Pierce apologizes for 'enterprise selections' comment

LAS VEGAS — It was, as Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce stated, “a making an attempt week” for his workforce.

So, within the wake of the Raiders’ white-knuckle 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium to even their document at 2-2, Pierce stated he was sorry.

Sorry for his half within the pseudo-maelstrom, which started together with his saying some Raiders players made “business decisions” in the middle of their lackluster loss to the Carolina Panthers and that the Raiders would thusly make “enterprise selections” of their very own.

“There was a whole lot of hoopla, and stuff,” Pierce stated Sunday. “Most likely began with me, with my feedback, and I apologize for that. Do not wish to be a distraction that means however … we simply went to work each day. Issues got here out all through the week and guys simply by no means flinched [or] blinked.”

One of many gamers at whom Pierce’s feedback had been considered aimed — beginning cornerback Jack Jones, who was noticed whiffing on a number of late-game tackles in opposition to the Panthers — didn’t play within the first quarter in opposition to the Browns.

A workforce enterprise choice?

“Yeah, that was my choice,” Pierce stated. “That is between me and Jack.”

Jones, who sat out the Raiders’ first two defensive sequence, had no anger in his voice after the sport.

“S—, that is ball,” Jones, who has recognized Pierce since highschool in Lengthy Seashore, Calif., stated with a smile.

“I imply if I am not up, I am not up. If I am up, I’ve obtained to play … that is one thing you have to discuss to A.P. about, man. I am the participant.”

One other hiccup to the week was Las Vegas being with out its two greatest stars in three-time first-team All-Professional receiver Davante Adams, who injured a hamstring in follow Thursday, and three-time Professional Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby, who suffered a left excessive ankle sprain in Week 2, in addition to 4 different starters — tight finish Michael Mayer (private causes), linebacker Divine Deablo (indirect), proper deal with Thayer Munford Jr. (ankle/knee) and security Marcus Epps (knee). Epps was placed on injured reserve this week.

Although Pierce stated neither Adams nor Crosby would play in opposition to the Browns in his Friday information convention, Crosby was later formally dominated uncertain to play within the harm report, contradicting the coach.

Crosby was inactive.

And although Adams was on the sideline for the sport — the hamstring appeared superb as he sprinted to assist have a good time fellow receiver DJ Turner‘s first profession landing, an 18-yard run, within the third quarter — Crosby, who sat out the primary recreation in his six-year NFL profession, was not.

Crosby, although, later video referred to as his fellow defensive linemen within the Raiders victorious locker room.

“We had Maxx down,” defensive deal with Adam Butler stated, “so any individual needed to step up.”

Paging, then, defensive finish Charles Snowden, who entered with 5 NFL video games on his résumé in 4 years.

“Maxx is a good participant and … not having him on the market, his playmaking and simply his vitality, all of us form of simply assumed our function and knew one particular person wasn’t going to be Maxx Crosby,” stated Snowden, whose sack of Deshaun Watson on fourth-and-3 with the Browns on the Raiders’ 9-yard line sealed the sport with 35 seconds to play.

“It was going to take all of us.”

Speak about a enterprise choice.