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This wouldn’t occur to Kellen Moore, Ben Johnson or Mike McDonald. However for “some odd motive,” Antonio Pierce has to take care of it.
When the Las Vegas Raiders went into Arrowhead Stadium on Monday and upset Kansas Metropolis, 20-14, it wasn’t simply extra proof that the absences of Eric Bieniemy and Tyreek Hill have modified the way in which we have a look at the Chiefs, it additionally served as the most recent instance of why the interim tag shouldn’t be hooked up to Pierce’s title.
“Hell of a job by these guys, our employees, [defensive coordinator] Patrick Graham … it’s powerful,” Pierce mentioned as he bought emotional after the sport.
“That is what we needed. We mentioned sufficient is sufficient. It was going to take all 60 minutes and it did. Hell of a job by our offense to complete it.”
On a day through which the NFL proved that it may snatch Christmas away from the NBA, Baltimore’s 33-19 street victory over San Francisco could also be what many are specializing in, as Lamar Jackson used the postgame press convention to name out the “disrespect” he and his crew handled earlier than the sport. Nevertheless, the actual disrespect of the previous couple of weeks has come from Raiders proprietor Mark Davis as he’s but to announce Pierce as Las Vegas’ everlasting head coach.
Ever Since Pierce took over when Josh McDaniels was fired, the Raiders have gone 4-3, beat the Chargers and Chiefs, and at 7-8, aren’t utterly out of the playoff image. Monday’s win was additionally the Raiders first over Kansas Metropolis since 2020, and solely their second time beating Patrick Mahomes.
Nevertheless, the actual motive Davis’ inaction is so disrespectful to Pierce is as a result of it’s far too usually one other instance of how racism works within the NFL, particularly in the case of Black coaches.
Historical past — and house owners — haven’t been kind to Black men who wear the interim tag. Between 2010 and final fall, there had been 14 instances when a white coach served beneath the interim tag. In that very same time-frame, there was by no means a time through which a Black interim coach was changed by one other Black coach. Leslie Frazier (2010) and Romeo Crennel (2011) are a number of the few exceptions in league historical past through which a Black interim coach has been promoted.
It’s as if Mark Davis doesn’t wish to study from Dave Tepper’s mistake.
“I had a chat with Steve (Wilks), no guarantees have been made, but when he does an unbelievable job, he needs to be in consideration,” Panthers owner Dave Tepper said last October when Wilks was introduced as Carolina’s interim coach. Tepper selected Frank Reich over holding Wilks — a decision that went against what the players wanted. Tepper fired Reich (1-10) final month, the Panthers are atrocious, and Wilks has been vindicated as he serves because the 49ers defensive coordinator.
With video games left in opposition to the Colts and Broncos — two groups who’re additionally nonetheless preventing to make the postseason — the Raiders may make issues fascinating in the event that they win out. However even when they don’t, Antonio Pierce has already proven why he needs to be the following full-time Black head coach within the NFL, as we’ve been pressured to observe — once more — the hurdles that Black coaches should take care of.
“I really feel just like the No. 1 factor I can say about him is he’s simply direct,” Raiders star defensive finish Maxx Crosby said about Pierce last month. “He’s blunt about all the things, he’s going to provide the fact. Generally you don’t wish to hear it, however you’d reasonably have that than any individual sugarcoat sh*t. A man like AP, you’ve bought to respect it, as a result of he’s been a participant, he’s been in our sneakers, he’s been on the opposite aspect — he’s been teaching — and he’s seen all of it. A man like that, that may step in entrance of the room and demand respect, it makes all people else be a bit extra dialed in, have a bit little bit of nervousness — like, I must be on level, however on the similar time, you wish to play for any individual like that as a result of you realize he’s bought your again.”
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