‘Life of the Party’ Denzel Perryman on the Field for Raiders – Las Vegas Raiders Blog

HENDERSON, Nev. — Denzel Perryman knows that he often scouts plays on the field as a quarterback. Exactly What was going to be asked standing at the lesson.

Still, the Pro Bowler wasn’t comfortable being asked about an NFL Network report early in training camp that he was seeking a contract extension from the Las Vegas Raiders.

“I knew,” Perryman said under his breath, shaking his head slowly. “I knew it was coming. I knew it was coming.”

The room full of reporters laughed with an amused Perryman.

“To answer the question,” my agent, Ron Butler, is handling this matter. I just want to play football. That’s it. I’m waiting:: [that question]. That’s why I sweat. I was waiting for it.”

Perryman then grabs a towel in his right hand and slowly grins at his glistening face.

RAIDERS, root A new administration with general manager Dave Ziegel and coach Josh McDaniel arrived in January with the New England Patriots handing out contract extensions to defensive tackle Max Crosby, quarterback Derek Carr and slot receiver Hunter Renfrew. Las Vegas acquired All-Pro receiver Davante Adams and gave him a new contract Tight end Darren Waller appears to be on a new deal with Las Vegas over $26.4 million in salary cap space.

So, yeah, after the best season of his seven-year career and entering the final year of his contract, who can blame Perryman for wanting a little security?

Consider: Perryman’s 154 tackles last season were the most by a Raiders player since 2000, sixth in the NFL in 2021, and he’s the Raiders’ first inside linebacker since Matt Millen to be named to the league’s All-Star Game. In 1988

Inheriting a playmaker in the defensive secondary was a great opportunity for the new coaching staff.

“Denzel, he brings a lot of juice every day, and you can tell when he gets in there, he has a booming voice, and when he speaks, everybody knows, it’s usually something important,” McDaniels said. “He’s very confident, he makes it look easy, but he’s serious about the game of football. And I don’t know many people who do that.

“He’s trying to work hard to get better at the things he hasn’t done a lot of, which is what I love about him … he pushes his teammates, holds them accountable. He leads the same way every day. Our building doesn’t go up and down. [like] Rollercoaster. If there is any problem, you can be sure that Denzel will bring it to my attention as soon as possible. And if you go to Denzel with what we want from the team, he will make it happen. He earned the respect of the entire locker room. In fact, you really enjoy being with him every day.

Perryman arrived in Las Vegas on a whim. After spending his first six seasons with the Chargers, he signed a two-year, $6 million free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers in the spring of 2021.

But after a strange offseason and vowing not to get a COVID-19 vaccine, he was traded to the Raiders at the end of training camp in exchange for a 2022 sixth-round pick, along with a 2022 seventh-round draft pick.

As he said at the time, Perryman resisted taking the shot until he couldn’t stand it as a locker room outcast.

“I feel like I’m still trying to get my feet wet around here,” Perryman said of Las Vegas in general. “I got traded here. It was unexpected, but it was fortunate for me. I mean, I had my best season last year and I’m going to try to build on that. But being here, I mean. It’s not locked in yet. Like I said, I’m still trying to get my feet wet.”

Injuries have been an issue for Perryman — he had never started more than 11 games in a season before last year. He appeared in 84 of his 113 regular season games in his career.

But after starting 15 games, including last season’s playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals — he missed two while on the Covid list — Perryman appears to be a rebuild for new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Perryman and second-year player Divine Deablo are the Raiders’ only returning linebackers.

“You can’t lead if you don’t contribute and be consistent with your contribution,” Graham said. “And he comes in the same way every day – great energy, willingness to learn, accountability. If it goes wrong, he’s willing to take the blame for it, and he’s going to hold others accountable. And he’s like a linebacker at that position. He’s doing a good job of communicating between the players and the coaches. That’s from the position. It’s important.”

Let it be 110 Degrees or monsoons sprinkling the field, Perryman is a constant in camp, swinging his beanie with messages of social change and reminding anyone within earshot to “drink up.”

“He’s the heart of our defense,” cornerback Chandler Jones said. “I met him when I first got here and that’s just how we go…I’m a fan, for sure.”

Safety Duron Harmon agreed.

“He’s the life of the party,” Harmon said. But when he goes to the field, it’s like clicking a switch.

In fact, Perryman had 10 games with at least 10 tackles last season, including 14 in a Week 3 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins.

If he turns 30 in December and is entering the final year of his contract but has an injury history, is he a machinist who looks like a foundation piece, out of his prime?

Yes, there is some “power” around Perryman in the middle of the Raiders’ retooled defense.

“All in all, I’m happy with the season,” Perryman said. “Everything is new – new coaches, new staff, new faces, new plan and new year.” So, energy wise, I’m always smiling and high energy.”

He seems to have seen all this coming.