Bobby Bones Weighs In on Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders Preseason Finale

Fernando Mendoza went 7 for 14 for 57 yards with an interception against San Francisco, finishing a preseason that came to 34 of 55 for 316 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Bobby Bones' conclusion is that Kirk Cousins starts Week 1, and that last night made the decision easier.

His affection for Mendoza is not in question. It is, in fact, excessive.

"I like him. I think if I were going to coach and pick a guy that was my quarterback, I want that type of nerd, because he's dedicated, he's focused."

Bones has a five-month-old daughter and has already decided that if she someday announces she wants to date an athlete, the answer is Mendoza. He acknowledged the age gap presents a scheduling problem.

TJ, meanwhile, wanted it on the record that he has been on a genuine roller coaster with this.

First he was told the number one pick starts no matter what, so he got on that path. Then Cousins arrived and the message became that Mendoza sits and learns, so he accepted that. Now people have swung back to Mendoza starting.

"I'm very confused, Bobby, because I'm hearing it from both sides."

Bones' position rests on two things. Cousins is being paid a great deal of money. And Las Vegas, he does not expect, is going to be good.

TJ immediately turned the second point around on him, which is the natural counterargument. If you are not going to be good anyway, and you spent the pick, why not play the rookie?

Bones' answer was about damage rather than development.

"I don't want him to be rattled so hard early that it could affect how he views every game after that," he said. "I think some quarterbacks can be traumatized way too early."

TJ flipped it again, arguing that anyone who has watched a Mendoza interview knows he is not the type to get discouraged.

"No more flip side," Bones said. "You're flipping me over."

He held the line anyway, and framed sitting a quarterback as something teams rarely get to do. It is a luxury to have your future star watch, and a specific luxury to have him watch someone who has been the guy.

He also made the case for Cousins on the merits. Coming straight back from an Achilles injury is brutally hard, something the show has watched play out with Aaron Rodgers, but with time and reps the leg loosens up and Cousins started playing well again.

Half a season of Cousins, then Mendoza. Bones would take that.

The Mendoza interview clip is what turned the segment, because the quarterback was asked about the 49ers pass rush and answered like this.

"There are, you know, monsters at the other side of the ball, and you need to get the ball quick, and it teaches you you need to play on time, and there's less margin for error."

Then he kept going.

"Diamonds are built under pressure. They're built under fire, and being forged like that. So when you're able to play under that duress, that's when you're able to elevate your game."

Bones was gone.

"I love that guy. Date my daughter. Man said heat and duress. I'm writing that down."

A Raiders coach had said right after the game that Mendoza needs three more preseason games, as all rookies do, and that with the season starting the practice reps shrink, which is simply life.

Mendoza's response to that was, if anything, worse for anyone trying to argue against him.

"I would love unlimited games for development," he said, before acknowledging the toll on the body, noting his own feels great, and pivoting to respecting teammates who lay their bodies on the line every play in a way his position sometimes does not require.

"If there was three more preseason games that I could do, I would do them."

Bones' final assessment was less a scouting report than a casting note.

"He's the Mr. Rogers of quarterbacks."

He would like Mendoza to reach his locker, change out, and put on a cardigan. He is not an Indiana fan. He is not a Raiders fan. He loves the guy.

And he still does not think he should start, because that is what having Kirk Cousins is for.

The endorsement of Cousins as a mentor came with its own reasoning, drawn entirely from the Netflix show.

"Kirk Cousins goes to Target. That's the guy you want teaching you about life."