Raiders bond at Battle for Vegas
Las Vegas is amazing. I love the support that we get. Um it’s fun to have kind of the in city rivalry, you know, with the the Raiders and the Knights and uh you know, everything’s for a good cause. So I I I think that it’s just a blast and I’m excited to get to do it every year. Been following along your golf game this summer. Talk about just the chemistry you’re building with you guys. Yeah, I think that matters. I mean, some people might say that it doesn’t, but I think the camaraderie matters. I mean, even doing stuff like this matters. Getting to know the guys outside the facility, I think, is huge. So, we were doing that golf thing for a little bit. Now, we’re playing softball. And I think that uh you know, one of Pearl’s big things is always compete. And so, when we get out here, we’re going to compete on the golf course. We’re going to compete. And uh how you do one thing is how you do everything. So, we’re going to keep it rolling out here. It’s kind of our last chance to interact with the fans in kind of a casual manner because on game day, you know, you’re worried about your job and it’s not easy to sign autographs or to, you know, uh, you know, shake hands, kiss babies, do that whole thing. But when you’re out here, it’s a lot easier to interact and it’s low stress. I mean, I care about the result, but I don’t care about it nearly as much as I care about my punts on Sunday. How does an event like this get you guys going for training camp? Oh, yeah. I mean, we start training camp uh next Tuesday, so I’m excited. Uh see some of the guys early and uh kind of get it going. Yeah, you know, I think uh I mean, the community gives so much to us and uh just giving back like a little bit as much as we can and I think that’s kind of important. Give back to the community giving so much to us. I mean, this this summer, uh, just been working out a bunch, trying to stay in shape for training camp and, uh, yeah, I’m excited to get back with all the guys and get back with the coaches and, uh, really get the season rolling. But Carol break, is that is that happening? How do you talk a little bit about that? Yeah. No, he’s really, uh, brought like a sense of team to the to our organization, everything. So, it’s been really great. Uh, everyone feels a lot closer and, uh, yeah, it’s been a lot of fun. Some of the new guys on the team this year, who do you think we should look out for today of those guys? Uh, me. Yeah, me. I hope. How does this help build the camaraderie for the team before training camp wraps up? Yeah, it’s great to see teammates in environment that’s obviously not in the facility. It’s in a more relaxed environment. Um, still not super relaxed. You know, we’re ready to go and compete, but um, yeah, it’s fun to just see guys play, you know, a sport we’re not used to playing. There’s a new energy. I’ve been seeing a lot of that on the Raiders field with co Carol. How do you kind of feel about that energy and what’s going on with with the team? Yeah, coach Carol’s done a great job of, you know, leading in that aspect and, you know, he’s the first one to bring energy in the building every day to the practice field to meetings and everything. And so I think, uh, guys have done a great job responding to that and, you know, trying to act the same way. What’s it what’s it like for you personally as you go into training camp this year? Yeah. No, still I think always will be butterflies. You know, you’re still trying to prove yourself and um, new scheme, new system, new coaching staff. So, just trying to play the best football I can each day. Anything from Gino Smith? you’ve kind of learned, you’ve kind of seen he’s been around for a while. Yeah, it’s been super fun to to be with Gino and, you know, super smart guy, played a lot of football, been around a long time. So, um yeah, he’s he’s already taught me a lot. He’s obviously very vocal on the field, but in the in the uh in the classroom, he’s doing a good job, you know, bouncing ideas off each other and learning from him.
Raiders players AJ Cole, Brock Bowers and Aidan O’Connell discuss team bonding at Battle for Vegas charity softball game as their training camp nears.
