The Raiders have lost much of their former glory. Worse, the franchise’s reputation has suffered tremendously of late. In its third year in Las Vegas, the team is steering against it and wants to become a player’s paradise itself.

Munich – Las Vegas is considered a gambler’s metropolis and gambler’s paradise. The city of 650,000 inhabitants, which looks like a flashing work of art, proudly calls itself “The Entertainment Capital of the World”. Because there is always something going on here.

And it has been for almost 100 years. In the 1930s, the gambling boom helped the city at the southern tip of Nevada to achieve its current splendour.

Raiders’ full-bodied tweet on Jones deal: “He’s ours “

For the past two years, the Las Vegas Raiders have also wanted to profit from the special flair and the constant stream of tourists. The franchise, which was once based in Oakland, is currently working hard to achieve this.

The second official day of Free Agency belonged without question to the team, which is now being whipped into shape by Head Coach Josh McDaniels and General Manager Dave Ziegler. First, the Raiders announced the signing of Chandler Jones with the words: “Signed. Sealed. Delivered. He’s ours. “

It’s not just gamblers going all-in in Las Vegas these days

Just hours later, various NFL pundits were abuzz when the blockbuster trade for Davante Adams with the Green Bay Packers was bagged. The wide receiver will earn up to 141.25 million US dollars in five years – a record for the position.

It was news that showed: In Las Vegas, it’s not just gamblers who are going all-in at the casinos these days.

After years of disappointments, the Raiders want to know. Last season they reached the playoffs for the first time in five years. But they were knocked out by the Cincinnati Bengals, who went on to win the Super Bowl.

Last deep playoff run ended with dismantling in Super Bowl

The team that was once one of the league’s biggest attractions has waited in vain for postseason success for 19 years now. It’s been just as long since the Raiders finished first in the AFC West.

At that time, however, the season also ended with a setback. In Super Bowl XXXVII, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by head coach Jon Gruden, who had previously left the Raiders in a dispute, showed them the long nose. The 21:48 was a dismantling.

Gruden deal ultimately brings only trouble

After years of decline, the Gruden return was meant to turn the buck. The glory days of the 1970s and 1980s with three championships should be transferred to the present. The idiosyncratic coach also diligently turned the club around, but the sporting effect was a long time coming.

In the end, Gruden stumbled across old e-mails in which he made racist and other condescending comments about other people. The despicable messages only came to light as a result of an investigation at the Washington football team, which was facing complaints from employees.

Ruggs, Arnette – Raiders turned into real bad boys

The Raiders produced almost exclusively negative headlines in 2021 – aside from the final spurt leading into the playoffs. There was the drunk driving accident caused by Henry Ruggs III that took the life of a young woman and will put him behind bars for a long time.

Or Damon Arnette, who in a video was waving a gun around and threatening an unknown person with death.

The image of the franchise took enormous damage in these months. The “Robbers” (German for “Raiders”) mutated in public into a team of Bad Boys.

Crosby extension was the start – ten more deals in Free Agency

So it was undoubtedly high time for the club that once shone so brightly to finally get itself back in the conversation for other reasons. They have succeeded impressively so far.

Maxx Crosby, who signed for another four years, made the start a week ago. And then the Raiders made several acquisitions: Rock Ya-Sin was traded from the Indianapolis Colts, Jakob Johnson, Brandon Bolden, Alex Bars and Mack Hollins were brought in for the offence, and Darius Phillips, Bilal Nichols and Anthony Averett were added to the defence.

The successful free agency day was then garnished by the very big names Jones and Adams. Some opponents must have been wide-eyed.

Star appeal in the AFC West on the rise

Even the rivals in the AFC West, who recently strengthened themselves with stars like Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos) or Khalil Mack (Los Angeles Chargers). The Raiders are now also in the middle of the draw for the hottest team from the quartet, which also includes the Kansas City Chiefs around Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill.

“ESPN” reporter Adam Schefter tweeted, mutatis mutandis, that the Raiders would accept the challenge after making numerous moves.

So more AFC West moves; Raiders joining the fight.

– Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2022

The star appeal of the division has definitely increased. On top of that, the Raiders already have some players on the roster that fuel hopes for a golden future.

Significant names in Offense and Defence

Denzel Perryman, Clelin Ferrell, Jonathan Abram, Corry Littleton or K.J. Wright on defence. The offense led by Derek Carr – apparently the main reason for Adams’ change – is peppered with Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow and Josh Jacobs.

All in all, the Raiders have a team with a future. But they can also deliver immediately. And must.

Because the franchise shipped its first- and second-round picks for this season to Green Bay for Adams, may now only pick at 86th for the first time. It’s going to take a little bit of luck to snag another talented immediate backup.

Carr and Adams harmonised in college

McDaniels and Ziegler, who succeeded the hapless Mike Mayock – both came from the New England Patriots – have already done a great job. For that to pay off, the team will have to grow together in the coming months.

The harmony between Carr and Adams should be right anyway; after all, they already complemented each other perfectly in their college days and delivered various top scores.

The pictures distributed by the franchise via social media also suggest that the chemistry between the two stars should also be right. In various photos, the actors are in each other’s arms to welcome the new arrivals.

Will Las Vegas become a gambler’s paradise for Adams and co…

Of course, it remains to be seen how the cohesion will be when the roles and starting positions are distributed.

But in Las Vegas, the course is set for the city to become a gambler’s paradise not only for gamblers in body and soul. But also for the professionals of the Raiders.