Rich Eisen: Why the Raiders Signing Kirk Cousins Is a Great Thing for Fernando Mendoza

48 comments

1. How many starts did Russ get with the Giants? Find the weak spot in the schedule or the bye and that’s when he goes in. They’ll let Kirk take the beating in the beginning.

2. Absolutely its a great choice. Allow him to sit for the first year and learn under Cousins. Put Mendoza out after a year or of Cousins starts showing his age.

3. This move gives them flexibility and insurance. If Mendoza needs time to get up to speed, he won't be forced into the starting role now since they have a serviceable Cousins. But if he does take off, now you have a veteran backup. Solid move.

4. Who said psychotic???

5. They need to make Kirk Cousinsgump movie now 😂

6. How clueless the idiots are around Rich, when they open their mouth its shows no research. New Raiders brass has said multiple times they want a QB to watch for awhile. Not mentiod once that when Cousins was in Minnesota that Kubiak was running the offense just talked about Kevin O Connell. You guys have all day to digest content for your show get a clue, you could see this from a mile away if you listened during the combine and owners meetings.

7. I love it. Never thought the day would come when I'm excited about what the Raiders were doing for a young QB, but here we are.

   I believe in Fernando whole heartedly. However, the offense IU ran was very much a college offense. He will probably need a little time to learn the system and get comfortable. Signing an all pro center to help him with protections etc, and a former pro bowl QB who has been around for 15 years is exactly what you should do in this situation. Too many teams would have just drafted Mendoza, signed a bunch of skill/defensive guys, and thrown him to the wolves.

   Depending on the QB that CAN work, like Peyton and Andrew Luck. But most guys, like Brady, need awhile to learn and get comfortable.

   This is a home run for Vegas. Best case scenario Cousins comes back better than anyone expects, they win 8 or 9 games, and Mendoza can sit an entire year with no pressure. I highly doubt that's what actually happens, but that would be the dream.

   Raiders fans, consider me an honorary member of the fanbase until Mendoza retires or leaves. Favorite college player of all time and it isn't even close. I think most IU fans will be rooting for Vegas for awhile.

8. 2018 Baker did not start week one… not even 10 years lol. You guys are silly

9. Young, Farve, Rodgers, Rivers, Mahomes, E. Manning, Brees, Love… the list goes on. No matter what they did in college, every QB will benefit from not having to start their rookie year. Who knows this better than anyone? Maybe the QB with the most regular season, post season & superbowl wins. Why? Because he did not start his rookie year either! Go Raiders!

10. BROCKMAN – LITERALLY 20 YEARS AGO THIS SAME THING HAPPENED.

    First round QBs who weren't #1 overall who sat an entire year or most of it – Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love, Patrick Mahomes. Like I mentioned, Carson Palmer.

    Why does he need to start immediately? Even if he is slightly better. Raiders fans, if they have a realistic notion of how this season will go, should want Cousins out there. Let Mendoza learn, you aren't winning the division or a super bowl, no reason to get him hurt or ruin his confidence.

    These two acting like this never happens are just flat out wrong. Even DJ and Bucky are saying this is what they should do. You two are clueless.

11. If i was a Raiders fan, I would want Kirk to start for the first half of the season at least. Give Mendoza a chance to develop

12. Let the boy sit, cousin will get hurt

13. Raiders fan: Nah, I think they're sitting Mendoza for year 1

14. LAMONICA, BLANDA, STABLER, PLUNKETT and CARR didn't start DAY ONE. Even JAMARCUS RUSSELL, didn't Start day.

15. Mendoza looks like he could be Kirk's son

16. No way Fernando starts and any real Raiders fan knows it and gets it and is totally cool with it. You don't think so, you don't work for an NFL team, your a backup on the radio. You know nothing.

17. It's a great move. It puts the Raiders in a position that they don't have to start Mendoza. Unless he flat out takes it from Cousins. Reminds me a little when the Raiders signed Matt Schaub to be the starter and drafted Derek Carr in early second round. Carr ended taking the starting position and didn't look back.

18. Brockman has no idea what he is talking about. Cousins will start week 1 no questions asked. The Raiders still need to fully rebuild their offensive line and putting Mendoza in harm's way is stupid. To the Raiders credit they are rebuilding their offensive line but it will not be fully in place for another year.

