Apocalypse now
By Charles Ybarra
Saturday, January 26th, 2008 at 1:30 am in Oakland Raiders.
We’re so unbelievably f#%^ed.
This is bad…really bad.
Marc Wilson bad…
Bo Jackson minus the hip bad…
Rich Gannon minus Barret Robbins in the Super Bowl bad.
For all of those yocals who wanted Lane Kiffin out….
you got your wish,Haters.
I’m sure you’ve read the articles by now as reported by ESPN:
Owner Al Davis has been pushing for coach Lane Kiffin to resign and is considering Dennis Green as a potential replacement, sources close to Kiffin and the team said.
Davis has gone so far as to draft a letter of resignation for Kiffin to sign, a source said. Kiffin has refused to do so but has dared Davis to fire him instead. The letter, the source said, was sent to Kiffin two weeks ago. One season into the job and Lane Kiffin has quite a dilemma on his hands. Raiders owner Al Davis wants him out, but Kiffin’s not budging.
Kiffin, who was 4-12 in his first season as coach, has two years remaining on his contract at an estimated $2 million per year.
So I’m pretty sure we all know how this “dilemma” is going to turn out.
There will be no forgiving, no reconciled situation and no love lost between Owner and Coach once a decision is made by either of these stubborn men.
Raider fans by the hundreds are threatening to turn in their Season tickets..
I can’t say I don’t blame them all that much.
Sure, we went 4-12..
but if you didn’t see an improvement in our Running game and Offensive Line, I’m calling you a damn idiot.
I believe the reason was obvious. Lane wanted Rob Ryan out, Al didn’t agree and ever since then, the Tea Kettle began boiling…
Has anyone ever seen the Kettle explode????
All this time I defended Emperor Al; telling the fans Mr. Kiffin had enough control over the team to make a difference in team decisions…
now here we are, back to square 1.
…and the Nation grows irate!!!!!!!!!
Can someone tell me HOW IN THE HELL are Rob and Lane coexisting in Alabama for the Senior Bowl????
Lane ” Hey, Rob can you give your defensive game plan by the end of the day?”
Rob “Can you give me a glass of SHUT THE HELL UP AFTER YOU’RE FIRED?”
The solution will be the Nutty Professor? aka Dennis Green?
If so? I swear I’m retiring.
I’m turning in the black Samurai Mask and cape..
put the Light saber in the Hall with the rest of my name.
and I’m done…
really…
UNLESS ALL IS NOT ACCURATE…
who am I kidding?
[Both comments and pings are currently closed.]
January 26th, 2008 at 5:51 am
The Raiders are a joke. Once we get a competent HC, now we want to fire him. I dont know what the hell is AD thinking…
January 26th, 2008 at 6:28 am
IF any of this is true, I am going to sell my Raider soul. Al needs to come out and put an end to this…if of course the information is false. If it is true, I doubt a word from the temple will come down. Meanwhile we have Kiffin who states he’s not going to comment on anything over the last three weeks.
If it looks like crap, smells like crap, then it’s crap…and it looks like there is a big pile of it on Al’s desk.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:07 am
This whole thing is a joke.ESPN is a JOKE. Kiffen beat KC and Denver and came close to beating SD ,Hey lets get rid of our coach and hire a re-tread in Dennis Green………………..what a joke this whole thing is . Show me a source and I’ll believe it.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:07 am
This is madness. If Big Al acts like these rumours suggests then he does not have the raiders at heart and should be sacked. He must be a secret undercover agent for the 49ers, or broncos or chargers but no raider anymore. God i’m fed up that this might be at all true.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:57 am
I’ve watched every game since 1980…. “I’m OUT!”…. I will no longer suspend my disbelief. We all knew the reality when we couldn’t keep Gruden.Too Bad.I’ll find somthing better,(fish?), to do on Fall Sunday afternoons .
January 26th, 2008 at 8:03 am
How can we win games without a consistent coaching staff, where the system changes every year? This is a joke. I barely watched any games last year cause the Art Shell era was ridiculous…you could see the destruction when we get shut out on Week 1 Monday Night Football. Nobody wanted to coach under Al Davis, so he hires the last man that would…Shell. Then last year I watched cause there was optimism with Kiffin and hope that we were on the right track…but if we lose Kiffin, I ain’t watching a game next year.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:04 am
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE!!
