Silver and Black Today

The Case Against Fernando Mendoza Playing In Year 1

Raider Nation, most of you are level-headed on this — but there's a vocal chunk that wants Fernando Mendoza in there Week 1. Today, Scott lays out the full evidence-based case on why Fernando Mendoza will NOT start the 2026 season at quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders — and why that's the right call for this franchise. No hot takes. No speculation. Verdicts, not takes. In this episode: * The three pillars of the "start Mendoza now" argument — and why each one collapses * What Klint Kubiak's offense actually demands from a QB: under-center reps, pre-snap ID, full-field progressions, cadence and protection calls * The Derek Carr New Orleans lesson — if a 10-year vet struggled with the footwork, what does that tell us about a rookie? * Why Kirk Cousins fits this offense instantly (the 2023 Minnesota reference point) * Cautionary tales: Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson * The patient-path receipts: Patrick Mahomes, Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, Brock Purdy * Coach-speak decoder — the exact phrases to listen for from Klint Kubiak this camp * Scouting consensus from Daniel Jeremiah and Dane Brugler on Mendoza's development timeline * The offensive line context nobody's talking about — Kolton Miller, Tyler Linderbaum, and the interior questions * Scott's verdict — and when Mendoza actually takes over Call the show: 702-900-7869 — leave a voicemail with your argument for Friday's Raider Nation Court Email a video (1–2 min): mail@silverandblacktoday.com [mail@silverandblacktoday.com] Silver & Black Today is part of the BLEAV Network — the Raiders podcast that delivers verdicts, not takes. New episodes all NFL season long. Follow the show: @SNBToday on X, @SilverBlack2Day on Instagram, and @silverandblacktoday on TikTok. Host: @LVGully on X. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome Back — Solo Show Era Begins 01:15 Setting Up The Mendoza Year 1 Debate 03:00 Pillar 1 — The High Draft Pick Argument 05:30 Pillar 2 — "Cousins Is Just A Bridge" 06:30 Pillar 3 — The Fan Excitement Factor 09:00 What Kubiak's Offense Actually Demands 11:30 Pre-Snap ID And Full-Field Progressions 13:30 Cadence And Protection Calls 15:00 The Derek Carr New Orleans Lesson 17:00 Why Cousins Fits The System Instantly 19:30 Cautionary Tales — Wilson, Lance, Young, Richardson 23:00 The Patient Path — Mahomes, Love, Hurts, Purdy 26:00 Coach-Speak Decoder For Training Camp 30:30 The Signs That Would Mean Mendoza IS Starting 32:00 The Shanahan Tree Pattern 33:30 Scouting Consensus — Jeremiah And Brugler 34:30 The Offensive Line Context 36:30 The Verdict — Cousins Starts Week 1 39:30 Send In Your Argument — Call Or Video 42:00 Mendoza's 2026 = Mahomes' 2017 43:30 How To Subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're Back: Silver and Black Today Returns for Season 9!

Silver & Black Today is BACK — and court is back in session. After four months away, Scott Gulbransen returns with a new show, a new home on the BLEAV Network, and a Raiders team at the most interesting crossroads it's been at in years. In this episode: why the show is back, what stays the same (the verdicts, the segments, the honesty), what changes, and the biggest storylines heading into training camp — Klint Kubiak's offensive identity, the Fernando Mendoza/Kirk Cousins QB question, and the O-line pieces that need to come together fast. Training camp opens July 23rd. Veterans report July 28th. The countdown is on. ️ WANT ON THE SHOW? Friday's "Raider Nation Court" is all you. Call/voicemail: 702-900-7869 Email or send video: mail@silverandblacktoday.com (Shoot video horizontally, keep it under a minute or two) FOLLOW SILVER & BLACK TODAY Twitter/X: @SNBToday Instagram, TikTok, Facebook: Silver & Black Today Host: @LVGully Subscribe everywhere you listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and the BLEAV Network New episodes 3x/week all season: Monday — The Verdicts, Wednesday — On the Record, Friday — Raider Nation Court Chapters: 0:00 – Raider Nation, We're Back 0:24 – Court Is Back in Session 0:32 – What's Different: Going Solo 1:17 – New Home: Joining the BLEAV Network 1:53 – Where to Find the Show 2:14 – Why This Return Isn't an Accident 2:52 – Klint Kubiak's Offensive Identity 3:10 – Fernando Mendoza: Sit or Start? 3:35 – O-Line Health & Training Camp Countdown 4:29 – The New Format Breakdown 4:55 – What Silver & Black Today Really Is 5:21 – 22 Days Until Veterans Report 5:39 – Friday Show: Raider Nation Court (Call-In Info) 7:07 – Thank You & Where to Follow #RaiderNation #LasVegasRaiders #SilverAndBlackToday #KlintKubiak #FernandoMendoza Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Davis Is NOT Selling the Raiders — Why the Succession Plan Hot Takes Are Wrong

Raiders owner Mark Davis set up a succession plan — and everyone lost their minds. Scott Gulbransen breaks down what the Egon Durban deal actually means, why it's responsible ownership planning and not a fire sale, and what it means for the rebuild under Spytek and Kubiak. Plus: Maxx Crosby is back and all in. Silver and Black Today, powered by Sportsnaut.   Chapters: 0:00 — Intro: Raider Nation, take a breath 0:50 — What the ESPN report actually said 1:53 — The two camps reacting to the news 3:07 — Why this is responsible planning, not a sell signal 4:23 — The Florio hot take and Scott's pushback 5:21 — Who is Egon Durban? 6:51 — The context everyone's ignoring: Carol Davis & Mark's growing stake 8:22 — What this means for the on-field rebuild 10:12 — Final take: Davis isn't selling, period 11:55 — The real story: No. 1 pick, Spytek, Kubiak 12:23 — Maxx Crosby update: not going anywhere 14:45 — Pump the brakes on Super Bowl talk 15:10 — Outro: Follow Silver and Black Today / Sportsnaut Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

[FULL EPISODE] Final Audacy Show: Farewell Silver & Black Today!

Scott and Moe reminisce on their time doing Silver and Black and all that went into making it the show that it is before sharing some thoughts on Combine Week. The latest on Maxx Crosby, which positions the Raiders must improve on through the draft, the state of the AFC West and more. Plus, concerns about Fernando Mendoza succeeding as a Raider are overblown, and we'll explore what's on John Spytek and Klint Kubiak's minds during the NFL Combine. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thank You To All Our Listeners & Combine Week Thoughts

Scott and Moe talk about the podcast coming to an end after all these great years as well as why Raider Nation should be looking toward next season and beyond with hope and positivity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.