Oakland Raiders coach Dennis Allen fired back Tuesday at the agent of quarterback Terrelle Pryor, a day after Jerome Stanley called it "ridiculous" that Allen has decided that Pryor will start Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
Stanley, in an interview with CSN Bay Area, said he believed the decision to play Pryor now is a plot by the Raiders to set Pryor up to fail.
"First, I'd say that's the stupidest thing I've ever friggin' heard," Allen said Tuesday to reporters. "This isn't the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. This isn't made-for-TV drama. This is football. We make our football decisions based solely based on that, nothing other than that. So I don't really give it a lot of thought. I can't control the ignorance that might come out of somebody else's mouth."
Allen said he called to Pryor to talk about Stanley's comments, and that Pryor was very apologetic.
Pryor started eight games this season for the Raiders, and played in two others. But Allen and his staff decided to start rookie Matt McGloin since mid-November. Allen had said previously that McGloin would remain the starter for the rest of the season.
That changed this week, when Allen announced on Monday that Pryor would start the final game.
"I think it was just time to give another opportunity to take a look at Terrelle and give Terrelle another opportunity to prove the things he can do," Allen said.
Allen said he hoped the six games Pryor spent on the bench as McGloin's backup was useful. Pryor threw five touchdowns and 10 interceptions while he was the Raiders' starter. He threw another interception two weeks ago against the Raiders when he came in the game after McGloin. Pryor has also rushed for 527 yards and two touchdowns.
"I think sometimes as a young player, when you're out there and going through it you're learning, but sometimes it's a good situation to kind of sit back and be able to see it from the sideline, see how the game develops and take a back seat and really evaluate what's going on," Allen said. "I think it's been good for Terrelle. Obviously, he's excited. I'm excited; we're all excited about giving him another opportunity."
Stanley, in an interview with CSN Bay Area, said he believed the decision to play Pryor now is a plot by the Raiders to set Pryor up to fail.
"First, I'd say that's the stupidest thing I've ever friggin' heard," Allen said Tuesday to reporters. "This isn't the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. This isn't made-for-TV drama. This is football. We make our football decisions based solely based on that, nothing other than that. So I don't really give it a lot of thought. I can't control the ignorance that might come out of somebody else's mouth."
Allen said he called to Pryor to talk about Stanley's comments, and that Pryor was very apologetic.
Pryor started eight games this season for the Raiders, and played in two others. But Allen and his staff decided to start rookie Matt McGloin since mid-November. Allen had said previously that McGloin would remain the starter for the rest of the season.
That changed this week, when Allen announced on Monday that Pryor would start the final game.
"I think it was just time to give another opportunity to take a look at Terrelle and give Terrelle another opportunity to prove the things he can do," Allen said.
Allen said he hoped the six games Pryor spent on the bench as McGloin's backup was useful. Pryor threw five touchdowns and 10 interceptions while he was the Raiders' starter. He threw another interception two weeks ago against the Raiders when he came in the game after McGloin. Pryor has also rushed for 527 yards and two touchdowns.
"I think sometimes as a young player, when you're out there and going through it you're learning, but sometimes it's a good situation to kind of sit back and be able to see it from the sideline, see how the game develops and take a back seat and really evaluate what's going on," Allen said. "I think it's been good for Terrelle. Obviously, he's excited. I'm excited; we're all excited about giving him another opportunity."
