Heading into Week 5 of the 2024 NFL regular season, the Las Vegas Raiders are sitting at 2-2 coming off a win against the Cleveland Browns when they didn’t have two of their best players in defensive end Maxx Crosby and wide receiver Davante Adams.
Although the Raiders have been able to split the first four games and might be able to have a better-than-expected season, they can’t seem to avoid off-the-field distractions, with new head coach Antonio Pierce at the center of most of them.
Adams has let it be known that he would prefer to be traded by the Raiders rather than play out the rest of the season in Las Vegas, as he may have had a falling out with Pierce, which led to some social media activity the head coach will likely regret.
Along with the unresolved Adams situation, which has created drama that no one anticipated after the veteran said all offseason he didn’t want to be traded, Pierce is now also involved in another issue that could create yet another distraction for his team.
The NCAA reportedly discovered that Pierce was involved in a recruiting scandal while at Arizona State an assistant coach.
“The NCAA found that Raiders coach Antonio Pierce orchestrated a ‘scheme’ to circumvent COVID-19 recruiting restrictions during his time at Arizona State. … He faces a significant penalty if he ever returns to college coaching,” the report said, via NFL on ESPN.
The NCAA found that Raiders coach Antonio Pierce orchestrated a "scheme" to circumvent COVID-19 recruiting restrictions during his time at Arizona State.
He faces a significant penalty if he ever returns to college coaching. More ? https://t.co/zaGXvbZL8C pic.twitter.com/AptyO9uCZS
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 3, 2024
Although this won’t result in a punishment by the NFL, Pierce isn’t starting his first full season as Raiders head coach on the right foot, as this is not a great look for the 45-year-old former linebacker, who is trying to prove he’s the right man for the job in Las Vegas.
The only way the Adams and NCAA distractions subside is if the Raiders keep winning games moving forward, or it could be a rough year for the coach and the franchise.
NEXT: Insider Explains 1 Limit On Davante Adams Trade
