In one week since firing coach Josh McDaniels, the amount of goodwill the Raiders have engendered from the rest of the football world has ticked decidedly upward.
First, there was the general mood of Las Vegas's players in the immediate aftermath of the firing—joking around and playing with a mini basketball in the locker room in spite of the team's mediocre record.
Then, the Raiders actually won—authoritatively, in fact, shelling the Giants 30-6 in Nevada on Sunday.
On Tuesday, the good times kept rolling from a public relations standpoint. NFL fans ladled out praise toward Las Vegas interim coach Antonio Pierce as video circulated of him explaining why the Raiders' practice squad players were allowed on the sideline during the victory.
I love this: Practice squad players usually are not on the sideline for games. #Raiders HC Antonio Pierce changed that and made sure they were for his first game as head coach.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 7, 2023
His explanation tells you all you need to know about why the players are all in for him.
This is a… pic.twitter.com/UQxdwBtWgG
"They got a Raiders uniform. Those guys bust their tails," Pierce said when asked about the change. "Every man's in there. You're on the team, you're part of the team, you're in there on gameday... the way we practice those two days and what we ask them to do, they deserve to be on our sideline."
Among those complimentary of Pierce's approach was former Browns fullback Johnny Stanton, an NFL practice squad frequent flyer.
This right here. People don’t realize the practice squad struggle. Game day is different at every organization and some treat their p squad players better than others. Love to see Coach Pierce showing love to the PS guys. https://t.co/MnsWudDdlE
— Johnny Stanton (@johnnystantoniv) November 7, 2023
A number of fans clamored for Las Vegas to consider Pierce as its next full-time coach.
THIS is how a coach changes culture. I love it man. I wish him the best and I hope he gets a real shot https://t.co/dSLllZE3j7
— 🪖UNCLE RONNIE!!!! 🦹🏽♂️ (@SooEffinAWEsome) November 7, 2023
This is awesome.
— C🅾️mmissi🅾️ner 🅱️reeze 🏈🏆🏀⚾️ (@mcbreeze11) November 7, 2023
Would love for Pierce to become their HC full time. https://t.co/rzo6hf0ljQ
New York fans lamented that the organization had let Pierce, a former Pro Bowl middle Iinebacker for the Giants, get away.
I don't get why the Giants didn't even interview AP.
— Belt Guy (@ThisIsNotZain) November 7, 2023
Bring back your quality players that have something to offer in the coaching realm. https://t.co/4Oypzb7PNJ
Quarterback Kyle Sloter, another practice squad regular, wrote that he would "run through a brick wall for" Pierce despite never having met him.
AP is going to do well. I’d run through a brick wall for that guy and I’ve never even met him 😂 https://t.co/axNJgaEZm1
— Kyle Sloter (@KyleSloter) November 7, 2023
The Raiders will look to keep up their image makeover Sunday evening, when they host the Jets on Sunday Night Football.
