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New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Raiders training camp: 5 things we learned from the first week
HENDERSON, Nev. — It's not Las Vegas Raiders training camp without a little drama. From Chandler Jones to Davante Adams to Christian Wilkins, they've had something go wrong during the summer in each of the last few years. 'We don't really have control of that,' left tackle Kolton Miller said Friday. 'And it sucks, but the best you can do is just move on and stay focused because we have a lot of work to put in.' Advertisement But while Wilkins' release was surely the biggest story from the first week of training camp, it wasn't the only takeaway from the four practices. Here are five things I learned from Week 1 of camp. It had long been clear that something went wrong with Wilkins' recovery from a Jones fracture in his left foot. But what wasn't known was that the Raiders voided the guarantees in his contract over a month before training camp began. That decision came after a months-long dispute in which the Raiders maintained that Wilkins needed a second procedure to properly heal, but Wilkins didn't agree. That remained the case after the start of training camp, and on Thursday, the Raiders decided to move on from Wilkins. In their handling of the Wilkins situation, general manager John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll quickly set the tone for what they will and won't tolerate. Now, the focus for the Raiders turns to replacing Wilkins in the lineup. Powers-Johnson, a second-year offensive lineman, and defensive end Maxx Crosby are attached at the hip. They arrive early at team headquarters every day, stay late and hang out off the field. Just last year, though, Crosby and the young center didn't exactly hit it off. 'Me and Jackson did not have a great relationship,' Crosby said Wednesday. 'I'm hard on guys, especially young dudes. There's respect that's got to be earned when you come into this league, in this locker room, especially. There's a certain standard I expect from the guys. And he did a lot. The amount of growth he's had in the last year has been unbelievable.' Powers-Johnson has responded well to being challenged. He has cleaned up his diet, improved his off-field habits and adopted a more serious approach overall. Advertisement 'You have a choice every day if you want to get better or want to get worse,' Crosby said. ' … And that dude, he's got all the talent in the world. He's strong as an ox, he's a great dude, he's a baller, but it's about the details. And he's come in this offseason with the mindset that he's going to take that next step, and he's done that.' That has resulted in tangible growth for Powers-Johnson both on and off the field. There are high expectations for him in Year 2, but he feels ready to meet them. He showed flashes of his potential as a rookie, but he now believes he's found the consistency to be a high-level player. 'You get to the NFL, and then it's like, 'Oof, it's on you,'' Powers-Johnson said. 'It is a lot of hard work, but it's just so much fun, too. … That's what makes it easy to come into the building.' Powers-Johnson handled starting center duties for all of OTAs and the first several practices of training camp, but Jordan Meredith was with the first-team offense on Friday and Sunday. That's likely more about getting Meredith comfortable with quarterback Geno Smith in case of injury, but it could be something to monitor if it continues. Through the first week of training camp, the offense has largely focused on the quick game. Chip Kelly and company haven't pushed the ball downfield much as they continue to install the new scheme. That said, the Raiders cornerbacks have consistently been sticky in coverage. Eric Stokes and Darien Porter have gotten the most first-team reps, but Jakorian Bennett and Decamerion Richardson have also gotten looks. All those players have played at a solid level. Once the offense opens things up and preseason games begin, that'll create more of an opportunity for two of those four to separate themselves as starters. That won't happen for several weeks, but the corners have looked promising so far. Advertisement 'You see a lot of length out there and a lot of speed,' defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said. 'It's a space game in this league, and the receivers just keep getting better. … (Monday), we'll get to the physicality part in terms of seeing who's going to be able to support the run and see who can get their hands on people in press.' 🔴📽️ Live: DC Patrick Graham, Tyree Wilson, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Alex Cappa, and Michael Mayer address the media from the Intermountain Health Performance Center. — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) July 27, 2025 Meyers and Smith have quickly hit it off. They've yet to play a game together, but their chemistry has stood out at every practice. But while those two are clearly in sync, Smith hasn't connected as often with the other receivers. It's not that Smith isn't looking their way, but they haven't been separating from defenders frequently enough. For Tre Tucker, his lack of size is always going to be a limiting factor. Dont'e Thornton has all the measurables, but he needs to become a more refined route runner. Jack Bech is more nuanced but doesn't have notable speed and is still working to find his fit. It's early, so there's no need to panic, but the Raiders are going to need more out of their non-Meyers receivers when the season arrives. You'd be hard pressed to find a roster that has anything negative to say about its new head coach, but you can feel how Carroll has changed the energy at team headquarters. It's not just about firing the guys up, although there's plenty of that. He has them believing in their potential. 'It's just great to see the energy that he continues to bring every single day,' Smith said Wednesday. 'Our first team meeting was jacked up, and guys were losing their minds in there. But Pete, he loves it, and I think he's only going to continue to get better as a coach because that's his mindset.' Advertisement Having won a national championship and a Super Bowl as a head coach, Carroll brings an impressive resume to the table. That'll earn you some respect, but it's not enough on its own. Carroll's ability to relate to and connect with players and coaches is the real kicker. 'It's a different perspective because I got to step away,' Carroll said Tuesday. 'I've had a chance to gather my thoughts about how I'm approaching (coaching) and what I'm trying to get done, not just in terms of X's and O's and all that, but in terms of the coaches and how to influence their growth and … connection with their players. There's a whole lot of chemistry stuff that I feel different about and I'm more in touch with. And I've been more demanding of our coaching staff in that regard, and that gets translated into (being) more demanding of the players as well.' Of course, that doesn't guarantee the Raiders will be successful this season. They have holes all over the roster and play in arguably the toughest division in the NFL. Still, Carroll has quickly established a foundation for them to build off of in the future. 'We've got to find ourselves,' Carroll said. 'We've got to figure out who we are.' (Photo of Jackson Powers-Johnson: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
