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I'd at least like him to say that if he's suddenly called upon he'll be ready to go. It's one thing to be humble, it's another to say that after an entire offseason, training camp, and preseason that you have no business being on the field.raidersince63 wrote: Wed Sep 16, 2026 11:39 am So if he says "...I am nowhere near where I need to be." You think that means he believes he's "ready?"
I argue it goes a step further than that with some of these guys. JT is on the Raiders payroll, and as a result has some softball takes on the team. I like to go with the fan produced pods for this reason, sports journalism has gone to shit.Opoponax50 wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 10:48 am That's why I very rarely watch sportscasts of any kind. They don't and can't know the team like the fans do.
I agree. Get him on the field sooner than later. Even if they’re winning I’d still throw Mendozza out there.mstrbass2000 wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 10:06 am qb putting on less fat but more muscle is a positive, they can better take hits and also break tackles and buy time to throw down the field or run for yards
we need to get the kid in a soon as possible, kirk cousins is a manager with no upside and his popgun arm is a hindrance
Nitschke played 15 years for the Packers!!!!raidersince63 wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 10:20 am That's an old adage by Nietzsche in the late 1800's that doesn't hold up for this topic because it is about emotional grit, not physical calamities. Besides, I doubt that Nietzsche was a football fan.
Today's athletes are much bigger today which puts more stress on the back, hips, knees, ankles, feet, etc...and joints/ligaments are not as vascularized as muscle tissue.
And while a severe injury to FM may not kill him but could certainly curb his career...I want Mendoza for 10-12 years, not 3 or 4.
This team has been a door mat for way too long. If you're winning, you don't mess with what's working. There's certainly no way you switch your starting qb if you're team is winningSloth_Fratelli wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 11:07 am I agree. Get him on the field sooner than later. Even if they’re winning I’d still throw Mendozza out there.
Just like us, everyone has an opinion and nowadays all it takes is for someone to be anointed by some as an "expert" or an "insider", is someone with a computer and a USB microphone. In fact, they don't even have to be correct/factual...hell, in many cases, all they have to be is bombastic or wildly controversial.NoThanksSir wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 10:57 am I argue it goes a step further than that with some of these guys. JT is on the Raiders payroll, and as a result has some softball takes on the team. I like to go with the fan produced pods for this reason, sports journalism has gone to shit.
100%. He's definitely capable of startingchucker wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 11:00 am I think when Mendoza says he's nowhere near where he needs to be he's referring more to where he needs to be with the lofty standards he aspires to, and that are emblematic of a certain minority team owner. He's not where he needs to be to be league MVP and SB champion. That doesn't mean he couldn't start and doesn't believe he could start.
I am happy with Cousins starting for now. Lets see at least a couple more weeks of the offense before dropping Mendoza in. I expect Cousins to have some really rough weeks if he can't push the ball downfield to back the defense off. It doesn't look like he can. The transition to Mendoza likely happens because Cousins looks bad. I think Cousins likely gets his ass completely handed to him in week 4 by Spags and the Chiefs.
the future is mendoza, not cousins whom has zero upside a popgun arm ...the only thing lacking on ferenando is experience and the only way to get experience is to playSloth_Fratelli wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 11:07 am I agree. Get him on the field sooner than later. Even if they’re winning I’d still throw Mendozza out there.
Once we establish if the line has really improved, that is when I think he goes in.Dr Death wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 1:02 pm I understand those that want him to start now. I want to see him play too.
The other side of that is:
We finally have our QB of the future. As much as I want to see him out there... I also want him to be healthy and our QB for years to come. Kubiak and Brady both don't want him starting yet. They said as much before pre-season started. Most of us.... even those that support Mendo sitting for a while would love to see him out there.
He will play when Kubiak says he will play. He knows better than any of us.... his job literally depends on it...lol. I want to see him play but, I'll wait until Coach says so.
I can attest to this as my frame a few years ago was 6-3raidersince63 wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 7:46 am Mendoza doesn't need to gain an excessive amount of weight. For every 1 pound of weight gained, 4 pounds of stress is added to the back and joints, and that stress can even be doubled when running.
If the OL continues to improve he won't be harassed or sacked very often and too much weight added can result some adverse effects, such as slowing him down when he does decide to run, not to mention the added stress on his hips, knees, ankles and feet.