Raiders’ Davante Adams admits firings of Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler were necessary to ‘revitalize’ team after 3-5 start: ‘It was time for some kind of change’

Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams has supported the decision to fire head coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler, admitting that their departures were necessary to “revitalize” the team.

McDaniels and Ziegler were given pink slips this week and paid the price for a terrible start to the season, less than two years after owner Mark Davis poached them from the New England Patriots.

Raiders linebackers coach Antonio Pierce, a former New York Giants star, will temporarily take over the team until a permanent replacement for McDaniels is found, while assistant GM Champ Kelly will temporarily replace Ziegler.

And Adams, who had just one catch for 11 yards on seven scores in the Week 8 loss to the Detroit Lions, believes it’s time for changes at both the coaching and board levels.

“Don’t confuse it,” he said. “It is no reason to celebrate that we have a new coach and there have been changes.”

Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams has supported the decision to fire head coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler

McDaniels and Ziegler (left and right) received red jerseys this week, paying the price for a terrible start to the season

Champ Kelly and Antonio Pierce (left and right) have temporarily replaced the pair

“We obviously think that one way or another it was time, that it was time for some kind of change.” Just to bring some momentum into the game and revive the team a little bit.

“I think that’s kind of the attitude that we have, we’re just trying to have fun and enjoy our time in this building, because as we talk to each other, I think there’s been too much of it, it’s just gone felt like work. ‘Too much and not enough fun.’

In two seasons with the Raiders, McDaniels went just 9-16.

And McDaniels didn’t win with Denver in his first round as head coach, going just 11:17 in two seasons.

He was previously considered one of the brightest offensive minds in the game due to his long association with Tom Brady with the Patriots and his work this season helping to develop rookie Mac Jones.

Beyond the losses, McDaniels made a number of decisions that backfired in Las Vegas, particularly after starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was sidelined with a back injury two weeks ago.

He chose to go with Brian Hoyer, a quarterback who hasn’t won a game as a starter in seven years, to replace freshman Aidan O’Connell. As a result, Hoyer posted a dismal quarterback rating of 37.1, and the Raiders still don’t know more about O’Connell and whether he has a real future.

Garoppolo returned Monday night, but Las Vegas still lost.