Fernando Mendoza is already gaining the reputation of a young rookie quarterback who is eager to get on the field and earn his starting spot with the Las Vegas Raiders. After being selected as the number one overall pick in the NFL Draft, the Raiders quarterback was also selected by the NFL Players’ Association to attend their Rookie Premier event. The event, however, interfered with Mendoza’s practice time with the Raiders, and he was not happy about it.
Raiders Quarterback Not Happy About Missing Practice
In a discussion with Gilbert Manzano of Sports Illustrated, the Raiders quarterback expressed his displeasure.
“I’m going to be completely honest with you — I’d rather be practicing right now, and I was really upset about actually having to miss practice for this.”
Mendoza further stated that while it was a good moment, he would not feel sorry for himself.
“Although it’s great. It’s still been a great moment, even though I needed to be here. I’m not going to feel sorry for myself and feel wishy-washy.”
The fact that Mendoza missed practice is not surprising. The Raiders quarterback, like many young quarterbacks in his position, does not want to waste time. Mendoza and others in his position have a lot of pressure on them to perform, and practice time is extremely valuable. What is surprising is that he did not give the typical media-polished response others might have. His frustration suggests he already understands how valuable reps are, especially for a rookie quarterback trying to establish himself in a new system.
Mendoza understands the importance of the NFLPA
The young Raiders quarterback went on to say that he was going to make the most of it and ensure he had a smile on his face.
“I’m going to have a smile on my face and make the most of that present moment,” Mendoza said. “Live and learn all the NFLPA benefits, make all the connections with different mentors here, let me make sure I can maximize my time to be able to create a positive impact and learn about my situation and surroundings. So those are all things that I really benefited from being here.”
While Mendoza was clearly upset about missing practice or the NFLPA Rookie Premier event, it is obvious that he understands the importance of the NFL Players Association and the benefits that it provides. He showed maturity by recognizing the NFLPA is trying to prepare rookies for far more than just Sundays in the fall. These events educate players on financial planning, career development, business opportunities, mentorship connections, and the realities of life inside the league, and Mendoza did not take it lightly.
Raiders quarterback embraces bigger picture
Mendoza’s response was probably the perfect balance of understanding the value of the NFLPA and the desire to be on the field practicing with his new teammates. He may have preferred being on the practice field, but he also understood there was value in taking the time to listen to everything that comes with life in the NFL.
Also Read: One NFL Analyst thinks that new Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza is going to be a bust upon arriving in the NFL. He even went as far as to say that Las Vegas Raiders owner Tom Brady “doesn’t know what he is doing” in his role with the organization.
Main Image: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
