Aug 23, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; A Las Vegas Raiders Riddell speedflex helmet on the field at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Las Vegas Raiders brought in legendary head coach Pete Carroll as the team's new head coach this offseason, following a brief, one-season departure from NFL sidelines for Carroll.
Shortly after bringing in Carroll, who last coached for the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders traded with the Hawks to reunite Carroll with his last quarterback prior to his brief hiatus, Geno Smith.
Now, Smith is letting the rest of the league know that Las Vegas means business this season.
"I'm always the guy that I believe the game gets settled between the white lines on game day, but from my vantage point, we've got a really, really good team. I don't know if we'll shock anyone inside of this building, but maybe shock some outsiders," Smith told NFL Network.
"But it's good, like let them sleep. I don't want them to see us coming. We're just working in the shadows right now, getting our game right, and when it's time to go in those bright lights, I think we'll be ready."
Fans reacted to the bold statement on social media.
"Sleep on my team all you want but your coaches ain't gonna wanna play a Pete Carroll lead team late in the season," one Raiders fan wrote on Twitter.
"Not a raiders fan but I do believe they will surprise some people this year," someone else added.
It'll be interesting to see how Smith and Carroll do in their first season in the desert.