Tag: Antonio Pierce

Fantasy football reaction: 2024 NFL coaching changes recap

A fantasy football response to all of the coaching changes around the NFL.

Six of the eight new NFL head coaches are from the defensive side of the ball, which makes their choices at offensive coordinator that much more important. The two head men with a background coaching the offense — Dave Canales and Brian Callahan — both intend to call plays in addition to being their respective team’s final decision maker.

We’ll focus mostly on offensive changes for two primary factors: Fantasy defenses typically are interchangeable week to week and aren’t nearly as consequential, and defensive fantasy production tends to be far more personnel-driven than schematic success, outside of a few proven systems.

Raiders HC Antonio Pierce explains novel approach to defending Patrick Mahomes

#Raiders HC Antonio Pierce explained Las Vegas’ new approach to defending Patrick Mahomes.

Every team in the AFC West aims to find a way to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs and dethrone their dominance over the division. The six consecutive AFC West champions have had their way with the rest of the division, with the other three teams consistently retooling in the offseason.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce experienced some success against the Chiefs in 2023 with his shocking victory at Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas Day. The outspoken former linebacker spoke with Maxx Crosby on his podcast “The Rush” about his special rules for facing Patrick Mahomes.

“We’ve got the Jordan rules and what I’m calling, from now on as long as I’m here, the Patrick Mahomes rules,” Pierce said. “You remember when Jordan was going through it with the Pistons? All those guys in the ’80s; before he became Michael Jordan, Air Jordan, the Pistons used to whip his [expletive].

“Any time he came to the hole? Elbows, feeling him, love taps. We touched him. We’re in the head, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually; I’m touching you. So, I showed those guys Jordan getting his ass whooped.”

The Jordan Rules were created by the infamous 1980s Detroit Pistons in the NBA to slow down Michael Jordan’s effectiveness on offense. Pierce comparing Mahomes to Jordan is highly praised and shows an interesting mindset to be extra physical in their matchups.

Crosby has already demonstrated his willingness to get chippy with Mahomes, so it appears the plan is well underway.

Antonio Pierce wants the Raiders to beat up Patrick Mahomes like the Pistons did to Michael Jordan

Antonio Pierce is introducing the “Mahomes Rules” for the Raiders.

Even while the Kansas City Chiefs won their third Super Bowl title in five seasons, Antonio Pierce’s Las Vegas Raiders were one of the teams to show Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes was a little more mortal than usual.

And according to Pierce, it’s because he introduced the “Mahomes rules” to his team. If you’re familiar with the old-school NBA and how the Detroit Pistons used to beat a young Michael Jordan (one of Mahomes’ analogs), you know what he means by the phrase: Beat up the Chiefs’ superstar face-of-the-league quarterback by any means necessary.

Pierce explained his thought process to Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby in the latest episode of his “The Rush” podcast:

“We’ve got the [Michael] Jordan rules and what I’m calling, from now on, as long as I’m here, the Patrick Mahomes rules,” Pierce said. “So, you remember when Jordan was going through it with the Pistons, all those guys in the ’80s; before he became Michael Jordan, Air Jordan, the Pistons used to whup his ass. Any time he came to the hole? Elbows, feeling him, love taps. We touched him. We’re in the head, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually; I’m touching you. So, I showed those guys Jordan getting his ass whupped.”

The Pistons famously rode their Jordan rules to three straight playoff wins over Jordan’s still-ascending Chicago Bulls in the late 1980s. The Raiders under Pierce can count on one shellacking of Mahomes’ Chiefs on Christmas Day 2023, where they finished with four sacks and 10 quarterback hits.

Whether Pierce’s insistence and focus on pummeling Mahomes translates to more consistent success against the NFL’s red and gold standard is something we won’t have an answer for until next fall.

