Yahoo Sports NFL on Fernando Mendoza

ArticleFernando Mendoza made unique decision in first Raiders game of season
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Wearing the helmet is pretty crucial because that's where the play calls come in through, and that's the microphone you hear from the speaker. When I wear the helmet, I can [experience] what I would actually see on the field.
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Mendoza inactive in Week 1; wearing helmet on sideline to simulate game experience.

The rookie first overall pick from Indiana was inactive for the Raiders' season-opening win over Miami, remaining on the sidelines as a backup. Rather than wear a headset or earpiece with a baseball cap, Mendoza chose to wear his helmet during the game to hear play calls and simulate the on-field experience, saying the helmet made the simulation seem realistic and allowed him to experience what he would actually see on the field. The Raiders are slow-playing the rookie's debut while Kirk Cousins starts; as long as Cousins performs adequately, Mendoza will likely remain on the sidelines to continue his development process.

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