Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Davante Adams' Repeated Denials Doesn't End Speculation of His Future With the Raiders
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 months ago on
September 6, 2024

Las Vegas Raiders Davante Adams addresses trade rumors and reaffirms commitment to the team amid ongoing speculation about his future with the organization. (X/Raiders)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

HENDERSON — Davante Adams took the opportunity Wednesday in his weekly in-season news conference to insist he was not looking for a way out of Las Vegas.

The question is why does this keep happening? Adams, after all, made similar comments when the Raiders opened training camp not even two months ago when trade rumors surfaced.

He finds himself somewhat regularly in this position for several reasons. That includes the Netflix docuseries “Receiver” in which Adams was clearly frustrated with Jimmy Garoppolo quarterbacking the first half of last season.

Speculation Intensifies Amid Raiders’ Uncertain Future

Speculation about Adams’ future will only intensify if the Raiders, whose wins total is 6 1/2 at BetMGM Sportsbook, get off to a slow start. His salary cap hit balloons from $25.35 million this season to $44.1 million in 2025 and 2026, according to Spotrac.com, and the Raiders could focus their attention more on the future if winning immediately doesn’t appear realistic.

The Raiders could prefer to move Adams to free up cap room and obtain assets, and it’s possible that the nearly 32-year-old Adams would like to go to a contender on the back end of his career.

Also consider what Adams has experienced since a blockbuster trade in March 2022 brought him over to Las Vegas from the Packers and Aaron Rodgers. He went from annual Super Bowl contenders with a future Hall of Fame quarterback to a Raiders team that has gone 14-20 in his two seasons and has made the playoffs twice in 21 years.

And in Adams’ time in Las Vegas, his quarterbacks have been Derek Carr, Jarrett Stidham, Garoppolo and Aidan O’Connell, and now journeyman Gardner Minshew will open this season as the starter. None of those QBs stoke memories of Rodgers, who’s now with Jets.

So don’t be surprised if talk about Adams not being completely satisfied doesn’t go away.

Here’s a brief history of why it keeps occurring:

Second-Guessing Management and Wanting the Ball

Adams appeared to question in a May 2023 article in The Ringer the decision by then-general manager Dave Ziegler and then-coach Josh McDaniels to sign Garoppolo.

“I’m going to have to buy into this and try to be as optimistic as possible,” Adams was quoted as saying. “It’s not what I expected to happen, but it’s something that’s the reality now.”

Adams met with Las Vegas reporters later that month and spent 2 1/2 minutes saying he was completely on board.

“At the end of the day, I’m a Raider and excited to be here,” Adams said. “I love my head coach, I love the general manager here and everybody from top to bottom. These are some good men in this place that I really value the relationship that I have with them.”

Adams wasn’t thrilled he was targeted just nine times over a two-week span in October 2023, even though the Raiders won both games.

“I’m sure people are thinking, ‘They won the game, so why is there an issue?'” Adams said. “When you’re a player like me, mentally my benchmark is not wins and losses, it’s greatness. So when I go out there, I expect to have that ability to put that on the table and have an influence on the game. That’s my purpose for being here.

“I came here to win and to do it the right way, so if it doesn’t look like it’s supposed to look, then I’m going to be frustrated if I’m not part of that plan.”

Netflix Series and No Unhappy Talk

Adams was one of the subjects in this year’s “Receiver” series, and clips showed him express his frustration as the Raiders opened the season 3-5 under Garoppolo. The Raiders then fired McDaniels and Ziegler, and then-interim coach Antonio Pierce replaced Garoppolo with O’Connell.

The quarterback change came with Adams’ approval.

“I love Jimmy, and he’s a great guy,” Adams said in the documentary. “But something had to happen in order for us to have a chance down the stretch and for me to remain a Raider.”

That comment only increased talk that Adams might be more than OK if the club traded him. He also told ESPN, “If I were to be reunited with anybody, it would be with Aaron.”

When training camp opened in July, Adams again made it clear his commitment was to Las Vegas.

“I like to think it’s a fresh slate,” Adams said. “I’ve got a whole new mentality.”

DeSean Jackson went on the “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” show last week and said Adams was disgruntled with the Raiders.

When asked Wednesday, Adams said he has seldom spoken with Jackson and never in depth.

