The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2025 season has been nothing short of a flaming dumpster fire, with chaos reigning supreme from the front office to the field. But amid the sea of disappointments, the quarterback debacle stands out like a sore thumb, and former Raiders offensive lineman Richie Incognito isn’t holding back. In a fiery tirade on “The Arena” podcast, the Raiders legend absolutely torched head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek, branding them “idiots” for their mind-boggling decisions at the most critical position in football.
Let’s rewind: The Raiders shipped off a third-round pick to snag veteran quarterback Geno Smith, then doubled down with a hefty contract extension. Hopes were high that Smith would stabilize the ship, but instead, he’s been a colossal flop. This move also derailed any serious pursuit of a young gunslinger in the draft. While whispers swirled about the team eyeing top QB prospects, they punted on the position until the sixth round, grabbing Cam Miller—who’s now gathering dust on the practice squad. Ouch.
Enter Shedeur Sanders, the electric former Colorado star who seemed tailor-made for Sin City. With his tight-knit bond to minority owner and NFL GOAT Tom Brady, Las Vegas felt like the perfect fit. Sanders even dropped heavy hints about wanting to don the Silver and Black. But nope—the Raiders passed, leaving fans scratching their heads and Sanders sliding all the way to the fifth round.
Now, fate’s got a wicked sense of humor: Sanders is gearing up for his first NFL start in Week 12—against none other than the Raiders. It’s prime time for payback, and Incognito is all in on the drama. “Tom [Brady] did have a close connection with [Shedeur], and he is calling the shots. The Raiders are idiots, and they went with Geno Smith, so they have their starter,” Incognito blasted, pulling no punches.
Incognito didn’t stop there—he painted this matchup as Sanders’ golden ticket to rub salt in the wound. The Raiders didn’t even need to mortgage their future; a measly fourth-round pick could’ve sealed the deal. Instead, they’re stuck with Smith as the starter and Aidan O’Connell riding the pine as backup. “This is a great matchup [for Shedeur]. Stick it to Tom. Stick it to the Raiders. The Raiders team is just in shambles,” Incognito roared. He doubled down on Brady’s influence, insisting, “[Tom] has major input there. Mr. Davis is one, he’s 1A. He’s calling a lot of shots there. The close personal relationship [Tom] has with Shedeur, they could have saved him. He went in the fifth round. They obviously need some help at quarterback because our backup is Aidan O’Connell.”
Incognito hammered home Brady’s puppet-master role, noting his deep ties with Spytek from their Michigan days and a Super Bowl ring in Tampa. “Brady is calling the shots. I know so. Brady is running the show, and I know that Mr. Davis is running a lot of stuff by him,” he declared. “I do think there is some credence to Tom passing on [Shedeur] several times. They could have spent a fourth. They could have spent a fifth.”
Sanders’ NFL debut was a rough cameo—4-for-16 in Week 11 relief duty—but hey, the kid had zero prep time. This Week 12 clash? That’s the real litmus test, with Sanders fueled by that extra chip on his shoulder. If he lights it up, it’ll be a brutal “what if” for Raiders Nation.
Even if Sanders flames out long-term, the Raiders’ brass has to be kicking themselves over the Smith gamble and their draft-day snooze on QB talent. Passing on a potential franchise savior with Brady’s endorsement? That’s not just a blunder—it’s a catastrophe. As Incognito’s rant echoes, one thing’s crystal clear: The Raiders’ QB mess is a self-inflicted wound that’s got the whole league watching… and laughing.