Raiders face explosive Rams after stunning trade

[ASFN Admin]

The Oakland Raiders open the regular season with the conspicuous absence of Khalil Mack, the decorated defensive end who was traded to the Chicago Bears after a prolonged contract holdout. Rather than revel in the excitement of the Monday night opener against the Rams, head coach Jon Gruden found himself attempting to explain how the Raiders ended up letting one of the NFL's top defenders out of the building despite being under their control. Mack was due $13.846 million on his fifth-year option, but never showed for any of the offseason workouts or training camp as he sought an extension that general manager Reggie McKenzie said he had been working toward.

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