‘Decades’ of pain predicted as Tom Brady’s Raiders decision put in spotlight

Antonio Pierce tore into the Las Vegas Raiders after offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s dismissal.

Heads needed to roll after a disastrous defeat to the Cleveland Browns in Shedeur Sanders‘ first NFL start.

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Kelly — the most expensive coordinator in the NFL at $6million — paid the price despite reportedly being picked out by minority owner Tom Brady.

That means head coach Pete Carroll is safe — for now.

The man he replaced thinks that Kelly’s dismissal is just the beginning.

“They just fired the offensive coordinator. They don’t have a good offense. Fanbase is upset,” he began when asked to comment on his former employers during an appearance on CBS Sports.

“I like Maxx Crosby,” former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan interjected, trying to bring some positivity.

He was immediately shot down.

“Might need decades to fix this bad boy,” added Pearce.

Pearce hinted that Las Vegas’ problems begin from the top down

He continued: “One and done, one and done, one and done. Is another coach gone? Another coordinator?

“Everybody’s pointing fingers, at some point the thumb points back.”

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Tom Brady era off to a rough start

Owner Mark Davis’ ears may be burning, but no secret was made of the fact that Brady was planning to be heavily involved.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion brings experience of winning like nobody else, but it is a different prospect when you are further removed from the field. There are also question marks over his Fox Sports duties.

It is not all down to Brady, but at this stage, it appears that a lot of the big decisions since his arrival in 2024 have been wrong.

Hiring Carroll appears to have been a blunder and Kelly has, of course, been sacked.

Geno Smith is not working out at quarterback having followed Carroll over from the Seattle Seahawks.

It is too early to judge general manager John Spytek, but the decision to select running back Ashton Jeanty sixth overall in April’s NFL Draft will come under scrutiny with so many other glaring roster needs.

For now, the buck stops with Kelly and a number of reports have come out detailing how he was supposedly holding back the offense.

Contrasting stories suggest that he may not have had much of a say.

“Defensive coordinators likened the Raiders offense this season more to Shane Waldron’s offense with the Seahawks in 2023, Carroll’s last year with Seattle,” wrote Ian Rapoport.

“Kelly’s trademark creative runs out of shotgun had been dramatically limited. Instead, the blend of Seattle and Las Vegas schemes tilted far more toward the under-center zone scheme Carroll favors.

“One previous opponent even had their scout team prepare cards based on Seattle plays of the past under Carroll, sources say.”

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The 2-9 Raiders take on the Los Angeles Chargers with Greg Olson as interim OC.

With the chips well and truly down in Vegas after an expensive gamble, there will be plenty of interested spectators looking to see what changes.

Pearce could well be among them, sharpening the knives for another cutting segment.

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