MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Go ahead, chalk it up as a learning experience for a rookie quarterback, even as the loss goes on the record of the Las Vegas Raiders' Aidan O'Connell.
Because while Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce said O'Connell gave Las Vegas its best chance for success when announcing that the rookie would supplant veteran Jimmy Garoppolo as the starter in his introductory media conference, Pierce acknowledged after Sunday's 20-13 defeat to the Miami Dolphins that the Raiders went conservative "to protect the young quarterback.