That’s quite a hefty sum of money going to waste.
The Raiders found themselves in need of a significant shake-up as they headed into November with a dismal 3-5 record, nursing the wounds from consecutive double-digit losses at the hands of the Bears and Lions.
In response to their struggles, the Raiders decided to part ways with coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler on October 31. McDaniels’ departure and the subsequent promotion of linebackers coach Antonio Pierce to interim coach appeared to bring an immediate improvement in the mood within the Las Vegas locker room.
However, there’s a substantial financial cost attached to these firings. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Raiders owner Mark Davis is set to spend an astonishing $85 million to remove McDaniels and Ziegler from their roles.
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“Mark Davis demonstrated once again this week that he’s not willing to let money dictate how he runs his franchise,” Schefter noted on a Saturday afternoon.
McDaniels had a lackluster record of 9-16 during his two seasons with Las Vegas, marking his second stint as a head coach after a two-year tenure with the Broncos from 2009 to 2010.
“Regrettably, I had high hopes for Josh and Dave,” Davis commented to ESPN on Wednesday. “It just seemed like we were heading in the wrong direction. So, with the trade deadline looming, I felt it was time for a change, time to take action.”
Antonio Pierce will make his debut as the Raiders’ interim head coach on Sunday when Las Vegas hosts the Giants.
It appears that the Raiders should focus on consistency in coaching and avoid committing to long-term contracts to find their footing.
