Fernando Mendoza’s latest lesson learned about life in the NFL: Things can change quickly.
Mendoza said he had “no inking” the Las Vegas Raiders were discussing trading starting quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday. Mendoza said he was at his locker on Tuesday when he heard his mentor was being shipped out.
Of course, that meant, Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, was being promoted to the starting quarterback position. Mendoza met with media members Wednesday after
his first practice as the starting quarterback.
Mendoza called this a “once in a lifetime opportunity” and he is excited to play with his “brothers” starting Sunday at home against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Mendoza made a point to heap praise on Cousins and his family for taking in as a essentially a family member. He called Cousins, a 15-season veteran, an ideal mentor and he said the veteran didn’t hold back anything while trying to help him get used to the NFL.
The Raiders have lauded Mendoza for his preperations and he credited Cousins for teahcing him that.
Raiders’ coach Klint Kubiak said Mendoza was prepared in his first practice and he noted the team is not going to “peel back” anything against Seattle. thus, Mendoza will be asked to run the full playbook in his starting debut.
