Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff Writer September 29, 2024, 9:30pm ET
Close Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and is the Las Vegas Raiders reporter. His multi-platform roles include writing for ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Prior to joining ESPN, Mr. Gutierrez spent three years as a multi-platform reporter at CSN Bay Area, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics, and anchoring the cable news show SportsNet Central. Mr. Gutierrez has voted for the Baseball Hall of Fame, is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America, and currently serves as president of the Las Vegas chapter of the PFWA. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Mr. Gutierrez is the author of “Tommy Davis' Stories from the Dodgers Dugout,” “100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die,” and “If These Walls Could Talk: The Raiders' Side.” He is the author of three books: Stories from the Line, the Locker Room, and the Lincoln Kennedy Press Box. Follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN.
LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said it was a “testing week” for the team.
So after the Raiders' 20-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, tying their record at 2-2, Pierce said he was sorry.
Comments that some Raiders players made “business decisions” during the lackluster loss to the Carolina Panthers, and that the Raiders will likely make “business decisions” of their own as a result. I regret that I took part in the pseudo-chaos that started.
“There was a lot of commotion and stuff like that,” Pearce said Sunday. “I think you probably started with my comment, and I apologize for that. I don't want to distract from that, but… we just went to work every day. Throughout the week. Things became clear, but the guys never did anything, winced (or) blinked. ”
One player believed to have been targeted by Pierce's comments, starting cornerback Jack Jones, was seen missing several tackles late in the game against the Panthers, but did not play in the first quarter against the Browns. Ta.
Is it a business decision for your team?
“Yeah, that was my decision,” Pierce said. “That's between me and Jack.”
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Jones, who missed the Raiders' first two defensive series, had no anger in his voice after the game.
“Oh, that's a ball,” said Jones, who has known Pierce since high school in Long Beach, Calif., with a smile.
“I mean, if you're not awake, you're not awake. If you're awake, you've got to play…That's something you'll have to talk to the AP about, dude. I'm a player.” ”
Another problem this week is that Las Vegas lost two of its biggest stars in three-time first-team All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, who injured his hamstring during Thursday's practice, and three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby. It was the lack of. Left ankle sprain in Week 2, four other starters – tight end Michael Mayer (personal reasons), linebacker Devine Diablo (oblique), right tackle Thayer Mumford Jr. (ankle/ safety Marcus Epps (knee). Epps was placed on injured reserve this week.
Coach Pierce stated in Friday's press conference that neither Adams nor Crosby would play against the Browns, but it was later officially determined that Crosby was questionable to play on the injury report, contradicting his coach.
Crosby was inactive.
And even though Adams was on the sideline for the game — his hamstring seemed fine as he sprinted to celebrate fellow receiver DJ Turner's first career touchdown, an 18-yard run in the third quarter — –Crosby missed the first game. That wasn't the case during his six-year NFL career.
However, Crosby called his fellow defensive linemen into the Raiders' winning locker room in a subsequent video.
“Max was down, so somebody needed to step up,” defensive tackle Adam Butler said.
Next up is Paging, defensive end Charles Snowden, who has played in five NFL games in four years.
“Max is a great player, but just because of his playmaking and his energy, we all just accepted our roles and we knew that no one person was going to be Maxx Crosby.'' Snowden said. The Browns decided the game on a fourth-and-3 by Deshaun Watson at the Raiders' 9-yard line with 35 seconds left.
“It was going to take all of us.”
Talk about business decisions.
