For Antonio Pierce, motivating players as a HC is different from when he played

The Las Vegas Raiders will play at home for the second week in a row.

They will face the Cleveland Browns in a game that both teams need, but the Raiders have to. The Raiders started 1-3 last season, and after believing they improved over the offseason, they can’t afford to start 1-3 again.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce was a Super Bowl-winning defenseman with extensive experience in rallying and motivating players. However, he has more experience as a player than as a head coach. He says motivating players as a player is different from motivating them as a head coach.

“Everyone is different. I mean, I don’t talk to quarterbacks like I talk to quarterbacks,” Pierce said. “But the message for the team is about the team and our mindset. Again, the mindset this week was character, being professional and having another chance at home. We really want to take advantage of this. I believe the fans will survive. I know they were disappointed, as were we, but we expect them to come through this strong and be loud and show yourselves Raider Nation.

“But as a player you probably interact more with each other, like here, eye to eye, and as a team you have to look at the bigger picture and you can’t overdo it. And I guess I really don’t do that. I am more direct and direct. They understand it and then we just move on.”

Pierce noted that his approach to motivating players as a coach is a two-way street. He said he believes open lines of communication are extremely important to prevent outside noise from entering the locker room.

“It’s nothing personal,” Pierce said. “It’s absolutely nothing personal. And they do the same to me, right? They call me: “AP, you are not the same today.” What’s wrong with you? That’s the good part of it. I just think the lines of communication need to be open throughout the week, especially in times like this when outsiders are poking us and trying to turn us against each other, and that’s not going to happen.

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