Raiders O'Connell Post Win Over the Broncos
From the Las Vegas Raiders locker room, QB Aidan O'Connell post-win in the season finale over the Denver Broncos.
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:02 >> All right, you ready?
00:05 >> Aiden, terrific performance from you today.
00:07 You did exactly what they asked you to do, your QB ratings to the roof.
00:11 Just talk about, take us through the process, the preparation this week, and
00:15 coming back from the injury.
00:16 >> Yeah, I think first and foremost, I just wanna thank my teammates,
00:21 coaches for believing in me this season, giving me this opportunity, obviously,
00:24 from AP and Champ.
00:27 Today was, obviously, it's hard, you wanna be in the playoffs,
00:29 you wanna play more football.
00:30 But I thought we came out and brought intensity from the first quarter, and
00:36 defense helped us out, guys on offense made plays.
00:38 So it was a fun game, it was fun to be a part of.
00:41 But yeah, just super proud of our guys, pretty strong.
00:44 >> What do you think about moving forward?
00:46 I mean, they gave you the ball when AP took over, you were the guy for him,
00:50 top down him, and now moving forward for yourself.
00:52 What are your thoughts standing there right now?
00:54 >> Yeah, obviously, it's been a whirlwind last few weeks.
00:58 Rookie season is hard, it's long.
00:59 And obviously, the third thing that happened was a little crazy.
01:02 But like I said, just super appreciative of the opportunity to play.
01:06 It's not an opportunity a lot of guys get, and so try to make the most of it.
01:09 But felt the support from AP and the rest of my teammates throughout.
01:14 We'll see what happens in the future, it's outside of my control.
01:17 But again, just more so reflecting on the season, just proud of our guys.
01:22 >> Aiden, you just mentioned that we'll see about the future.
01:26 Can you take us through your mind in terms of your approach to this particular
01:31 game to give one final lasting impression to the season?
01:36 And what was your approach just to make a name for
01:39 yourself one final time before the draft?
01:42 Obviously, the draft, there's a lot of speculation on who might be drafted, and
01:46 it could be Corbett.
01:47 >> Yeah, obviously, that's all outside of my control.
01:50 And so when you know a game like this, you know that it's the last time as a team.
01:55 I think it's not hard to get up for a game like that and be ready for
01:59 a game because you wanna end on a good note.
02:00 You wanna make a statement to finish the season.
02:02 And so, like I said before, I thought our guys did that.
02:05 I thought we had a good week of practice.
02:06 And I think, through this week, we enjoyed being around each other, and
02:10 that was really fun to be a part of.
02:12 >> Aiden, I know a lot of people, a lot of players have been involved with your
02:15 support of Antonio.
02:18 I'm just wondering about Champ Kelly.
02:20 He helped in the process of drafting you.
02:25 Have the players at all talked about retaining him as well, along with AP?
02:31 >> Yeah, obviously, Champ is a little more behind the scenes, but
02:33 I think it's the same thing.
02:34 I think guys love Champ.
02:36 Champ is an awesome guy.
02:37 He's super easy to talk to.
02:39 I connected with him really since I first got here.
02:42 And he's even sent me encouraging messages throughout the season.
02:46 And so Champ's been huge for my development,
02:48 someone I really look up to, whose faith is really strong.
02:51 And so, yeah, him and his family are awesome.
02:53 And so I think, yeah, likewise with AP, it's the same with Champ.
02:58 >> Aiden, Antonio was very emotional after the game, and rightfully so.
03:03 Just take us inside the locker room, those moments with him and
03:06 the team in the celebratory atmosphere.
03:08 You guys won this for him.
03:09 >> Yeah, I think AP shows his emotions.
03:12 I think he's not gonna hide what he's feeling.
03:15 And so we appreciate that from him.
03:17 He's honest, he's open, he's vulnerable with us.
03:19 And so you can get behind somebody like that.
03:22 And so for him, he's been through so much.
03:24 It's for him to take this role and to lead us the way he has has been awesome.
03:29 And we've been in basically every game that he's coached.
03:32 And so again, just can't thank him enough for what he's done for me and
03:35 for our team.
03:36 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:38 >> Anything else?