Fernando Mendoza Joins the Las Vegas Raiders

May 4, 2026, 17:53
USSports

Introduction

Fernando Mendoza is a new football player. He is the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He now plays for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Main Body

Mendoza played very well at Indiana University. He won a big trophy and a championship. The Raiders' manager, John Spytek, says Mendoza is smart and works hard. Some people disagree. One coach says Mendoza is not ready for the NFL. This coach thinks Mendoza makes mistakes with his throws. Mendoza wants to work hard. He will not go to the White House in May because he wants to practice with his team. He also stayed with his family in Florida during the draft party.

Conclusion

Mendoza is now learning how to play in the professional league at his first team camps.

Learning

⚡️ Action Words: Now vs. Before

Look at how the story talks about Fernando. It uses two different 'time zones' for his actions:

1. The Past (Finished)

  • Played → He did this at university.
  • Won → He got the trophy already.
  • Stayed → He was with his family.

2. The Present (Now/General)

  • Plays → This is his current job.
  • Says → This is what the manager thinks now.
  • Wants → This is his feeling today.

💡 Quick Tip: The 'S' Rule

When we talk about one person (Fernando / The Manager / The Coach), we add an -s to the action word in the present:

  • He play → He plays
  • He want → He wants
  • He make → He makes

🚀 Future Step

When something will happen later, we use will not (or won't):

  • "He will not go to the White House."

(Future →’→’ Not happening yet)

Vocabulary Learning

football
a sport played with a ball
Example:I like to watch football on TV.
pick
a choice or selection
Example:He was the team's first pick in the draft.
draft
a process where teams choose new players
Example:The draft happened last week.
trophy
a prize that is usually a cup or metal object
Example:They lifted the trophy after the game.
championship
a competition for a title
Example:They won the championship last year.
manager
a person who runs or directs a team
Example:The manager called a meeting.
coach
a person who trains players
Example:The coach gave advice to the players.
ready
prepared for something
Example:She is ready to start school.
mistake
an error or something done incorrectly
Example:He made a mistake during the game.
throw
to toss a ball
Example:He practiced his throw every day.
practice
to train or rehearse
Example:They practice every evening.
team
a group of people who play together
Example:They are a strong team.