After Raiders coach Dennis Allen announced that Terrelle Pryor would start at quarterback in Week 17, Pryor’s agent Jerome Stanley delivered a negative take on the news.
“I think they’re putting him in hopes that he fails,” Stanley said. “That’s what I think Coach is doing. I think they’re putting him in hopes that he has a bad game, so he can then justify the Matt McGloin situation. I think that’s what’s going on, I do and it’s ridiculous.”
It didn’t take long for Pryor to apologize for Stanley’s comments on Monday and said Tuesday that what Stanley alleged about Allen’s motivation never crossed his mind. Allen was also asked about Stanley’s comments and he didn’t hold his fire.
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. This isn’t the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. This is football,” Allen said, via Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area.
Allen also said that he spoke to Pryor shortly after Stanley’s comments and said this was a time when you have to separate the player from the agent. Pryor said it was awkward at first, but all was well after speaking to Allen.
The Raiders are riding a five-game losing streak into Sunday’s game against the Broncos and a sixth straight loss isn’t going to do anything to help Allen’s chances of making it to a third year as the Raiders coach. Given that backdrop, we’re inclined to agree with his take on a suggestion that he was trying to sabotage Pryor rather than make a quarterback change in hopes of sparking his team to victory.