Did Klint Kubiak lie to media about Brock Bowers injury?

There is a fine line between an NFL coach being guarded and being deceitful.Klint Kubiak, the Raiders’ first-year head coach, walked right up to it Wednesday morning.A couple of hours before it was revealed that Brock Bowers underwent a knee procedure Tuesday and would miss multiple games, Kubiak told reporters he expected everyone to be available for Sunday’s season opener against the Miami Dolphins.By then, Bowers had already undergone the procedure.That means Kubiak almost assuredly knew the Raiders would not have everyone available.He had to have known that the most indispensable player in their offense would not be on the field.

And likely for multiple games.Yet when the California Post asked specifically about the status of Bowers and star defensive end Maxx Crosby, both of whom are coming off seasons in which they lost time to knee injuries, Kubiak gave every indication that both would be available.“We’re expecting to have all our guys ready for Sunday,” Kubiak said.Clearly, that wasn’t the case.Not even close.Coaches are under no obligation to help opponents.

They routinely guard injury information, offer vague answers, and protect any potential competitive advantage.That is part of life in the NFL.But there is a difference between declining to disclose information and creating an impression you know is untrue.Did Kubiak come dangerously close to crossing that line?He could have said the Raiders were still evaluating everyone.

He could have deferred to the official injury report that the Raiders would eventually release after practice.He could have declined to discuss individual medical situations.Any of those answers would have protected Bowers’ privacy and the Raiders’ competitive interests without misleading anyone.Instead, he said he expected everyone to play.“That is hard to comprehend,” an NFL league executive said.

“News like that doesn’t stay hidden.”Is there a chance Kubiak simply wasn’t aware?“His best offensive pl...