Everyone has an opinion on who the Las Vegas Raiders should hire to be the 23rd head coach in franchise history. We know it won’t be Jon Gruden, even if he is reportedly nearing a deal to join another NFL coaching staff.
Previous interim coach Rich Bisaccia’s not coming back, not as a head coach anyway. But Antonio Pierce? Like Bisaccia, Pierce led an impressive effort after the team’s head coach was removed, helping the Raiders finish 5-4 after a 3-5 start from Josh McDaniels.
Several players have voiced their support for Coach Pierce to earn the full-time head coaching title, but the Raiders haven’t committed to such a scenario. For now, the plan appears to involve team owner Mark Davis trying to aim high, targeting a proven solution before re-considering hiring Pierce. Yet, there’s one player who may revolt if another coach is hired.
Related: Antonio Pierce eyes Tennessee Titans’ head coach job, leaving Las Vegas Raiders behind?
Maxx Crosby threatens Las Vegas Raiders: Hire Antonio Pierce or trade me
If there’s one player the Las Vegas Raiders don’t want to piss off, it’s three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby, who has been named to the second-team All-Pro team twice in the past three seasons.
While several Raiders players have been vocal about their support for Coach Pierce, no one has been louder than Crosby. He’s made several public attempts, including one on Friday.
Other reports suggest Crosby has “drawn a line in the sand” over the Raiders’ coaching search. There’s no question where Crosby stands. He obviously wants Pierce to stay.
Yet, few likely thought Crosby felt so passionately about the Raiders’ head coaching hire that he’d actually go to the lengths of requesting a trade out of Las Vegas, depending on who gets the job.
However, According to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Crosby “will explore a trade request” if Pierce is not hired as the next Raiders head coach.
Later, Crosby essentially confirmed the report during his podcast on Saturday.
That’s quite the line in the sand for the best player on the team. Yet, it’s possible Crosby gets his wish with Pierce staying on board. After all, Michigan is doing its best to try and retain Jim Harbaugh, and if not the Wolverines, the Los Angeles Chargers are still chasing after the new college football champion.
Trading Crosby would definitely be a setback, even if it means getting a proven coach like Harbaugh. If those are the two options, the Raiders will have a very tough decision to make this offseason.
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