19. Like very often Rich is right and Chris so way wrong. The man has no idea. Tommy P. Confirmed it later. Mendoza is on the bench. It also seems that Chris is so jealous that Kirk is paid again.

20. It's obvious they're going the old school route, which I wish my colts would have done this.

21. Bro who buddy that is so aggressive? Trying to be right about Mendoza starting and saying Kirk is never gonna get his fully guaranteed money? He’s gonna be dead wrong about both takes lmao I wish I could be there to personally tell him he’s a fool. Get him off the show now. He ruins the chill vibe.

22. As a Raider fan, I love this! Yes I think Cousins starts – look at what Kubiak said – in a perfect world a young guy watches and learns. – he also said he doesn’t expect a vet to “be a mentor or coach, that’s our job as coaches.”

23. I felt uncomfortable when Rich said "here's a lil diddy"

24. I feel like everyone is glossing over how POOR of a mentor Cousins was to MPJ simply because they agree he was "slighted." Cousins is NOT the guy I want training a QB. Give me Jimmy G.

25. Brockman kills me 😂
    So you pay $20 for a backup and expect a kid who’s never played a down in the NFL just to come in immediately?
    How quickly have you forgotten how the league used to work 15-20 years ago.
    History repeats itself. Give the kid some breathing room. Get your $ out of cousins. It’s not rocket science.

26. Ppl forget that Andrew Luck was the number one pick (generational talent) and trotted out week 1. Had a good year but got hit so much he fell out of love w the game and retired early. Redshirting Mendoza is the smart move

27. 15:05 if you’ve only heard that for the last 3 months then you haven’t heard a word from the raiders…..Klint and spy have both consistently said they’d want a veteran to ease a rookie qb into the system and speed of the pro game. Brady has said it for YEARS

28. 16:33 raiders fans are 100% excited for cousins lol

29. Joe Burrow was Heisman/champ #1.

30. Brady fully believes in rookies sitting on the bench, and has openly said NFL teams suck at developing QBs nowadays. Kirk is starting.

31. Hater wow wtf yay yay yayah wow this is sad

32. Twice he beat Oregon twice do you job wow

33. I love the kid Mendoza is the man and since 1990 my Raiders have been a one and only team

34. Start Cousins.
    Don’t need Mendoza to get derailed if things don’t go right

35. Been real righteous and honest around Demons these is how the haters feel they called it dorky I called real not acting for the devil just pure hunger

36. The best thing about this is Mendoza not only going outperform Kirk like Brady did but watch there is something among real man like us Honestly hunger determination and passion

37. Remember this Allar will be a sleeper and whoever grabs him if his injury is not serious he was on his way to be in the first he might even be free agent to sign watch the kid was killing it

38. No my Raiders are paying him 1.3 million Atlanta owns him 8 million the second in 2027 weeks would pay him 10 million so it would be 2 years 11 million from us and rest is Atlanta on hook for the rest,so Kirk for 1.3 million to get Mendoza ready and show him the ropes is a win win

39. 11 million dollars to teach Mendoza

40. The dude saying throwing out there goes to show how dumb people can be,Mendoza learning from the sidelines like Brady did is going be crazy because the kid wants to learn he reminds me of me wanted to learn all perfected some one told me best way to learn is to listen and ask questions

41. You put Fernando Mendoza in the preseason, if he looks like he's got it going on you keep him in the game in the regular season. Kirk Cousins being on the sidelines it's just a safety valve baby A 1 million a year safety valve because that's all we're going to use him for…. The Brain trust in La Las Vegas has changed.😂

42. Let the kid sit and absorb, be patient if Kirk struggles early don't rush him we're here for the long haul with Nando.

    -Raider fan chiming in

43. Cousins will be day 1 starter. They want Mendoza to get groomed so he doesn’t crushed his rookie year

44. Very, very rarely does starting a rookie quarterback work out. Look at most of the hall of fame quarterbacks during their rookie years.

45. Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield were first overall pick QBs who didn’t start week 1, so it’s definitely happened before.

46. Mendoza said that because he already know Raiders drafting him. Already working on the Raiders play book

47. Raiders set Mendoza up for success, working out with Griese, Kurt, Coach, The 🐐 owner = Success

48. A Kubiack with Cousins and new QB?

    I wonder if they can finally turn the raiders around. Rooting for Kubiak cause of his coaching history, but man I do not want the Raiders to be a good team again.