The Las Vegas Raiders’ season has turned ugly fast, and now the team is getting called out over its practice habits by a rookie.
Divine Deablo, a rookie linebacker, questioned his teammates following Sunday’s 48-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the team’s fifth defeat in six games. The third-round pick suggested that the veteran players are not taking practice seriously, and do not bring the necessary intensity on a daily basis.
“Personally I feel like a lot of people just, for lack of a better term just ‘fold,'” Deablo said, via Raiders Beat. “They’ll just lay down, come to practice not ready to practice. I know I’m a rookie but I don’t want my teammates to do that. I want to make sure they’re ready to practice and we bring that intensity every day.”
This is a brutal criticism for any player to air in public. For the Raiders, it’s even more embarrassing when it’s coming from a rookie. Veteran players should be setting the tone in practice and leading by example. At no point should it be necessary for a rookie to question his more experienced teammates’ commitment in private, much less in public.
This is not the first time the Raiders have seemingly had their commitment questioned this season. A full housecleaning might be needed once the campaign is over.
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