Media preparation part of rookie program for Raiders

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Dylan Mabin stood behind a lectern Tuesday on an elevated stage inside the Raiders’ meeting room, scouring over about 20 of his fellow rookies.

For the next several minutes, these weren’t teammates.

They were reporters.

What are Antonio Brown and Richie Incognito like as teammates?

What is the difference between on-camera Jon Gruden and coach Gruden?

What is your message to Oakland Raiders fans dealing with the relocation to Las Vegas?

This simulated news conference, managed by former ESPN talent developer Gerry Matalon, was part of the Raiders’ expansive rookie development program that concluded Friday. It featured seminars focusing on such subjects as financial planning, investments, public speaking, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health.

Since 2016, all NFL teams are required to run an in-house rookie transition program. The Raiders booked Matalon, whose hourlong session on media came at a prudent time.

Arguably no rookie class will receive more media exposure in 2019.

The Raiders will be featured this summer in the NFL Films and HBO series “Hard Knocks.” An NFL-high two games will be played internationally — in Canada in August and in London in October. Community appearances are divided between the Bay Area and Las Vegas, where the club is scheduled to move in 2020.

“You’ve got to be prepared,” said Matalon, founder of Matalon Media. “What is your message? … Don’t wing it. If you plan by winging it, you’ll fail by winging it. … I’m telling them to own their key messages and then illustrate them with stories and examples that are safe because you don’t want to hurt anyone in the process.”

Matalon gave a PowerPoint presentation.

Along with traditional, text-driven slides, he offered photo and video examples of how members of the Raiders’ rookie class have represented themselves in the media, be it since joining the organization or while in college. Analysis went beyond a player’s words, including such components as attire.

One clip of tight end Foster Moreau, a fourth-round pick, showed him successfully addressing a tough subject last December while at Louisiana State, supporting cornerback Greedy Williams’ decision to forgo the Fiesta Bowl and declare for the NFL.

Mabin, an undrafted rookie cornerback from Fordham, performed well in his practice news conference, diplomatically answering questions on delicate topics.

The formal media training was his first, he said.

“Growing up, as a joke, I would interview myself or interview my friends,” Mabin said. “We’d be playing one-on-one basketball (in high school) or something like that, and I’d walk up. ‘Hey, what do you have to say about this?’ We would take it serious. Someone would come up and put up a fake mic in front of you, and you’d be like, ‘Well, you know, they had us in the first half.’ ”

Raiders rookies also went off-site as part of their program.

That included local stops at Google headquarters and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

More Raiders: Follow at reviewjournal.com/Raiders and @NFLinVegas on Twitter.

Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GehlkenNFL on Twitter.