This may not have been an(excellent) year, yet after our AFC west record this year, holding my silver and black head high in the air this year was a lot easier.
I may not be saying the Raiders are competative but this year was an improvement. PLEASE give the Raider faithful something, like a multi-year coach that has our locker room in some resemblance of a TEAM. Ryan and Kiffen have to kiss and make up for the good of the whole. Raidernation has respect for both men and this fan thinks they are both an asset to the team.
GO RAIDERS
January 26th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Lane probably did okay for a first time coach. He was given substantial authority over staff and players and he made some expected rookie mistakes. I don’t think it is reasonable for him to think he can take over total control until he can at least deliver a winning season. Continuity with the base coaches is a must to turn competitive so the players can grow in the systems. The coaches should not be allowed to think they are the GM. If they all focus on their job, things will get better.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I’ve Been a Raider fan in cowboy country from the first day I saw the silver and black. Age 4, year 1983. Every one in my family considered me defective because I did not cheer for the cowboys. I guess you can call me the black sheep and I love to be portrayed that way. But talking about Al , I think the Raider Nation should protest . Not against the Raiders but against him(Al). Try to force him to step down. He is hurting the organization. He wants the Raiders to win a super bowl again before he steps down, but at this rate he’s going hit 110years because he keeps hurting the team.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:46 am
This is absolutely UN-FRICKIN-BELIEVABLE! Jeez Al, you FINALLY get a coach who has a mind and will of his own (post-Chuckie), and you can’t let the guy do his job (which is to improve the team the best way he can - through game planning, personnel moves, AND assembling his assistant coaching staff).
I’m sorry, but I never thought Rob Ryan was that great of a coordinator in the first place. 2006’s defensive stats were inflated because the offense was so inept, opposing teams could just sit on 17 points and win, 2007 exposed Ryan because the offense started scoring again, putting pressure on the D to keep the team in the game.
Let Lane have control of his staff…is that too much to ask?
Too bad Al doesn’t know how much this is causing the Raider Nation faithful to think about abandoning this sinking Titanic of a once proud franchise.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Darth,
I agree with you 100%. If we hire/fire our head coach every year regardless of the product on the field we will never attract quality players or coaches to Oakland. The team showed alot of improvement last season, not all of it showed in the won/loss column.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I am an original season ticket holder, only missed two home games since our return. NEVER will I give up on my team, ever. No real fan ever would even consider such a thougt. Win, lose, or tie, Raiders til I die. Do you say you bleed silver and black? True fans live RAIDERS. Eat RAIDERS, Sleep RAIDERS.
I also have been a huge Al Davis fan, he is the Raiders. No if’s,and’s,or butt’s about it. It’s his team, and he knows as much about football as anyone ever has. But if this is true and there has been nothing on Kiffins part, the Al Davis has lost his mind. I liked what Kiffin has done with the team so far. Long way to go because the talent on the team sucks. I see a firing early in the season if so. Can you say Shanarat?
January 26th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Stop supporting Al Davis. He does NOT know more than anyone in football. He is NOT one of the greatest legends ever. Stop kissing his butt and start fighting back. I’ve never seen a bigger bunch of sissies than everyone who thinks they have to show the man respect. Has he shown it to you? Not unless burning up all of your money in loserville constitutes respect. He should be treated like Grandpa on the Simpsons. Locked up in an old farts home and forgotten. He has owned the team for forty years and still can’t pronounce the second R. Al Davis is a glorified hood rat. Do you think he could have bought this team and succeeded with it after 1980? He just got lucky the NFL took off and started making coin or they would have taken his franchise away. Keep talking about how much you love the guy everyone, real smart.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Being a true fan does not mean you have to spend hard earned money or leisure time pulling for a rat of a franchise. If this story has any meat to it, I will be right in line with the DR and the fan in post #5; finding something else to do Sunday.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:46 am
To The Raiders Ownership and Management,
I attended my first Raiders game in 1970 vs. the Kansas City Chiefs and have been an avid fan every since.
After the Raiders relocated to Los Angeles, I purchased Season Tickets. However the Coliseum environment was so acidic and downtrodden, I did not renew.
Two years ago, I finally decided to purchase Club Seat season tickets (I would like to commend Courtney and her professionalism in handling Season Ticket sales). I have taken the expense of flying clients to every game over the past 2 years, and although I have to commend management concerning the environment and amenities, I must say that the losing during Art Shell’s short re-tenure was laughable to my clients and an utter embarrassment personally. It was not just losing, but the way we lost. Utterly uncompetitive.