Raiders want to imitate Detroit Pistons ‘Jordan Rules’ to deal with Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

Raiders emulating Detroit Pistons ‘Jordan Rules’ with Patrick Mahomes

Remembering the Raiders’ impressive win against the Super Bowl champion Chiefs on Christmas will help Raiders fans get through the long offseason. But if the Raiders want to become legit contenders, they’ll have to figure out how to beat the Chiefs on a regular basis.

That’s a tall task. Kansas City is led by the best quarterback in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes, who is squarely in his prime.

Before Christmas, coach Antonio Pierce used a tactic to motivate his team that he says he’ll keep using. He plans to emulate the Detroit Pistons’ method for dealing with the great Michael Jordan in the NBA, also known as the “Jordan Rules.”

Essentially, the Raiders want to be as physically rough with Mahomes as possible. That’s how the “Bad Boy” Pistons dealt with Jordan.

“We’ve got the Jordan Rules and we’ve got what I’m calling now as long as I’m here, the Patrick Mahomes Rules,” Pierce said on Maxx Crosby’s The Rush Podcast. “You remember when Jordan was going through it with the Pistons, all those guys in the ’80s before he became Air Jordan, the Pistons used to whip his [behind]. Any time he came to the hole: elbows, feeling him, love taps. We’re in his head, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually.

“So I showed my guys Jordan getting his [tail] whooped, consistently.”

Pierce said he also showed his team clips of boxing and mixed martial arts fights to motivate his team to play the Chiefs on Christmas.

This isn’t the first connection between the Raiders and the Bad Boy Pistons, who won two NBA titles. Those Pistons, led by guard Isiah Thomas and center Bill Laimbeer, wore Raiders gear. They wanted to emulate the Raiders, who were then known as the bad boys of the NFL.

Of course, Jordan eventually got past the Pistons and won six NBA titles with the Bulls. But the Pistons made him work for it, defeating Jordan in the Eastern Conference Finals in each of their championship seasons.

The Raiders’ situation is a bit of a reversal. Mahomes has already won three NFL championships and appears poised to win more. The Raiders have to slow his stride as best they can.

It should help that the NFL is a physical sport, especially compared to the NBA. Even with rules to protect NFL quarterbacks, it’s still every team’s goal to hit the opposing QB as often as possible. Pierce’s “Patrick Mahomes Rules” should only help as the Raiders look to knock the Chiefs off their pedestal.

Antonio Pierce wants the Raiders to be the greatest show in Las Vegas, ‘the sports mecca of the world’

Antonio Pierce wants the Raiders to be the greatest show in Las Vegas

Once upon a time — not too long ago — an NFL team in Las Vegas seemed unfathomable. Now, after Las Vegas hosted Super Bowl LVIII, it’s more clear than ever that the NFL belongs in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Of course, the Raiders have proved that already. Since they moved to Las Vegas in 2020, demand for tickets at Allegiant Stadium has been consistently high.

But that demand is largely driven by visiting fans. The NFL in Las Vegas is thriving as the Raiders struggle to build a winning program. It stands to reason that if the Raiders can build a dominant franchise once again, it would make for a show never before seen by the NFL or perhaps any other sports league in history.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce understands this. He told “The Pivot” podcast that he has a “unique” opportunity to make the Raiders winners once again in Las Vegas, which NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has called “Sports Town USA.”

“I think the most unique part would be doing it in the sports mecca of the world now,” Pierce said after being asked what it would mean to bring prestige back to the Raiders. “Vegas is that now. I mean, the show is here. I told our guys, ‘We need to become the greatest show that everybody wants to come to Vegas and watch.’ ”

In addition to Raiders fans from around the world, both old and new, wanting to visit Las Vegas to watch their team, Las Vegas locals have shown they’re more than willing to fervently support a winning franchise. The NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights have sold out every home game since their inception.

But honestly, nobody knows what a dominant NFL team in Las Vegas would be like. It’s never been done, but it figures to be awesome in the realest sense of the word. Pierce truly has a unique opportunity to create a spectacle that Las Vegas hasn’t seen in its fabulous, neon-colored history.

