New Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza ready to prove he was worthy of No. 1 draft pick

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza sounded Friday like he was ready to get down to business and prove he was worthy of being the top pick in the NFL draft.

But the Heisman Trophy winner had been working on making a strong impression long before he arrived in Las Vegas to be formally introduced by the Raiders.

He worked with former quarterback Brian Griese — both attended the same Miami high school — on what his role in the West Coast offense could look like, giving him a head start in preparing for a similar system used by new Raiders coach Klint Kubiak.

“I needed some guidance on how to become the best NFL quarterback,” Mendoza said. “Not just for a pro day or the combine, for September, October, December. With that, we went over some general under-center concepts and installed basic bread-and-butter concepts that any team would have.”

That dedication and mental approach to the game, as well as Mendoza's physical traits, sold management on the idea that he was the quarterback the franchise has long searched for in hopes of returning to the days when the Raiders were regular contenders.

General manager John Spytek marveled at Mendoza's ability to recall plays from even early in the season at Indiana. Spytek didn't have to hit the play button while they watched video before Mendoza not only recognized the play, but explained it in detail. Mendoza also acknowledged those plays that didn't go well and what he might have done differently.

“There was an honesty and a self-awareness to it,” Spytek said. “I’ve been a part of a few other quarterback interviews like that before, but not very many.”

Much has been made of how quickly Mendoza can transition from a college system in which he was in the shotgun nearly every down to an offense in which he will be under center the vast majority of snaps.

“His skill-set fits with any offense in professional football,” Kubiak said. "The No. 1 thing that I love about Fernando is his leadership, the way that he relates to his teammates and his ability to win. We’re looking for a competitor to be our quarterback, and he went 16-0 last year with a heck of a team, and he led that group.”

Mendoza's focus in Las Vegas will be to learn from veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom the Raiders signed earlier this month, and to begin to live up to the expectations of being the first-overall pick. Kubiak and Spytek have talked about how they don't want to throw a rookie right into the starting lineup, but also said the best player will get the job.

Mendoza also has another mission. He is launching the Mendoza Family Fund, contributing $500,000 out of his pocket, to try to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. His mother, Elsa, uses a wheelchair because of MS, but made the cross-country trip with her family to Las Vegas for Mendoza's first full day with the Raiders.

“I believe one of my pillars and my identities is giving back and helping fight MS, giving to the community,” Mendoza said. "So that was a huge part of my identity, and it’s something that our family really wanted to do.”

He credited his mother with helping revive his football career.

Mendoza was mostly overlooked coming out of high school and spent three years at California, redshirting in 2022 and then starting most of the following two seasons. After earning a bachelor's degree in just more than three years, he transferred to Indiana and put together his breakout season as he led the Hoosiers to the national championship.

“My mom always saw more in me than I saw myself at that time, and she essentially pushed me to take a swing at trying to become a great NFL player,” Mendoza said. "That first step was transferring and challenging myself by being in an uncomfortable environment. When you’re uncomfortable, you’re able to grow.

“She said, ‘Hey, if you step to the plate, if you swing and you miss, at least in 20 years you knew you did everything possible to try to accomplish your dream.’ And I stepped to the plate, and luckily enough, I was able to hit a home run last year.”

The Raiders hope there are plenty of long balls left.

Kubiak raved about watching Mendoza at his Indiana pro day on April 1 as he directed his receivers on which routes to run and then delivered on-target passes.

“Then took him upstairs and talked football with him and just listened to him communicate the game and how quickly he picked things up,” Kubiak said. “We already liked how he played the game on film, but seeing him in person was really helpful, and it allowed us to watch film on a lot of other guys. We knew we had the guy.”

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Las Vegas Raiders first-round draft pick Fernando Mendoza speaks during an NFL football news conference Friday, April 24, 2026, in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

Las Vegas Raiders first-round draft pick Fernando Mendoza speaks during an NFL football news conference Friday, April 24, 2026, in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

From left to right, Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek, first-round draft pick Fernando Mendoza and head coach Klint Kubiak pose for a photo during an NFL football news conference Friday, April 24, 2026, in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

NEW YORK (AP) — Nedra Talley Ross, the last surviving member of the 1960s bee-hived pop band the Ronettes, who sang the enduring hits “Be My Baby,” “Baby I Love You” and “Walking in the Rain” alongside her cousins, has died. She was 80.

Ross died at home Sunday, according to the singer's daughter, Nedra K. Ross, and the Ronettes' official Instagram account. “Nedra’s voice, style and spirit helped define a sound that would change music. Her contribution to the group’s story and their defining influence will live forever,” a statement read.

The Ronettes’ sexy look and powerful voices — plus songwriting and producing help from Phil Spector — turned them into one of the premier acts of the girl-group era, touring England with The Rolling Stones and befriending the Beatles.

“Show business is a thing that can be great, but it can be bad, too,” Ross said during her acceptance speech to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. “For us, we had a family that gave us a core to help stabilize us in a very difficult crazy world. It was a fun time. I thank God truly for it.”

Ross, born and raised in New York City, together with sisters Veronica “Ronnie” and Estelle Bennett, released their debut album in 1964, “Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes, Featuring Veronica.” Five of its 12 tracks had made it to the U.S. Billboard charts, and it was listed in Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest albums of all time. It was the only studio album for the trio.

They also did a memorable version of “Sleigh Ride” that appeared on Spector’s “A Christmas Gift for You” album and was recently highlighted in the “Roofman” soundtrack and on “The Bear.” But their string of hits had tailed off by the time they split around 1967.

In March 1963, Estelle Bennett managed to arrange an audition in front of Phil Spector, known for his big, brass-and-drum style dubbed the “wall of sound.” They were signed to Philles Records in 1963. After being signed, they sang backup for other acts until Spector had the group record “Be My Baby” and “Baby I Love You.”

Martin Scorsese used “Be My Baby” to open his 1973 film “Mean Streets,” and the song appears in the title sequence of “Dirty Dancing” and the closing credits of “Baby Mama.” It also appeared on TV in everything from “Moonlighting” and “The Wonder Years” to “How I Met Your Mother” and “Money Heist.”

When the Ronettes were inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones remembered opening for the trio in England in the mid-1960s. “They could sing all their way right through a wall of sound,” Richards said. “They didn’t need anything. They touched my heart right there and then and they touch it still.”

After the Ronettes disbanded, Ross turned to Christian music, including the album “Full Circle” in 1978. Ross was married to DJ and television personality Scott Ross from 1967 until his death in 2023.

For nearly 15 years, the women waged a lengthy, and ultimately unsuccessful, court battle with Spector over royalties. A judge ordered Spector to pay $2.6 million in past royalties and interest, but New York State’s highest court threw out that ruling on appeal in 2002.

Ronnie Spector died at 78 in 2022. Bennett died at 67 in 2009. Ross is survived by four children.

FILE - Nedra Talley Ross appears in the press room after the induction of The Ronettes into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in New York on March 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Stuart Ramson, File)