Antonio Pierce wants the Raiders to channel the “Bad Boys” Pistons when it comes to stopping Patrick Mahomes.
Pierce, recently named the permanent head coach of the Raiders, appeared on his star defensive lineman Maxx Crosby’s podcast and referenced the era of Pistons players, like Bill Laimbeer, roughing up Michael Jordan to make him think twice about driving to the hoop.
“We’ve got the Jordan rules and we’ve got what I’m calling now, from now on as long as I’m here, the Patrick Mahomes rules,” Pierce said, as covered by ProFootballTalk.
“You remember when Jordan was going through it with the Pistons, all those guys in the ’80s before he became Michael Jordan, Air Jordan, the Pistons used to whip his ass. Any time he came to the hole, elbows, feeling him, love taps. We’re in his head, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, I’m touching you. So I showed my guys Jordan getting his ass whooped.”
Antonio Pierce revealed that he wants the Raiders to channel the ‘Jordan Rules’ when it comes to roughing up Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Pierce revealed he has also been showing the Raiders clips of various professional fights, in boxing and UFC, to get the team to embrace a fighter’s mentality.
“We’ve got to knock off the head of the snake. Fifteen. Hate the color red,” Pierce said. “There’s a hatred for the Chiefs.”
When Pierce was still interim head coach, his Raiders were the last team to beat the Chiefs, 20-14, in a stunner on Christmas.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 warms up during Kansas City Chiefs practice ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on February 07, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada.Getty Images
The Chiefs went on to win their final two regular season games and battled their way to four playoff wins, punctuated with a 25-22 Super Bowl victory over the 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — the Raiders home field.
Although what he told Crosby may be common language inside locker rooms, Pierce is putting a target on his own team’s back for officials to be vigilant on if they are crossing the line in being physical with Mahomes, who has assumed the mantle as face of the NFL.
