For Fernando Mendoza, the sweat of hard work matters more than the shine of a championship \u2014 it\u2019s what earns a leader respect inside the locker room.<\/p>\n
The Las Vegas Raiders\u2019 No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft recently surprised many by turning down a chance to visit the White House with the Indiana Hoosiers. As a rookie, Mendoza felt skipping practice for a celebration wasn\u2019t \u201ca good look.\u201d Although Raiders OTAs (Organized Team Activities) officially begin May 18 and the White House visit is scheduled for May 11, Mendoza\u2019s \u2018football-first\u2019 attitude shows he came to Vegas not to sell jerseys, but to win.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m on the bottom of the totem pole here. I\u2019ve got to prove myself. I can\u2019t miss practice,\u201d Mendoza said. \u201cI don\u2019t have the calendar, but as a rookie, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a good look.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough I\u2019ve come off as very humble, and pretty fuzzy and warm, at the end of my Indiana career when you have that equity, you\u2019re able to be like No. 4 [Brett Favre] and No. 12 [Aaron Rodgers<\/a>],\u201d he told the Raiders broadcast<\/a> this week.<\/p>\n Mendoza knows that with a veteran like Kirk Cousins<\/a> present, he\u2019ll have to fight for every rep.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has no fears about working and staying late and being the best he can be,\u201d said his mother, Elsa Mendoza<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s just confident that he knows he can outwork anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n Also: Fernando Mendoza talks about journey to the Raiders<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Raiders have made only two playoff appearances in the past 23 years, which is why on his very first day after the draft, Mendoza met legends like Marcus Allen and Tim Brown before immediately shifting back into football mode. Reports also note that by the second day of rookie minicamp, Mendoza was already bonding with teammates.<\/p>\n Mendoza\u2019s mindset recalls 1984, when Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird declined President Ronald Reagan\u2019s White House invitation. Bird famously said, \u201c[The President] knows where to find me,\u201d meaning his real work was on the basketball court, not at a ceremony.<\/p>\n More Las Vegas Raiders Storylines:<\/p>\n TST Images: Raiders Rookie Mini Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n TST Images: Raiders introduce Fernando Mendoza at Intermountain Health Performance Center<\/a><\/p>\n Who do the Raiders select on Day Three of the Draft?<\/a><\/p>\n What the Raiders did on Day Two, what is still left to do on Day Three<\/a><\/p>\n