All the ingredients are there: the most popular sport in the U.S., the Entertainment Capital of the World and one of the greatest sports franchises in history. All that’s left to do is Just Win, Baby.

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Raiders HC Antonio Pierce gets zero votes for best coaching hire from NFL decision makers

Raiders HC Antonio Pierce finishes last in poll of anonymous NFL execs

As the Raiders embarked on their search for a new coach this offseason, there was seemingly only one choice for owner Mark Davis. Interim coach Antonio Pierce earned strong support from his players as he led the team to a 5-4 finish. Notably, superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby threatened to seek a trade if Pierce wasn’t retained.

Davis hired Pierce as his permanent coach and never interviewed the hottest name in the coaching market, Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh, the former 49ers and University of Michigan coach, is now leading the Chargers. In an anonymous poll of NFL executives and coaches conducted by The Athletic, Harbaugh was voted best coaching hire. Meanwhile, Pierce received zero first, second, or third-place votes.

In fact, in an article loaded with anonymous comments from the seven NFL decision-makers — four executives and three coaches — there were no quotes about Pierce. There was only a short paragraph about the Raiders coach at the end of the piece.

Pierce was promoted after serving as the interim coach following Josh McDaniels’ midseason firing. The Las Vegas Raiders were 5-4 under Pierce, who was a popular leader with the players who publicly pined for him to get the job.

While this is definitely a slight to Pierce, it says more about how well-regarded Harbaugh is. He’s won everywhere he’s coached. In a perfect world, the Raiders would’ve gone after Harbaugh or interviewed him at the very least.

But Pierce made such a strong impression within the Raiders organization, the job was his all along. There’s no guarantee Harbaugh would’ve taken an interview, anyway. It appears he wanted to join a team with a franchise quarterback already in place.

Pierce has talked often about the “Raider Way.” Much of the Raiders’ mystique involves being unconventional. He has a chance to embody the Raider Way by proving he’s every bit as good a hire as Harbaugh, no matter how unconventional his hiring may seem to NFL observers.

Years from now, we’ll have more answers. In the meantime, the Raiders’ two matchups against the Chargers will have even more intrigue than usual, as Pierce and Harbaugh battle for bragging rights and the AFC West crown.

Antonio Pierce details ‘training camp’ style first practice as Raiders coach: ‘We got to get back to physical football’

Raiders HC Antonio Pierce: ‘We got to get back to physical football’

Anyone who watched the Raiders beat the Super Bowl-champion Chiefs on Christmas knows that Antonio Pierce unlocked a physical style of football when he became the interim coach in Las Vegas.

The Raiders physically dominated Kansas City, who used the beatdown as motivation to win it all yet again this season. So how did Pierce get his players to respond in such a way? When did it start?

In a wide-ranging, insightful interview, Pierce told The Pivot Podcast that it started on Day 1 of his regime. Specifically, his first practice as the man in charge of the Raiders.

“We go out to practice; it’s November 1st. We put the pads on: 15 straight plays. All runs,” Pierce said, making a gesture with his hands implying the team moved down the field. “[Then we] bring it back. We did that for an hour. Straight training camp [stuff].

“I said we need to get that aggression out, that anger out. We got to get back to playing physical football. I went to all of them and said, ‘Y’all just got to trust what I’m trying to do. And trust in one another and let’s do it together.'”

It’s impressive that Pierce could run an abbreviated training camp mid-season and still inspire the Raiders roster. In today’s NFL, physicality is generally limited in practice. Plus, Pierce’s roster was already disgruntled, due to the Raiders’ previous regime, run by ex-coach Josh McDaniels.

Pierce’s recollection of that day speaks to his disciplinarian streak as a coach. Team owner Mark Davis has said it’s one reason Pierce earned the full-time job in Las Vegas.

That pairs well with his reputation as a coach who can relate to players. Pierce was a Super Bowl-winning middle linebacker for the Giants, as most know. His motivational skills were evident as he led the Raiders to a 5-4 record to close the 2023 campaign, salvaging a season that had gone dreadfully wrong.