Forbes
3 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Jets, Raiders, Bears All Ready To Become Winners In 2025
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn will put a violent defense on the field in 2025. (Photo by Ed ...) Coaching matters in the NFL, more than it does in the other major North American sports. Finding the right head coach can infuse life into a franchise and turn a loser into a winner – seemingly overnight. The New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears all are going with new head coaches this year after brutal 2024 seasons. All three teams have been disappointing losers for years, but the presence of Aaron Glenn with the Jets, Pete Carroll with the Raiders and Ben Johnson with the Bears are the key moves that will result in a turnaround for all three teams. Glenn was the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, one of the most aggressive and nastiest defensive teams in the league the past two seasons. That assessment is all the more impressive because the Lions suffered brutal injuries on the defensive side of the ball last year and still finished 5th in rushing defense and 7th in points allowed. Glenn refused to let the Lions feel sorry for themselves despite the season-changing loss of superstar defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions got much of their aggressiveness Glenn, and that characteristic has continued with the Jets. The first move the team made after his hiring was getting rid of diva quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Glenn wanted nothing to do with the 41-year-old quarterback and he has turned over the starting job to Justin Fields. This is addition by subtraction. Neither Glenn nor general manager Darren Mougey wanted Rodgers around any longer. While Fields has his flaws – accuracy and holding on to the ball too long – the Jets are going to emphasize running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson on offense. However, it is the defense that will set the tone for the Jets. The new head coach will make sure the Jets play attacking and violent defense in 2025. 'Glenn always talks about being physical, being violent on the D-Line,' said defensive tackle Jay Tufele. 'He always says it starts up front. I haven't played in this kind of defense since high school. It's something I've always wanted to be a part of. To get off and attack and be physical — that's our defense.' Ancient warrior Pete Carroll breathes life into Raiders Head coach Pete Carroll of the Las Vegas Raiders takes an active role in practice with the Raiders. ... More (Photo by) Pete Carroll is back in the NFL and has taken his place in the league's best coaching division. The Raiders were overwhelmed in this area in 2024 with Antonio Pierce as the main man on the sidelines competing against Andy Reid of the Chiefs, Jim Harbaugh of the Chargers and Sean Payton of the Broncos. Carroll's presence gives this team a fighting chance to build a successful team that competes for a playoff spot. The former Super Bowl-winning coach with the Seattle Seahawks delivers an optimistic presence that the Raiders haven't seen from a head coach in decades. The 73-year-old Carroll is the oldest head coach in the NFL, and while he has always coached with enthusiasm, he still has some old-school characteristics that few coaches will employ. Carroll will push the Raiders harder throughout training camp than most of his peers. Rule changes have done away with two-a-days, but Carroll will work his team more during the summer than other head coaches. He will also give quarterback Geno Smith a chance to excel with the Raiders. He has been close to a top-10 quarterback during the last three seasons and he is far better than the team has had over that span. The combination of Smith and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty in the backfield will give the Raiders a new look on offense. They should have a surprisingly sharp start with a relatively easy schedule at the start of the year and the Raiders will return to a winning record for the first time since the 2021 season. Ben Johnson was the hottest name among NFL assistants last year and he proved himself as the offensive coordinator of the explosive Detroit Lions. Johnson could have gone to any of the teams that needed head coaches last season, and he brings organization and decisiveness to the leadership of the Chicago Bears. While his most obvious job is working with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, that's not his main goal. The Bears need discipline and the endurance to sustain strong play through the fourth quarter. The Bears gave away too many games in the final minutes under former head coach Matt Eberflus last year and that can't happen again. His offense with the Lions put teams away in the fourth quarter last year, and that's what has to happen this year for the Bears to become a winning team again. The competition is brutal in the NFC North with the Lions, Vikings and Packers, but Johnson must develop consistency and confidence in a team that has had little of either characteristic for many seasons. Glenn, Carroll and Johnson have all gone to teams that have been disappointing their fans for years. All three have a chance to turn things around in their first seasons with their new teams.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tributes pour in as pioneering Australian musician dies
