NAPA – The Raiders kicked off their first full squad day of training camp with a press conference. Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock spoke glowingly about rookies, the environment and the tone they hope to set here this summer. Antonio Brown flew in on a hot-air balloon, and then promptly landed on the non-football injury list.
Coaches conducted meetings and players got situated and Gruden delivered an introductory speech about turning dreams into nightmares that made the “Hard Knocks” crew grin like the Cheshire Cat.
None of that will matter as much as what comes next.