When the Las Vegas Raiders hired Pete Carroll and traded for Geno Smith last offseason, they were doing so with the intention of being a competitive team. However, that hasn’t gone as planned with the Silver and Black having a 2-8 record.
Moreover, at times, the Raiders have not looked competitive and look like a team that’s in desperate need of a rebuild. While Carroll and Smith were brought in to bring short-term stability, one sports media host is telling Las Vegas it might be time for a rebuild.
On the November 18 edition of “The Jim Rome Show,” host Jim Rome stated that after a nightmare season under Carroll, it’s time for the Raiders to blow up the project and go in a different direction.
“Once again, Raider Nation, I am sorry to report your entire operation is rotten to the core yet again,” Rome said. “It needs to be blown up yet again. Blow it up. Burn it down. Set the ashes on fire. Start over from scratch again.
“Here’s some free advice, too. My best advice to you next time: Do not turn to a 74-year-old man to change your entire culture and change the entire course of your entire franchise. It’s asking a lot. Yes, I admit it seemed like a pretty good idea at the time. Not so much now.”
Jim Rome Doesn’t Hold Back on Raiders’ Geno Smith
Rome didn’t stop at Carroll in advising the Raiders to pull the plug on this project with the veteran head coach. The sports media host then turned his attention to Smith after another game in which the Raiders quarterback turned the ball over and was ineffective.
“It’s not like the Geno Smith situation hasn’t been a complete disaster or anything,” Rome added. “… Not saying it’s all on him. But Geno, my guy, what happened to you, dude? They wrote you off, and you didn’t write back, remember? Well, now they’re writing you off again. And this time, they’re right…
“Granted, I know you’re not getting much help in front of you. You’re not getting much help at all. But you’re not helping yourself either, and you’re not helping them. I guess I can appreciate you trying to own it completely and take responsibility for being straight ass. But I’d rather you play a decent game than be straight ass and then just say afterward, ‘Blame it all on me. Blame it on me.’”
Pete Carroll Sticking With Geno Smith as Raiders QB
Despite Smith’s struggles this season, Carroll continues to back him even as the Raiders’ offense remains a non-threat to opposing defenses. The loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11 marked the third time in their last four games in which Las Vegas failed to score over 20 points in a contest.
Nonetheless, as he has all season, Carroll is backing Smith.
“I continue to really believe in him,” Carroll said on November 18 (h/t Ryan McFadden of ESPN). “I have no hesitation in telling you that. He’s an incredible player, and he’s busting his tail, and he’s working really hard at it. He has not backed off one step throughout the process. … He’ll come through for us.”
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