He said all the right things, but you knew he would.
Say this for Fernando Mendoza: He’s as mature off the football field as he appeared on it during a Heisman Trophy-winning season at Indiana.
And get this: He still views himself as an underdog, as the guy who was the 288th recruit in Florida coming out of high school.
And that might be the best thing about this entire No. 1 selection business.
Well, you knew it was coming. After months of talk that the Las Vegas Raiders would make Mendoza the first overall draft pick, the team followed through in selecting the quarterback on Thursday night.
Now, the real work begins.
And there is a lot of it.
Established veteran
“That underdog mentality is always still there, but it’s about having unwavering optimism, and the message that my mom gave me that helped unlock the exponential growth is — ‘Don’t put a ceiling over your head,’” Mendoza said. “Although they ranked me 288th, I didn’t see myself as that, because I didn’t see myself as a ranking. I just saw me as me. And I try to work on myself every single day.”
The good part: He has an established veteran to follow, to learn from, to ask questions of, to watch. It’s a major reason the Raiders signed Kirk Cousins. He should play a massive role in Mendoza’s development.
This will take time. Mendoza will need time. But his attitude — at least the words spoken — are perfect for such a journey.
He mostly knows what lies ahead. There will be surprises. Always are when you’re learning how to embrace a new level, the highest of ones at the most important of positions.
“Although the draft was today, once I got drafted, I’m now part of the NFL, and I can tell you right now I am not one out of 32 — although I was picked today one out of 32 — I’m not one out of 32 quarterbacks at this moment,” Mendoza said. “So, I need to work every single day possible, because I’m on the bottom of the totem pole.
“Whatever everyone is ranking me, I don’t know those specifics, but I’m at the bottom of the totem pole right now, and I’ve got to first earn the respect of my teammates, earn that equity, and I’ve also just got to immerse myself. I’m just ready to do whatever the team needs and calls on me to help them win.”
Things are looking (way) up for the Raiders. They have competent leaders in general manager John Spytek and coach Klint Kubiak. They made important splashes in free agency. And now they have their quarterback of the future.
It’s about as positive a vibe around the organization as there has been in some time.
Hungry. That’s one word Spytek used to describe Mendoza. Who wants to compete against the best in the world. Who will embrace learning from others.
“I respect his humility, which I think can be a little underrated in our profession, especially with players,” Spytek said. “There is a humility and awareness to (Mendoza) that he knows this is a really big jump, and we’re going to support him organizationally the best we can.”
Lots to prove
It’s a huge jump. That’s why Mendoza accepting and even supporting an underdog role is so significant. That’s why still having a little of that 288th recruit in him could be a blessing down the road.
He’s right. He’s not 1 of 32 yet.
He’s a guy with a whole lot to prove.
“I understand this is not the end of the journey, although this is a celebration, this is a start of a new thing,” Mendoza said. “And like Coach Kubiak told me on the phone, to stay humble and hungry and to keep on trying to learn every single day.
“I also think that fortune favors the bold, and that sometimes when you’re bold and you bet on yourself, it’ll work out most of the time. And if it doesn’t work out, at least you’ll be able to at least sleep easy at night 20 years down the road, knowing you did everything possible to accomplish your goals.”
He said all the right things, but you knew he would.
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.
