Adams: 'I signed off' on Garoppolo benching
Warning: Video contains coarse language
Las Vegas Raiders star wideout Davante Adams admits that he was consulted by head coach Antonio Pierce before the team benched quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in favor of Aidan O'Connell last season.
"My opinion on that was that I signed off on it," Adams said on Netflix's "Receiver," per the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Adam Hill. "That's just the reality of it. I love Jimmy and he's a great guy, but something had to happen in order for us to have a chance down the stretch and for me to remain a Raider, in all honesty."
O'Connell started in Week 4 and replaced Garoppolo in Week 9 after the veteran started six of the first eight games of the 2023 campaign.
Adams' frustration with the direction of the franchise was on full display as cameras followed the three-time first-team All-Pro and four other NFL pass-catchers during the 2023 season. He noted after Las Vegas' regular-season finale that he struggled to watch other football games, even if the Raiders won.
"It was tough," Adams said. "It's hard because I love football so much, so it's tough to sit there and not even want to watch a game based on the way our situation was going."
In the Netflix Documentary “Receiver” #Raiders WR Davante Adams was caught frustrated with the team and getting hit too many times:
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) July 13, 2024
“I gotta get the f**k outta here before I lose my f**king life. Every game, I get f**ked up.” pic.twitter.com/kdmYLOXrvo
Adams described the 2023 season as a "trying time" but said the Raiders "didn't let it kill" them after finishing with an 8-9 mark and missing the postseason. The six-time Pro Bowler is more appreciative of wins at this point in his career following his time as a member of the Green Bay Packers.
"In Green Bay, we won so many games. We didn't have the same adversity as I've dealt with the last two seasons here. It's made me a little more appreciative of winning and that's when you see some of the cigars and things popping out after the games," Adams said.
Adams remains one of the top receivers despite some early instability during his Raiders tenure. After leading the league with 14 touchdowns in 2022, he tallied 1,144 yards on 103 receptions for eight scores last season.
Las Vegas released Garoppolo in March after one season with the franchise. Gardner Minshew was signed this offseason to compete with O'Connell.