Just days after Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold claimed he received a call from "the Raiders coach" — who many assumed was Antonio Pierce — after the 2024 NFL Draft saying the Las Vegas Raiders had a "coin toss" between Arnold and tight end Brock Bowers, Pierce has completely shot down the story.
Before we get to Pierce's response to Arnold's story, here's a look at what the Lions rookie said a few days ago.
"(The Lions) knew that the Raiders, there was a possibility that they took me," Arnold said on Tuesday. "And, actually, the Raiders coach, they called me after the draft, they were like 'we actually had a coin toss between you and Brock Bowers. It landed on him.'"
According to Pierce, which comes via former NFL player Ryan Clark, he denied there was a call. He also said there was no coin toss and that tight end Brock Bowers was the pick once the last two quarterbacks went off the board.
"No call, no coin flip," Pierce said, before adding, "as soon as the last two QBs went off the board, we said Bowers all the way."
Pierce also said that the Raiders were ready with the Bowers pick before they were on the board at No. 13 overall.
Spoke to @Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, & denied speaking to Terrion Arnold. “No call, and no coin flip.”
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) May 9, 2024
“As soon as the last two QBS Went off the board. We SAID BOWERS all the way.” -AP
He also said the Bowers’ pick was ready before the Raiders were on the clock.
It's hard to believe Arnold would simply make up a story like that, but who knows. One thing we can probably say for sure is that if he did talk to a coach, the coin toss comment was a figurative thing and not literal.
