Pete Carroll has Geno Smith’s back. The new Raiders coach, 73, defended his quarterback Sunday when asked about Smith’s decision to flip off a Seahawks fan during Thursday’s preseason game, which served as the duo’s Seattle homecoming.

Pete Carroll played a new role in familiar territory Thursday night, with his first preseason game as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders coming against the Seattle Seahawks

L as Vegas Raiders coach Pete Carroll is not publicly dwelling on nostalgia as he returns to Seattle, even if it marks his first time back on the opposing sideline. Carroll faces the Seahawks in the preseason opener Thursday night at Lumen Field,