PHOENIX — A vote by NFL owners to move the Raiders from Oakland to Las Vegas is expected to be held Monday at the Annual League Meeting. With a vote to approve the relocation possible, according to several sources here, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said it is his mission to keep his team focused on the upcoming season, which will be played at the Oakland Coliseum — the team’s aging venue considered obsolete by most NFL standards.
“My job is to make sure that everybody understands their defined role and that they’re all doing everything they can to execute that role,” Del Rio said Sunday in an interview that will air in full on Monday on Good Morning Football. “Right now, that’s the here and now, playing really good football in Oakland. We’ll need to worry about it and we’ll need to address it but we know we have a season in Oakland for sure, maybe more. So for me, as the head coach, my job, it really won’t change a whole lot.”
The Raiders will play in Oakland in 2017 and have an option to play there in 2018, regardless of the result of the vote. Should the team be approved to move to Las Vegas, a new stadium is not expected to be completed before 2020, so temporary venues would need to be secured.
As for the team itself, Del Rio said of quarterback Derek Carr, who broke his fibula in Week 16, “I saw him work out this past week. He looks like he could play right now. He’s doing very well. He’s having a great rehab and bouncing back. I think he’ll be better than ever. We anticipate him being ready to roll (for minicamp).”
Retired running back Marshawn Lynch reportedly is interested in playing for his hometown Raiders. The Seahawks retain Lynch’s rights and the Raiders could only acquire him via trade or if he is released.
Del Rio said he could not discuss anything regarding Lynch because the Seahawks hold his rights. However, he did not shoot down that there is potential interest for Lynch to want to play for his local team.
“I understand the natural story there,” Del Rio said. “A guy that grew up in the area much like I did. It would have been a dream come true for me to end up playing there. Fortunately, I’m coaching there now. We’ll see how things play out. There’s a lot that needs to transpire between now and then.”