Answering Your Las Vegas Raiders Questions, Emails

The Las Vegas Raiders are one of the world's most influential professional sports franchises, and we take time each week to answer the questions of a rabid fan base.

HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders are in the midst of training camp, and today we answer some of the questions and emails from Raider Nation.

Hello, Hondo. Can you give me one good reason why the Raiders have gone silent to Josh Jacobs and won’t deal? I read this story, and I am so angry at the team. We need Josh. C. Barnwell

I am not sure where you read it, but it is false. The Raiders haven’t closed off any communication. They want Josh here. They made legitimate offers that Josh didn’t want. The door is open, but expect him here in week one.

Hi Hondo, someone needs to sit Jacobs down and tell him the truth, not fairytales. It’s not what he thinks he’s worth as a running back, but what the market will bear! Looking at other contracts, 10 million a year will be a high cap hit going forward. If he takes the tag this year and next, that’s over 21 million. If he doesn’t, then it will take him 3 or 4 years to make over 20 million. I’m afraid if he gets released, he will have to sign a 1-year deal for around 8 million MAX! That’s not a good business move on his part; his agent is blowing smoke and wants a bigger payday. Oliver S.

No one needs to educate Josh. He is a grown man, and he has counsel around him.

Hondo, assuming that Jimmy Garoppolo is to get injured, is he replaced by Brian Hoyer or Aidan O’Connell? Craig M

If it is early in the season or the team is in a competitive spot, it would be Hoyer.

Last year there were a lot of positive reports for the offense that didn’t wholly manifest in the actual games. Is there anything specific you’ll be looking at during this training camp to see if the players have mastered the offense or if the offense has improved? Thank you, Chris B.

Great question. Yes, and I have alluded to some of it. I love their work on the short game, the accuracy, and the distribution of the football in the soft zone, seven-twenty-five yards.

Hondo. The Raider franchise is not what it used to be. And it all starts at the top. Is Mark the owner with the experience and vision to lead us out of the perpetual malaise? Dean G

Dean, Mark Davis has something that most owners don’t. Most owners are industry titans and are used to being super successful in the business world. They think football is easy. Mark is sincere that he knows what he doesn’t know. He is a good businessman, which is why with Gruden’s ten-year deal, and the present deal with Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels, he wants continuity and football people to do their thing. I think he can.

Hi Hondo, Marcus Allen is my favorite football player of all time. Why did he fall out of favor with Al Davis? I remember reading that it was because Marcus held out during contract negotiations, but everyone occasionally does that. That can't be it. Your thoughts? Much appreciated, Kevin C.

I did not cover the team then. However, I got a similar story when talking to people that did and players on the team at the time. “If Al didn’t feel like you were 100% committed to the Raiders, he was not a big fan.” You can read anything into that, but I can tell you this. Not one person I spoke with felt Marcus wasn’t committed to the Raiders; they felt Al had overreacted.

Hondo, do you feel at this point, with limited information, that Aidan O’Connell has a real chance to be a starting NFL QB? Elise R.

Based only on what I know now, I think absolutely. He is only a rookie and has a ways to go, but he has all the intangibles.

Just left Vegas on the way back to New Mexico, listening to your podcast about your observations. I respect your work. I have a question, are there limits to what you can ask in pressers? Like things fans talk about and think about. Like Coach McDaniels says things, and then they turn out to be or seem to be flat-out lies. For instance, Waller will be a big part of the offense and they trade him. Those are questions fans want to know from the coach... or are you not supposed to go so direct at the coaches. Carlos T

I appreciate your question, Carlos. I have NEVER had anyone with the Raiders tell me what I can or can’t ask. I will tell you this. From time to time, we know things off the record that we can’t ask about. Sometimes some details aren’t public. I don’t expect you to believe me, but when Josh said that about Waller, I know he 100% meant it. From the time he said it until Waller was traded, I can tell you that things changed. You can choose to believe that McDaniels lied, and I would understand. I won’t say that, nor do I believe it.

If you have a question or email you would like to submit for us to consider using, please email us at SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com and put Raiders Q/A in the subject line.

The Silver and Black open the preseason by hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT.

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