Jakobi Meyers Has Admission About Raiders Amid Trade Request
Jakobi Meyers may be hoping to get traded, but he appears too valuable to the Las Vegas Raiders right now. In the team’s Week 1 win over the New England Patriots, Meyers had eight catches for 97 yards.
He’s clearly the team’s best wide receiver and already has a good rapport with quarterback Geno Smith. The Raiders aren’t paying any of their wide receiver big money right now, so it would make sense to extend Meyers.
However, they don’t appear to have plans to do that. They also don’t appear to have plans to grant his trade request. Luckily for Las Vegas, Meyers continues to put his head down and work.
Following the Week 1 win, Meyers admitted that he’s still happy to be in Las Vegas.
“I’m happy to play football; I’m happy to be with my boys; I’m happy to be a Raider,” Meyers said Sunday. “But like I said, man, wherever the job takes me and whoever needs me to win and whoever wants me to be there, I’m going to be there proudly.”
Meyers wants to keep being a Raider, but he also wants to be compensated for his hard work over the last couple of years. If he keeps putting up big numbers, the team may have no choice but to figure out a way to pay him.
Geno Smith Earns High Marks From Teammates
Meyers has to be happy that the Raiders have a settled quarterback situation now that Smith is in the building. He showed in Week 1 that he’s capable of leading the offense.
It’s still early in his Raiders tenure, but he’s already impressive teammates.
“We’ve seen it all camp,” tight end Brock Bowers said. “No one on the team is shocked, really. It’s good that we can come out here and showcase what he can do.
“We stalled, obviously. I don’t know what caused that, but we know what we’re capable of. We just all had to lock back in and really get back rolling.”
Left tackle Kolton Miller also had praise for Smith.
“He’s an ultimate competitor,” Miller said of Smith. “He’s calm and focused back there. Of course we can do a better job of cleaning up [protections], but when you’re backed up like that, and then he can step up and make a throw like that, that’s just confidence.”
Smith Confident in His Ability
It wasn’t a perfect debut for Smith. The Raiders’ offense stalled in the first half, and Smith threw an interception.
However, he remains confident in what he can do, but still acknowledges where he can improve.
“I know who I am, I know what I can do,” Smith said. “Mistakes happen. Things happen within the game. There was a tipped pass. I made the right read. Could have made a better throw. But those guys made a play on it, and the ball tipped up, guy made a play. … I’m going to keep going. I’m me.
“I just know who I am. I know what I can do on that field, so I never worry.”
Jim Harbaugh talks rivalry with Pete Carroll ahead of 'MNF' matchup
Fans of the Pete Carroll-Jim Harbaugh rivalry will be happy to know it hasn't subsided, despite a hiatus that has lasted for more than 10 years.
Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers (1-0) will face Carroll and the Las Vegas Raiders (1-0) on "Monday Night Football" at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN. It's the first time the coaches have squared off since the 2014 season, when Harbaugh was with the San Francisco 49ers and Carroll was with the Seattle Seahawks.
Jim Harbaugh speaks on his relationship with Pete Carroll ahead of Week 2
"I always thought if I had ever played for him or one of his teams — because he was coaching when I was playing — or was on his staff when I got into coaching, I bet we would've been really good friends," the former NFL quarterback told the media Wednesday. "Alas, we have been on opposite sides, so I'm not on his Christmas card list."
It's not surprising they don't wish each other a merry Christmas. It's fair to wonder if they'll even talk before Monday's game.
The rivalry started at the college level when Carroll was coaching at USC and Harbaugh was at Stanford. The Cardinal went 2-1 against the Trojans under Harbaugh.
This included a 55-21 rout during the 2009 season, where Harbaugh tried to run up the score by attempting a two-point conversion at the end of the game. Afterward, the coaches met at midfield, and Carroll asked, "What is your deal?"
Carroll would get revenge in the NFC Championship Game during the 2013 season. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 23-17 after cornerback Richard Sherman deflected a pass intended for wide receiver Michael Crabtree, which was intercepted.
Per Stats Perform, Carroll has a 5-4 record (including playoffs) against Harbaugh in the NFL. His teams have won the last three matchups.
Don't be surprised if a super-passionate Harbaugh shows even more fire in the Chargers' road game on Monday. He'll want to even the score with Carroll.
