Andy Reid Backs Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie
By Chase Ruttig
General manager Reggie McKenzie has been under fire for some time as the Oakland Raiders rebuilding process has came with the side effect of a poor win/loss record that has the naysayers calling for the Raiders front office boss to become a second scapegoat after the season in joining former head coach Dennis Allen on the firing line. With two 4-12 seasons with McKenzie rebuilding the roster and a lack of high end free agents coming with large amounts of cap space this past offseason, fans have grown frustrated with the needed rebuild in Oakland and want to press the rest button on the front office once again.
However some are still supporting Reggie McKenzie, noting that he has had added talent come through the draft that will be the cornerstones of the franchise for years to come. Players such as Derek Carr, Gabe Jackson, Sio Moore, Khalil Mack and DJ Hayden all showing promise that they can be longterm starters in Oakland. Wins haven’t happened so far for the rebuilding Raiders, but there is tangible value in McKenzie’s draft picks through two full years of draft picks.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is one of the people who is still supporting McKenzie, telling Bay Area media that the Raiders need to be patient with McKenzie while adding that rebuilding takes time for any franchise.
It is debatable whether or not the Raiders will keep McKenzie around, but Oakland’s impatient nature as a franchise may still force the franchise’s first general manager not named Al Davis out of the door this offseason. If they do they will still be in the same position of rebuilding going into 2015, but Reid is making his opinion on what his AFC West rival should do when it comes to the front office known in voicing his support of McKenzie.