Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza meets Tom Brady every session. They take a seat, watch film, and talk. Brady pulls from his time coaching Peyton Manning to show Mendoza how to read a defense. He points out Manning’s habit of verbalizing the play and of tightening the spiral on deep throws. In practice they run the same drill repeatedly. The Raiders staff observes the sessions.
They say Mendoza’s reads are sharper and his release is faster. Mendoza believes the nightly advice could shape his entire career.