As easy decisions go, the opportunity to put an NFL franchise in and around Las Vegas was a no brainer. That’s why it was no surprise when the NFL owners voted 31-1 to allow the formerly Oakland Raiders to move to that bacchanalian desert oasis of gambling and legal prostitution Monday.
Welcome @RAIDERS to the fabulous @CityOfLasVegas! Excited to be part of the @NFL! #JustWinBaby pic.twitter.com/fLtE8WiZDj
— Carolyn G. Goodman (@mayoroflasvegas) March 27, 2017
Monday afternoon, Raiders owner Mark Davis addressed fans and the media personally. Here’s a video.
Oops. Honest mistake. Here it is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHEPgfj8kBw
“My father always said, ‘the greatness of the Raiders is in its future,’ and the opportunity to build a world-class stadium in the entertainment capital of the world is a significant step toward achieving that greatness,” Davis said.
The move isn’t coming immediately, so there’s no reason to burn all your Raiders gear yet, Oakland. They’ll still bill playing in your hellhole of a stadium in 2017 and 2018 and possibly 2019 as well. The new $1.7 billion domes Vegas stadium won’t be ready until 2020. So NFL media members will have plenty of time to stash away cash in preparation for their divorces.
“The Raiders were born in Oakland and Oakland will always be part of our DNA,” Davis said. “We know that some fans will be disappointed and even angry, but we hope that they do not direct that frustration to the players, coaches and staff. We plan to play at the Coliseum in 2017 and 2018, and hope to stay there as the Oakland Raiders until the new stadium opens. We would love nothing more than to bring a championship back to the Bay Area.”
And they just might. The Raiders are as loaded as any team in the AFC heading into the 2017 season. The only thing that kept them from making a legitimate playoff run last year, as well as winning and AFC West title, was a late-season injury to quarterback Derek Carr. Carr should be more than ready to go by the time training camp starts.
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) March 27, 2017
The Miami Dolphins were the only team to vote against the move and it was mostly symbolic.
“My position today was that we as owners and as a League owe it to the fans to do everything we can to stay in the communities that have supported us until all options have been exhausted,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross told NFL Network. “I want to wish Mark Davis and the Raiders organization the best in Las Vegas.”
This will be the second time the Raiders have skipped town on Oakland. The last time the Raiders moved south to Los Angeles from 1982-1994.
“I love Oakland, I love the fans in Oakland and I know that there’s going to be disappointment and maybe some anger,” Davis said. “I just hope that in the future as we play in Oakland this year, that they understand it wasn’t the players, it wasn’t the coaches that made this decision, but it was me that made it, and if they have anybody to talk to about it, it should be me, and I will in the coming days try to explain to them what went into making this difficult decision.”
Recent NFL free agent moves
The Los Angeles Rams added former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker to their roster over the weekend. Last season Walker started eight games for the Lions and played in 15. He had 26 tackles and one fumble recovery.
The Green Bay Packers re-signed running back Christine Michael. Michael played for two teams last season, the Seahawks and the Packers, rushing 117 times for 583 yards and seven touchdowns. He caught 22 passes for 107 yards and one touchdown.
The Jacksonville Jaguars added former Oakland Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera to a $6.75 million contract. Last season Rivera caught 18 passes for 192 yards and one touchdown.
The Seattle Seahawks continue to bring in depth to the Legion of Boom by signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Bradley McDougald to a one-year, $2 million contract. McDougald started all 16 games for the Bucs last season, recording 91 tackles, one fumble recovery and two interceptions.
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