broncos, particularly coming off per week the place vast receiver Antonio Brown orchestrated one essentially the most weird chapters in franchise historical past, appearing out within the locker room and annoying the group on social media till they felt they’d no alternative however to launch him. (He shortly signed with the Patriots, resulting in theories about whether or not he’d duped the Raiders into releasing him.) A number of Bay Space sports activities discuss radio hosts puzzled earlier than the sport if the group may be on the verge of an embarrassing implosion. As an alternative, Oakland performed considered one of its greatest video games in years, beating Denver 24-16.
The Raiders, understandably, didn’t need to linger lengthy on the subject of Brown, particularly contemplating his theatrics had already been the dominant storyline for the whole thing of the group’s coaching camp. However Brown was definitely nonetheless on the minds of followers (notably these within the part referred to as the Black Gap, a lot of whom took the chance to talk “F— AB!” in unison each time the Raiders scored a landing or linked on a giant move).
“Let’s get the elephant out of the room — Antonio is not with us,” Raiders quarterback Derek Carr mentioned after the win. “We love Antonio, we want him the very best. However we knew with the fellows we had in our locker room, we already had soccer group. And if he needed to be part of it, superior. And if he did not, superior. I hope he goes off and has an amazing yr. However the guys on this locker room, the fellows who competed all offseason, we grinded, we got here collectively, we’re a household. This household is fairly particular and I am glad to be the quarterback and be part of it.”
Gruden was a bit much less magnanimous on the subject of Brown, confessing throughout his postgame information convention that he felt exhausted by all the affair. He rejected the premise that the group was motivated by Brown’s exit, and scoffed when the questions continued. “As a lot as folks speak about it, my God, I really feel like somebody is smashing my temple,” Gruden mentioned. “Recover from it, man. It is over. We have been good in preseason with out him. We will be nice with out him. We want him the very best. We gave it a shot, and now in New England, it is their flip. Good luck to them. However I simply can’t take care of it anymore. Sorry.”
“That is one of many causes I got here again to teach,” Jon Gruden mentioned Monday. “I miss happening to the Black Gap after a win.” Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Pictures
For all of Gruden’s bluster (and exaggerated facial contortions — his default expression throughout video games might be greatest described as “bemused suburban dad who cannot imagine you are making an attempt to tug a quick one on him, once more”), he stays among the best minds in skilled soccer in the case of diagramming performs and creating mismatches. Carr accomplished 22 of 26 passes for 259 yards and a landing. He confirmed sufficient creativity inside the construction of Gruden’s system that you might even think about the 2 of them working collectively long run, a growth that appeared unlikely final yr.
“We’ll have to have a look at these 4 incompletions and say, ‘What the hell have been you doing?'” Gruden joked. “However we predict his potential is off the charts, and now we have simply received to encompass him with loads higher gamers and higher teaching and he’ll be nice.”
Carr admitted after the sport that he had gotten emotional eager about the truth that it was his final residence opener in Oakland. It needs to be annoying, at occasions, to be the one remaining NFL group that shares its area with an MLB group, which means rock-hard dust from the infield takes up half the grass by October. It may be bizarre that the Raiders have to carry their postgame information conferences within the A’s indoor batting cage, or that an entire part of the higher deck is blocked off with a tarp. However this stadium continues to be residence to the one fan base Carr has ever identified. Sure, they gown like Darth Vader or the Crypt Keeper or Chuckie the murderous doll, however they’re household.
“I will be utterly sincere with you, and it’d make a few of you snigger,” Carr mentioned. “I do not suppose folks actually know the way a lot I like this place. Once I awakened this morning and got here to the stadium and I noticed that gold crest on my jersey, after I noticed my title on it and I knew this was the final time we’ll play the Broncos on this stadium, I had a tear in my eye. This implies a lot to me. Kenny Stabler, Tim Brown, Charles Woodson, I can go on and on, however to suppose that we get to be the final group that will get to play right here? That is fairly particular.”
“I do not suppose there’s a higher feeling than leaping into the Black Gap,” Josh Jacobs mentioned after scoring a fourth-quarter landing. AP Photograph/Ben Margot
When rookie working again Josh Jacobs scored early within the fourth quarter to basically put the sport out of attain, he could not resist jogging over towards the Black Gap and diving into the arms of frenzied Raiders followers. “I do not suppose there’s a higher feeling than leaping into the Black Gap,” Jacobs mentioned. “They have been cheering me on, like telling me to come back do it, earlier than I even thought of it.” When he made the leap, a gleeful lady in a crop prime threw her arms round him, then a military that appeared prefer it had as many hipsters as bikers joined in; black, white, Latino, Asian and Indian arms all thumping Jacobs’ shoulder pads.
Brown did not need any a part of this. He needed, apparently, what New England has to supply, which is comprehensible — he would possibly even get a Tremendous Bowl ring out of it. However the Raiders who stay — together with their head coach — are glad to see themselves as a rogue band of misfits, outcasts and afterthoughts who’re loyal to 1 one other above all.
For yet one more season, Oakland will get to be a part of that, too.