Josh McDaniels Era Mercifully Comes To An End

Well, it seems Mark Davis finally woke up from his coma. A month after scolding a fan for suggesting he fire head coach Josh McDaniels, Davis has apparently seen the light. After 25 games of cringe-worthy coaching and head-scratching decisions, the Raiders have fired McDaniels and general manager David Ziegler.

Davis brought in McDaniels and Ziegler from the land of forgotten dynasties (New England) with the delusion that they would catapult the Raiders to new heights. McDaniels, the supposed offensive maestro, was going to work wonders with Derek Carr and then, in a stroke of cronyism, signed Jimmy Garoppolo, who managed to lead the league in interceptions, despite missing 2.5 games due to injury.

As if that wasn't enough, they went on a free-agent shopping spree, snagging former Patriots like they were going out of style. Chandler Jones, Duron Harmon, Jakob Johnson, Brandon Bolden — it was like a Patriots reunion party, except without the actual winning culture. And let's not forget the pièce de résistance: Davante Adams. A first and second-round pick later, they had their full-time tantrum thrower and part-time touchdown celebrator.

Davante Adams, poor soul, must be wondering why he signed up for this. The star receiver was seen flinging his helmet to the ground and spewing expletives in frustration during Monday night's game. It's a fitting visual for the McDaniels era — an offense that couldn't find its groove if it had a GPS.

Fast forward to the present, and we find ourselves in Las Vegas, where the Raiders' offense resembles a confused scout team. McDaniels couldn't quite figure out how to utilize star receiver Davante Adams, the guy they traded a small fortune for. One catch for 11 yards on seven targets against the Lions? That's unacceptable.

But let's not forget the Jimmy Garoppolo gamble. McDaniels hand-picked him, and what did they get? A quarterback who could barely pass a physical and led the league in interceptions prior to his benching. It's almost comical.

So, Davis has hit the reset button. McDaniels and Ziegler are out, and Raiders fans everywhere are rejoicing. But they shouldn't get too comfortable. Davis has a knack for this whole mistake thing, having gone through four head coaches and three general managers in just over a decade.

And so, with the dawn of a new era, interim head coach Antonio Pierce has been as good as can be expected on his very first day. Reports from the locker room suggest that Pierce has already made a strong impression, commanding respect and instilling a sense of purpose among the players. It's a promising sign that the team is ready to turn a new leaf.

What's even more commendable is Pierce's pragmatic approach to the quarterback situation. Recognizing that Aidan O'Connell offers the best chance for success, he's shown a firm grip on reality. It's a refreshing departure from McDaniels' bewildering choices of the past, and it instills confidence that the team is already moving in the right direction under Pierce's guidance. The early signs are encouraging.

Here's hoping that Davis has finally learned his lesson. It's time for a new era, one that doesn't involve recycling New England retreads and not retaining interim head coaches who lead the team to the playoffs. The Raiders deserve better. Their fans deserve better.