“No Controversy”: Raiders HC Raiders HC Klint Kubiak Seals Fernando Mendoza And Kirk Cousins’ Fates for Jets Game

Fernando Mendoza © Instagram/fernandomendozaOne of the most interesting coaching decisions this season in the NFL has been Klint Kubiak’s choice to have Fernando Mendoza serve as a backup. The Las Vegas Raiders picked the former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback with the first pick of the draft earlier this year, after Mendoza led his school to an undefeated national championship, winning the Heisman Trophy in the process.To some, the idea that he hasn’t had the opportunity to start in the NFL is bizarre. For the Raiders, it just seems like the proper way of doing things. On Monday, ahead of this week’s game against the New York Jets, Kubiak reiterated that, for the time being, Kirk Cousins is the team starter.Here’s what Klint Kubiak said:“Kirk is our starting quarterback. There’s no controversy there; he’s playing at a very high level, and he’s gotta continue to do that for us to continue to win. And we gotta keep helping all the areas around him.”He was then asked directly about Fernando Mendoza’s future with the team, to which the Raiders coach said:“Fernando is gonna play at some point. It’s not gonna be this week.”The Raiders’ record is nothing to write home about, with Las Vegas standing at 3-4 after four consecutive losses. Nonetheless, it’s already a vast improvement over last year’s record when the Raiders were the worst team in the league, finishing 3-14.Kirk Cousins Is the First To Say He’ll Step Aside if He Isn’t the Best on the TeamKirk Cousins addressed the topic in the aftermath of the Raiders’ 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. He told the press that once Fernando Mendoza becomes the better option as a starter, he will be the first to tell the coaching staff.“I want the football team to have the best chance to win games,” Cousins said. “(During) the first OTA (practice), if that had become apparent, I would’ve been the first one to say, ‘Yeah, you can’t play me.'”He also spoke about being a role model for the rookie to learn from:“I’m going to try to go out there and play as well as I possibly can, help us win, and give (Mendoza) a great example to learn from until he does go out there eventually.”One thing is clear: Cousins knows he isn’t Las Vegas’ solution in the long run.Read more:“Patrick Mahomes Magic Is Slowly Starting to Drift Away”: 2x Super Bowl Champ Shares Blunt Verdict on Kansas City Star After Historically Bad Outing vs Seattle“They Must Think We Are Stupid”: Tony Farmer Calls Out Roger Goodell-Led NFL After Changing Stance on Eagles’ Management of Jalen Hurts’ HealthCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!