Tributes have flooded in for pioneering Australian musician Pete Carroll, who passed away earlier this week aged 82. The Victorian-born performer was a bass player for The Playboys, who were the backing band for 1960s Australian teen idol Normie Rowe. It was Pete's son Dan who broke the news on social media on Friday, revealing his dad died doing what he loved best – listening to music. 'It's with great sadness I tell the world that my Dad passed away at 1:06pm today listening to The Shadows' Apache, surrounded by his family,' Dan revealed. He also urged Pete's friends, family, and fans to 'turn up' the tunes as a way to remember the beloved Aussie muso. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'When there is a date and details for a service I will post it here. But please play some Buddy Holly for him today and turn it up,' he added. 'And thank you for all the messages and support so far. It means the world.' News of Pete's passing elicited a flood of tributes from friends, former bandmates and fans. Fellow musician Terry Dean, who played alongside Pete in the band The Mustangs, took to Facebook to share a sweet tribute to his mate. He posted a photo of The Mustangs on stage in the early 1960s, while offering a brief overview of Pete's illustrious career. 'Vale Peter. This photo of us from about '63 just appeared recently. He was a mighty bass player and, as a proud Glenroy boy, he was always happy to tell anyone that he was taught by local legend Peter Robinson. Great days,' Terry remembered. 'Pete left our group to join Normie Rowe and the Playboys!' Melbourne musician Mick Hamilton also took to Facebook in the wake of Pete's death to share a photo that showed him sitting next to the bass player on a stage next to another muso – Aaron Schembri. 'Another good man down. Mick captioned the image. Another post came from The Melbourne Debonairs – a group of music industry professionals who gather for lunches and social events. They shared a photo of a beaming Pete well and truly in his element - standing on stage with a Fender Precision bass slung over his shoulder. 'I don't know what is happening in this world, we've been losing so many of our old friends of late,' the post began. 'I've just gotten back in the office and received the news that Pete has passed. The post continued: 'Pete used to love coming to the Debonairs and catching up with some of his old band mates from the '60s and early '70s. I'm so down about this. My sincere condolences go out to Pete's family and friends.' After Pete parted ways with Normie Rowe and the Playboys, he continued to work as a freelance bass player before exiting the industry entirely. However, the music bug caught Pete again in 2014, when Normie phoned him to take part in a Playboys reunion - some forty years since he last picked up a bass guitar. 'He said: "Oh, I'd love to but I haven't got an instrument",' Normie told the Geelong Independent at the time. 'So he went out and bought himself a reissued 1963 Fender Jazzmaster bass and an amplifier. He made a damn good fist of it. Us old guys have got some energy left, I tell ya.' Pete is survived by his son Dan.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Pete Carroll says Raiders didn't rush into decision to release Christian Wilkins
HENDERSON, Nev. — Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Friday the club didn't rush into its decision to release defensive tackle Christian Wilkins the day before over a dispute regarding his recovery from a broken foot. 'We took a long time to make our decision,' Carroll said. 'We watched our way through the whole thing. We're keeping it really clear with what we said. I think there was no clear path to his return, so we just had to move on.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pete Carroll says Raiders didn't rush into decision to release Christian Wilkins
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Friday the club didn't rush into its decision to release defensive tackle Christian Wilkins the day before over a dispute regarding his recovery from a broken foot. 'We took a long time to make our decision,' Carroll said. 'We watched our way through the whole thing. We're keeping it really clear with what we said. I think there was no clear path to his return, so we just had to move on.' His comments largely echoed the statement issued by the Las Vegas organization on Thursday. The Raiders didn't mince worse with an unusually strongly-worded statement, saying that Wilkins failed to provide a "clear path or plan for future return to play.' Wilkins was injured in Week 5 last season and had some sort of setback in his recovery that took him out of offseason practices and landed him on the physically unable to perform list shortly before training camp opened Wednesday. Wilkins, 29, was the Raiders' marquee free-agent signing last year, agreeing to a four-year, $110 million contract with $82.75 million guaranteed. The Raiders reportedly are voiding the remaining $35.25 million of Wilkins' deal. Wilkins has filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association, a person with knowledge of the situation said. That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic. The Raiders will have a dead-salary cap of $29.8 million even if they win the grievance. With Wilkins off the roster, Adam Butler and Jonah Laulu ran first team at tackle this week in practice. Butler started 16 games last season, finishing with 65 tackles, eight for loss and five sacks. Laulu started seven games as a rookie, making 35 tackles, with three for loss and a sack. Both players were in all 17 games. 'This place is about competition,' Carroll said. 'It always has been. It's wide open. I'm not going to talk about any names right now. If you watch the rotations, we're giving everybody a chance. We're mixing the (starters) with the (backups) all the way throughout just to gather a bunch of information.' Wilkins was brought to Las Vegas to add an even stronger presence to a defensive line that includes pass rushers Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce. He had a career-high nine sacks in 2023 with Miami to go with his elite run stopping ability. The hopes of forming one of the NFL's most imposing defensive lines took a major hit when all three linemen suffered season-ending injuries, though Crosby and Koonce are back practicing. Crosby was nearly unblockable Friday as the team continued to work in non-padded practices. Wilkins had two sacks and 17 tackles in five games before injuring his foot, which required surgery. He suffered a Jones fracture — a break of the bone that connects the pinkie toe to the base of the foot. ___ AP NFL:
