Oakland Raiders cannot win this reckless, pointless game of chicken

The Oakland Raiders are playing a game of chicken with superstar Khalil Mack – a game that ultimately, they cannot win.

The Oakland Raiders have a problem. A problem that continues to grow exponentially by the day. And that problem, of course, is the continued absence of superstar Khalil Mack.

More specifically, the continued lack of a contract for superstar Khalil Mack.

Mack, selected in the first round – fifth-overall – of the 2014 Draft, has been everything the Raiders could have possibly wanted and envisioned when they selected him. And then some.

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Over his first four seasons in the league, Mack has put together an incredible body of work.

He’s racked up quite a few honors in his young career – three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All Pro, the only player in NFL history to be named All Pro at two different positions, and the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

On the field, Mack has been an absolute force of nature. Though just one person, he has changed the course and complexion of games on his own. Through four seasons of play, he’s tallied 303 total tackles (231 solo), 40.5 sacks, forced nine fumbles and recovered four others, has defensed 11 passes, has an interception and a touchdown to his credit.

What makes that stat line all the more impressive is that he’s done it while having absolutely no help around him. Thanks to a lack of any teeth along the interior of that defensive line, or any other able-bodied pass rushers, Mack has faced double and triple-teams on virtually every snap.

And he’s still absolutely dominant.

This is the year though, when those fortunes could potentially change. The Raiders brought in Jon Gruden to helm the ship, and he brought in a real defensive coordinator in Paul Guenther.

As a DC, Guenther had some success running some very aggressive units in Cincinnati and has a scheme that should fit Mack’s talents and skill set very, very well.

Not only that, the Raiders finally seem to have addressed the dearth of talent and explosiveness in the defensive trenches by moving Bruce Irvin to rush opposite Mack, adding Arden Key as a third true pass rusher, and strengthening the interior of the line with the additions of P.J. Hall and Maurice Hurst.

Yeah, this could be a year when Oakland’s defense becomes a strength, rather than a handicap that forces the offense to score 50 points a game to overcome.

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It could be that year – except for the fact that Mack has stayed away from the voluntary OTA sessions as he waits for a new deal to get done. A new deal that seems to be progressing about as fast as glaciers form in the Mojave.

Now, there isn’t real reason to panic just yet. It’s close, but we’re not there yet. OTA’s are voluntary. Mack’s absence, though notable, shouldn’t send us all screaming into the streets, foaming at the mouths, just yet.

There is a genuine growing concern though, given that Mack is playing out a fifth-year option that pays him a tick under $14 million dollars for the season. And once that option is played out, Mack becomes a free agent at the end of the year.

It’s unfathomable to think of seeing Mack in anything but Silver and Black next year – but, the longer this process plays out, the larger that specter looms. The longer McKenzie slow walks this deal, the more he risks alienating Mack, who is a generational talent, and a player the Raiders should never, ever, let walk out the door. Ever.

It’s also not helping the process to have Guenther himself, who called Mack the “centerpiece” to his offense, calling out the pass rushing superstar for not being there during the installation of the team’s new defensive schemes.

"“He’s going to have a lot of catching up to do. We’re going to have to have a plan for that, for sure. Really, I’m concerned about the guys that are here now working. These guys have been busting their tails every day — coming in early, meeting with the coaches, being great in the meeting rooms, communicating on the field. We do a lot with one-minute situations today, so it was really good to see.”"

The true test of just how cold this cold war is, will come next week when the team has a three day mandatory minicamp. Mack, barring a resolution to the contract impasse, could make a good faith effort and show up. Or, he can choose to continue staying away and potentially accrue nearly $90 thousand dollars in fines.

This contract negotiation should not be that hard – not even for one of the GM’s voted the least prepared when it comes to contract negotiations.

Really, it should be simple. Very simple, and take all of about five minutes. McKenzie should simply sit down at a table with Mack, slide a blank check over to him, and tell him to fill in the amount – and then figure out how to make it work after the fact.

Period. Done. Boom. You’re welcome, Reggie.

Mack is a transcendent talent. A generational talent. The type of talent that seems to come around less often than Halley’s Comet. Khalil Mack is the type of talent who should never be wearing any jersey that’s not Silver and Black.

But, if McKenzie keeps dragging his feet on Mack’s extension, and Guenther keep sniping at him in the media, the risk of alienating him to the point that he chooses to walk away from the franchise starts becoming very, very real.

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The time to truly panic is not yet upon us. After all, quarterback Derek Carr went through a similar ordeal last year and finally signed his mammoth deal on June 22. So, there’s still time yet. Not much, but a little bit.

This game of chicken McKenzie is playing with Mack is as reckless as it is pointless. All we can do is hope he pulls his head out, veers off this path, and does right by Mack before it’s too late.