Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza meets Tom Brady every evening. They take a seat, review tape, and talk. Brady draws on his experience coaching Peyton Manning to show Mendoza how to read a defense. He points out Manning’s habit of saying the play aloud and of tightening the spiral on deep throws. In practice they run the same drill over and over. The Raiders staff observes the sessions.
They say Mendoza’s reads are more precise and his release is faster. Mendoza believes the nightly advice could define his future.