Fernando Mendoza admits he’s been forced to change his leadership style as first test looms

Fernando Mendoza admits he’s going to have to change his leadership style as he adjusts to life in the NFL.

The quarterback arrived in the NFL with plenty of hype after joining the Las Vegas Raiders as the first overall pick.

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He earned that right — and a $54.6 million contract — after leading Indiana to a national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy.

Mendoza’s affable personality has shone through during the pre-draft process, but he insists there is plenty of steel behind the public persona.

“Although I’ve come off as very humble, and pretty fuzzy and warm,” he explained to Raiders icon James Jones. “At the end of my Indiana career when you have that equity, you’re able to be like No. 4 [Brett Favre] and No. 12 [Aaron Rodgers].

“If you ask my teammates … I wasn’t always a nice guy, I was an a-hole sometimes because I wanted everyone to do their one-eleventh, everyone to do their job, hold everyone to a high standard.”

He might be the anointed future of the franchise, but Mendoza will not be the alpha dog with Kirk Cousins in the quarterback room and Tom Brady pulling strings behind the scenes.

That is not going to be a problem for a man who managed to avoid the usual character flaw accusations levelled at high-drafted quarterbacks.

“However, coming into a new organization, starting from the bottom of the totem pole, I believe that leadership is earned, not given,” he added.

Fernando Mendoza’s family key to humble nature

Mendoza was a two-star recruit out of high school — an experience which has given him a grounding that some others in his position may lack.

“I believe I’m still the underdog,” Mendoza said after being drafted. “Although the draft was today , although I was picked today one out of 32, I’m not one out of 32 quarterbacks at this moment. So, I need to work every single day possible, because I’m on the bottom of the totem pole.

“I’ve go to first earn the respect to my teammates, earn that equity, and I’ve also just got to immerse, and I’m just ready to do whatever the team needs and calls me to do to help them win.”

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That attitude should sit well with the Silver and Black as Mendoza’s NFL journey officially begins at rookie minicamp on May 1.

“He’s always been someone to be open to new things,” his father, Fernando Mendoza Sr., told Raiders.com. “Meeting new people, new situations, whether it’s a new school or a social environment, that’s kind of his demeanor. Kind of observant and pretty open to new experiences. That’s who he is.

“He’s a pretty reserved guy at times, but he’ll wear his emotions on his sleeve.

“I think you could see it come through afterwards, when he could let go and realized, ‘Hey, I’m going to be playing for the Raiders.'”

Mom Elsa has been a huge influence on Mendoza and explained the traits that will make him a success.

“I think part of his calming presence is he’s not scared to work,” she said. “He has no fears about working and staying late and being the best he can be. He’s just confident that he knows he can outwork anybody.

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“He is what you see. It’s so funny because once people get to know him, they’re really like, ‘He really is that person.’ He doesn’t try to be anything that he’s not. He is who he is.”

Cousins will take center stage to start the season, but everybody knows he is the opening act.

Mendoza’s time to shine will come and everything suggests he won’t be dazzled by the lights of Vegas.

There are no sure things, however, and the JaMarcus Russell days will serve as a reminder of what could go wrong.

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