“Only person I really talk to about my feelings in general is my wife probably, and she ain’t out there leaking anything and dropping stuff like that in the media,” Adams said.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening to Kill Middle School Girls, Staff

DON'T MISS

Two Fresno, Clovis Trustee Races Remain Tight. Bond Measures Passing with Growing Margins

DON'T MISS

Richardson Close to Cementing Northeast Fresno Council Race

DON'T MISS

Visalia Motorcyclist Killed in Collision on Walnut Avenue

DON'T MISS

DOGE Is a Promising Step Toward Federal Efficiency: Fareed Zakaria

DON'T MISS

Listeria Outbreak Tied to Yu Shang Food Leaves California Infant Dead and 10 People Sick

DON'T MISS

UN Expert: Myanmar’s Desperate Military Ramps Up Attacks Including Beheadings, Rapes and Torture

DON'T MISS

Christine Pelosi Leads Charge to Ensure Every Vote Counts in Tight Duarte-Gray Race

DON'T MISS

Dolly Parton’s Wish? For Fresno County Children to Read

DON'T MISS

Man Found Dead in Fresno’s Roeding Park Identified as Bay Area Resident

UP NEXT

Two Fresno, Clovis Trustee Races Remain Tight. Bond Measures Passing with Growing Margins

UP NEXT

Richardson Close to Cementing Northeast Fresno Council Race

UP NEXT

Visalia Motorcyclist Killed in Collision on Walnut Avenue

UP NEXT

DOGE Is a Promising Step Toward Federal Efficiency: Fareed Zakaria

UP NEXT

Listeria Outbreak Tied to Yu Shang Food Leaves California Infant Dead and 10 People Sick

UP NEXT

UN Expert: Myanmar’s Desperate Military Ramps Up Attacks Including Beheadings, Rapes and Torture

UP NEXT

Christine Pelosi Leads Charge to Ensure Every Vote Counts in Tight Duarte-Gray Race

UP NEXT

Dolly Parton’s Wish? For Fresno County Children to Read

UP NEXT

Man Found Dead in Fresno’s Roeding Park Identified as Bay Area Resident

UP NEXT

Fresno Authorities Search for Domestic Violence Suspect Considered Armed and Dangerous

Visalia Motorcyclist Killed in Collision on Walnut Avenue

36 minutes ago

DOGE Is a Promising Step Toward Federal Efficiency: Fareed Zakaria

2 hours ago

Listeria Outbreak Tied to Yu Shang Food Leaves California Infant Dead and 10 People Sick

2 hours ago

UN Expert: Myanmar’s Desperate Military Ramps Up Attacks Including Beheadings, Rapes and Torture

2 hours ago

Christine Pelosi Leads Charge to Ensure Every Vote Counts in Tight Duarte-Gray Race

2 hours ago

Dolly Parton’s Wish? For Fresno County Children to Read

3 hours ago

Man Found Dead in Fresno’s Roeding Park Identified as Bay Area Resident

4 hours ago

Fresno Authorities Search for Domestic Violence Suspect Considered Armed and Dangerous

5 hours ago

NBA Memo to Players Warns About Organized Home Break-Ins

5 hours ago

Fresno School Employees Say District’s Job Shifts Endanger Kids and Staff

5 hours ago

Tulare County Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening to Kill Middle School Girls, Staff

A Strathmore man was arrested Thursday after authorities say he threatened to kill students and staff at Strathmore Middle School, the Tular...

12 minutes ago

Jason Mitchell, 43, of Strathmore, was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill students and staff at Strathmore Middle School. (Tulare County SO)
12 minutes ago

Tulare County Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening to Kill Middle School Girls, Staff

19 minutes ago

Two Fresno, Clovis Trustee Races Remain Tight. Bond Measures Passing with Growing Margins

25 minutes ago

Richardson Close to Cementing Northeast Fresno Council Race

36 minutes ago

Visalia Motorcyclist Killed in Collision on Walnut Avenue

2 hours ago

DOGE Is a Promising Step Toward Federal Efficiency: Fareed Zakaria

2 hours ago

Listeria Outbreak Tied to Yu Shang Food Leaves California Infant Dead and 10 People Sick

2 hours ago

UN Expert: Myanmar’s Desperate Military Ramps Up Attacks Including Beheadings, Rapes and Torture

2 hours ago

Christine Pelosi Leads Charge to Ensure Every Vote Counts in Tight Duarte-Gray Race

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend