As the Las Vegas Raiders gear up to face the Denver Broncos, swirling trade rumors and a hamstring injury keep star receiver Davante Adams away from the field and the press. Head coach Antonio Pierce, in a move as precise and guarded as a chess master making a play, ducked and dodged any direct answers about the potential trade of Adams at Wednesday's press conference. "I'm just focused on Denver," Pierce remarked, according to News3LV.
Adams is an outstanding player, averaging over 100 yards per game for four seasons. However, his $44 million salary cap hit is significant. The Raiders might trade him for a package that could include a second-round pick. To move Adams and his high salary, they may need to lower their expectations.
On the "Up & Adams" show, when probed if he has played his final down with the Raiders, Adams himself was elusive, sidestepping to assert control over his immediate interactions, avoiding a clear answer on his future with the team. "All I can control is this- this talk we're having right here, and then after we’re done with this, all I can control is the next thing that I’m going to," Adams said, as News3LV reported. His absence from the last game against the Browns does nothing to quell the speculation that he may have indeed had his last hurrah at Allegiant Stadium.
As the NFL's rumor mill churns, Pierce remains steadfast, branding the situation as "business as usual." However, the Raiders' head coach admitted that he and Adams talk often, although he was not forthcoming with whether the trade rumors were a topic of discussion. "I'll leave that between me and Davante," Pierce said in a statement obtained by KTNV.
