Tag: 9th Island

Marcus Mariota says the ‘stability’ of the Raiders led him to Las Vegas

The Raiders haven’t been regarded as a stable franchise in years. At least one player thinks they’ve found solid ground.

It’s been a while since the Raiders were called a stable franchise. But the team’s new QB, Marcus Mariota, named stability as a major factor in signing a free-agent deal with Las Vegas. 

Mariota cited coach Jon Gruden and the club’s front office. Gruden is a fixture with the club after signing a 10-year contract in 2018, and general manager Mike Mayock is in his second year with Las Vegas and has a close relationship with Gruden. 

Another factor for Mariota was playing closer to his home, Hawaii. Las Vegas is not only geographically closer than Nashville, where Mariota played with the Titans for the last five years, but Las Vegas is sometimes referred to as Hawaii’s “ninth island,” due to its large Hawaiian population.  

Mariota praised his time in Nashville but told Rob DeMello of KHON News that his entire family is excited to be in Las Vegas. Still, it’s the Raiders he’s most excited about. 

“It’s an opportunity to be closer to home and also to be part of a great organization,” he said. “I had two priorities while I was going through this free agency process: No. 1 was to find stability. I wanted to be part of an organization that had a stable head coach, that had stability in the front office. 

“And then secondly I wanted to be part of a coaching staff that could bring out the best in me — that could embrace my talent. The cherry on top was being closer to home and being in Vegas. I can’t stress it enough; we’re so excited.”

The Raiders have been one of the league’s most unstable teams since it’s last Super Bowl appearance, a loss to the Buccaneers after the 2002 season.

But Gruden clearly isn’t going anywhere, and with Mayock on board and seemingly infatuated with building a winner, the Raiders are finding solid ground. The club’s brand new stadium in Las Vegas only adds to the team’s newfound stability. 

As for Mariota, he enters his tenure with the Raiders as the clear backup to Derek Carr, but the former No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft has the mobility Gruden covets, and he’s clearly looking to maximize his potential under the tutelage of his new coach. 

And his contract causes one to ponder whether he could take Carr’s job. It’s worth a minimum of $7.5 million for one year, but if Mariota starts and wins for Gruden, he’ll earn starter-type money. 

With Carr entering his third year in Gruden’s offense after showing progress in 2019, the QB position is already solid. But with Mariota’s experience and talent providing a solid backup plan, he adds to the Raiders’ burgeoning, surprising stability. 

Marcus Mariota makes it clear, the Raiders are Derek Carr’s team

New Raiders QB Marcus Mariota is the former No.2 pick in the NFL draft, so how does he feel about being Derek Carr’s backup in Las Vegas?

Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy at Oregon, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft and has started 61 games as a pro at just 26 years old. 

But he enters his tenure with the Raiders as the clear backup to quarterback Derek Carr. It’s fair to wonder how he’ll react to that reality, especially given that Mariota lost his own starting job with the Titans last season to his former backup, Ryan Tannehill.

Also to be considered is Mariota’s contract with Las Vegas, which could balloon up to $37.5 million over two seasons if he starts and wins for his new team. 

Mariota was clear that the Raiders are Carr’s squad, however. The QB sounded like a team player in his interview with Rob DeMello of KHON News, saying he’s there to make Carr’s job easier by helping to provide a strong, supportive QB room. 

“First and foremost, this is Derek’s team. I understand that going in,” Mariota said. “My priorities going into free agency was to be a part of a team that I felt could bring out the best in me. Whatever comes of that, I’m ready for it.

“But I do know that to play starting quarterback in the NFL, to be at that spot, is not an easy job to do. When it comes down to it, a strong, stable, supportive quarterback room makes that job a whole lot easier, and that’s what we have to do. I’m [gonna] do my best to support Derek in every possible way that I can and along with that I’m going to try to become the best player I can be and see where that takes me.”

While Mariota was blunt in his assessment of the depth chart at quarterback, it’s also clear from his comments that he’s a competitor and wants to bring his promising career to fruition.

That will be the aim of coach Jon Gruden and his staff, as well, adding to the strength of the Raiders’ QB room at the very least. And as Mariota says, we’ll see where the process takes him.