This past year, I decided to renew simply because Mr. Davis finally made the decision to hire a bright young mind again, and allow an almost total overhaul of the coaching staff. I am still taking abuse as a fan (from media and other teams fans) from the success of Mike Shanahan and the whipping that Jon Gruden placed on us in the Superbowl (a fact compounded by the very likely possibility that had he remained as coach we would have won that Superbowl).
If the just released reports of Mr. Davis requesting the resignation of Lane Kiffin are true, than I must respectfully inform Mr. Davis that after 37 years of loyalty, I will no longer remain a Raiders fan. The failure of Mr. Davis to personally immediately refute this report (as every other owner in the NFL would have done) tends to indicate that there may be some truth to the matter. At the very least, it demonstrates a lack of 100% support for our head coach and his staff. Please allow me to explain my decision process.
I must admit that there have been many more downs than ups in the past 20 years and it has been difficult at times to understand the logic and direction of management and ownership. However, I always defended Mr. Davis’ actions and pointed to the storied history of the franchise. BUT, examination by even an extremely loyal and partial fan reveals that the history is just that HISTORY.
It is no longer acceptable to endure 15 years of mediocrity and, at times, absolute embarrassment, for a 2-3 year run of actually winning more than 50% of the games.
Even though we only won 4 games this past season, I would hope Mr. Davis would understand the psyche of this fan, as well as the extremely positive turnaround after one of the most embarrassing displays of ineptitude by a football team and organization in NFL history.
Other than 2 games, this team remained competitive with a chance to win throughout the season. In fact if it were not for our deplorable defense, we realistically should have won 8 games this year. Even with a team with mediocre talent at best, and a total lack of overall speed in linebackers (the hallmark of any successful defense over the past 10 years), I was encouraged by the weekly effort. At times I was perplexed by some coaching decisions, however after witnessing the whole season, it was obvious that we lack talent at many positions and the coaching staff was merely trying to figure out what works with the personnel they inherited.
In relation to the defense, I was a big Rob Ryan fan, yet always was a little frustrated by our failure to blitz even when it was obvious that a blitz was necessary. However, closer examination reveals a defense with a lack of discipline in assignments and deplorable tackling and fundamental skills – this is a direct attribute to the defensive coaching staff. If we look at our “break-out defense” season the previous year, it is obvious that teams had won the game after the first half and simply went into conservative mode to protect their players. Our offense was a “non-threat” and posed no concern by the other team. I don’t care about player loyalty to a coach (remember Mike White?). Rob Ryan failed in his job this past year, and there is no reason to believe that he will be successful in the coming year. Rob Ryan’s failure to instill strong fundamentals over his tenure is the greatest indicator of future failure.
When examining the history of the NFL and its most consistently successful franchises (of which the Raiders have not been in the past 20 years), one thing stands out - All of those teams have had long tenures in the Head Coaching (witness our Superbowl run with Jon Gruden). You cannot show one example of a team that has had more than 5 coaches in the past 20 years that have been considered consistently successful. The business world is no different, the same principles apply. Yet, as an organizational doctrine, we continue to defy logic and the absolute factual principles for success.
The loyalty of a fan is the cornerstone for any successful sports franchise. I know that Mr. Davis has through our history concerned himself with putting a winning team on the field and therefore providing the fan base with a reason to remain loyal. I respect the efforts of Mr. Davis and thank him for his commitment to his franchise. I know that Mr. Davis has far more knowledge about the game of football than I possess. However, as a fan, I merely ask that Mr. Davis recognize that the ownership/management of the team over the past 8 years has been, judging objectively by the results, an utter failure. With a young franchise quarterback, we need consistency in the coaching staff. As a fan, we need to have a reason to be encouraged about our future, rather than the laughing stock of the entire sports world.
