Pierce Has Seen Both Sides of Player-Team Interviews
Las Vegas Raiders Coach Antonio Pierce has an edge on many other NFL coaches as a former NFL player -- and a successful one at that.
Last week, at the NFL Combine, Pierce conducted his first player interviews as a head coach. While it was a first for him, it was not unfamiliar territory.
"It's cool because I get to call their bluff," Pierce said at the Combine last Wednesday, Feb. 28. "I know when they're BSing, so that's the best part of the interviews. We've been having a lot of fun with the guys in here because they come in here guarded.
"We'v got this booklet that's got thousands of information, all these things that we know about the player already, and it's cool to sit there and watch and see if they're going to tell the truth, be blunt and honest, or try to guard themselves. And we've gotten both. You've got guys who are so blunt where you're like: 'OK, hold on, that's a little too much information; I didn't need all that.'
"But then you got the other guy that's just like: 'Nope, never did nothing wrong, nope, nope.' Like, come on, man. Like Mr. Perfect.
"And it's cool to kind of see through that, and it's funny once we have a little bit more dialogue throughout this process, they open up more and more. But I mean, it's a very stressful time for these guys. I mean, multiple interviews, on the clock, you hear a horn buzzing, people yelling down the halls.
"It's really interesting to see who can stay focused throughout this time period and then, who takes it serious. Because these guys will get drafted, but that doesn't mean they will all be good pros. This is one step of the process.
Las Vegas Raiders Coach Antonio Pierce had a bit of an advantage interviewing players at the 2024 NFL Combine, as he was once in their shoes as an NFL linebacker.
© Robert Hanashiro | 2023 Nov 1
"So, you look for the guys, like I said, they've got that look in their eye. And you can really feel it, you can see the guys who are entitled, got NIL (name, image, and likeness), which is an issue because they come in kind of privileged in that sense, and they've got money in the bank. Well, when I came in the league, I was broke.
"Every little dollar I got, it meant something to me. ... So, I'm just looking for the right fit for us."
Pierce won a Super Bowl and was selected to a Pro Bowl in his nine seasons in the league.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.
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