Pierce has tapped into his players’ innate love for football — because physicality is the most important part of the sport, no matter how much it evolves. As the Raiders finished strong last season, it was clear: they love football, therefore they love to hit the opponent. Pierce will try to cement that as part of the Raiders identity once again, just as it was during the franchise’s best days.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce talks Magic Johnson’s recruitment of Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury

Antonio Pierce confirms, yes, Magic Johnson helped recruit Kliff Kingsbury to Washington.

As it turns out, Magic Johnson did help deliver Kliff Kingsbury to the Washington Commanders as offensive coordinator.

Two weeks ago, it appeared that Kingsbury was landing back in the NFL as the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders. Then, the next day, we heard Kingsbury was in the mix to be the next offensive coordinator for Dan Quinn and the Commanders.

What happened?

On Feb. 5, NFL insider Ian Rapoport went on the NFL Network to say it was Johnson — one of Washington’s minority owners — who helped Kingsbury decide the Commanders were the right fit for him.

We didn’t hear anything else regarding Johnson and Kingsbury.

Until this week.

New Raiders coach — and former Washington linebacker — Antonio Pierce joined “The Pivot” podcast with another former Washington player, Ryan Clark, where he was asked about Kingsbury ending up with the Commanders.

Pierce gave a nod to Johnson.

“National Football League, not for long,” Pierce said when Clark asked him what happened with Kingsbury. “So, you’re right; I thought we had a guy, but not for long. Til you put pen to paper, that’s the one thing I’ve learned. No different than in free agency. Teams are recruiting, and things are going on. Listen, Magic Johnson is pretty good. I guess he can still dish it out a little bit. If I’m losing to Magic, I’m ok with that. At the end of the day, if it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. That’s fine.”

Here’s the exact clip:

Pierce and Clark go way back. Pierce entered the NFL in 2001 as an undrafted free agent from Arizona. Marty Schottenheimer gave him a chance, and he’d eventually become a starting linebacker. Clark joined Washington in 2004, and they instantly became friends as former undrafted free agents and unsung heroes on a terrific defense.

As for Johnson, it’s good to see the Commanders using every resource available, including one of the best athletes of all time, to help them land the coach they wanted.

Here’s the entire episode:

Raiders’ Antonio Pierce attempted to lure Jessie Armstead away from Giants

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce attempted to lure Jessie Armstead away from the New York Giants to no avail.

Former New York Giants defensive captain and current Las Vegas Raiders head coach, Antonio Pierce, reportedly ‘pursued’ Giants special assistant Jesse Armstead for a similar position with the Raiders.

Armstead is apparently choosing to stay put with Big Blue.

Pierce served as the Raiders’ interim head coach after Josh McDaniels was fired midseason last year. He went 5-4 as the coach and was hired to the job full-time last month.

Armstead, like Pierce, was a former star linebacker for the Giants and has served as a Giants’ special assistant and consultant to the general manager since 2008.

As a player, Armstead was a five-time Pro Bowler and is a member of the Giants’ Ring of Honor.

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Eli Manning talks Super Bowl, Spags, Mahomes/Purdy, and his rap battle with Tom Brady

In a recent one-on-one with Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar, Eli Manning discussed Steve Spagnuolo, Mahomes and Purdy, and his rap battle with Tom Brady.

This week, I spoke with former New York Giants quarterback and two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning about several subjects related to Super Bowl LVIII… and not. Here’s what we discussed, courtesy of Verizon, the official 5G network of the NFL.

  • How current Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator (and former Giants defensive coordinator) Steve Spagnuolo set Tom Brady and the New England Patriots up for a shocking offensive failure in Super Bowl LVIII.
  • Eli’s thoughts on how Patrick Mahomes has improved as a quarterback this season.
  • Why the idea that Brock Purdy is a “game manager” is actually a good thing; and…
  • …his rap battle with the aforementioned Mr. Brady.

You can watch our interview right here:

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