I never thought I would say this, but we now resemble Donald Sterling and the Clippers, far more than the storied Raider franchise of days past. I would hope that Ego has not trumped a logical, rational evaluation of what it takes to succeed. If this is the case, then Mr. Davis has far more concern than losing myself as a fan. He risks losing every “prime demographic” fan of the team. After awhile, our intelligence and ego will finally override our desire to remain a fan, and the team will be left with a fan base resembling the Los Angeles one – unruly and unable to financially support a team in the modern NFL.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Kiffin brought this terrible situation upon himself!! Without significant experience outside of collegiate football, Kiffin accepted the Raiders’ HC position that other candidates [many well qualified] were disregarded by Al Davis.. Kiffin, the naive collegiate coach, really thought he can outsmart Al Davis, probably in spite of warnings from those Kiffin consulted…Already his fellow coach from USC declined the position that Kiffin guickly accepted. No, dealing with Al Davis is not easy. All such “marriages” end in a less than amiable divorce…Now maybe Al will create another new frontier by looking for an unheralded high school coach to further his vision of exploring new frontiers in the NFL….Maybe a woman [Amy Trasj ?] headcoach!! LMAO, LMAO again and again……Deja Vu….
Al, your other division teams wish you good health to continue your active management of your coaching assistants [i.e., your anointed head coaches]….And BTW, be on the lookout for to sign another FA from the Super-bowl teams [a la Larry Brown, Desmond Howard....]
LMAO….
January 26th, 2008 at 10:43 am
WE NEED TO STOP AL DAVIS, HE IS GOING TO DESTROY THE RAIDERS, I THINK HE IS GONE MAD.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I have been a loyal Oakland Raiders fan since I moved to the US in 72″. I was married in S&B, over 90% of my clothing is Raiders clothing and I have a $500.00 tatoo on my shoulder, with all that in mind if Kiffin is gone, then so am I!. I fail to understand how it is that Al’s power has not been seized by the people around, him who at least love and protect him an dwould look to protect what little of his legacy is left. I look to draw comparisons to any team anywhere, but there is none. AL looks more and more like Adolf Hitler sitting in his bunker fighting battles that don’t exsist with battle groups long since dead, all the while his generals stare at each other, either scared, incompitent, or confused in disbeleif at the state of happenings around them. For I always here Al is in conference with people like Madden,Parcells,Wolfe as well as other brilliant minds from the NFL, and all I can sumise is a conversation like this. “I am AL Davis I am awsome, and cool, and I know everything”, with a response sounding like “durka durka, dukra durka, rable rable rable”. Makes sense, I think not. I always took solice in the fact that Al would always put winning first, and this is no longer the case. For all the good Al has done in the past there is alot more that he has done wrong, here are some examples( mike white,joe bugel,calahan, shell, turner, jeff george,kerry collins,james jett, alvis whitted,rickey dudley,teyo johnson,matt stinchcomb,mo collins,darrell russell,rob frederickson,larry brown,phillp buchanan,napoleon harris,sebastian janokowski,tyler brayton-firing Gruden and Bruce Davis). If this is not enough evidence to have a man committed I don’t know what is. If these people who love Al truly care about him, they should stand up and stop this insanity, PLEASE!!. I cannot and will no longer tolerate this lack of regared and disrespect to our feelings and loyalties, we are being treated like our collective last names are SHANAHAN!, and SCHOTTENHEIMER!, for FUCK sake!. I am fed up with your petty bullshit!. Being a RAIDER fan is the hardest team to be a fanatic of, with a close tie to being a Yankees fan, every other fan from coast to coast hates us, and I loved that, I revelled in the fact I was man enough to take it on. I now live in a world where fans aren’t jeleous anymore they pity me and feel sorry for me and my nation. I cannot stand proud being the butt of every joke(the Oakland Bengals, Tampa Bay Raiders, ha,ha),or my favorite the Oakland Tampax, because were only good for one period, I live in Seattle for FUCKING CRYING OUT LOUD! a city of Fuckin losers, and I am expected to smile and eat shit from these collections of over caffinated, garnola selling, subaru driving ASS CLOWNS!. If Kiffin goes so do I, untill Al is either dead or committed, and that is is sad commentary but a factual one. To the Nation: Stop hating the Patriots, stop saying Brady is a peice of shit, stop calling bellicick a asshole. They are what we used to be and want to be today, we are looking in a mirror and thats what hurts, by the way Gruden wanted to draft Tom Brady in 2000, but Al would not let him. Thats a fact from a draft day Raider insider. Se you when Al is gone!.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
You don’t have to give up being a Raider fan to say the team is headed nowhere and Al Davis is officially insane in the membrane. We just have to wait it out. He’ll die in the next 30 years, maybe. In the meantime, don’t buy season tickets, don’t buy tickets, and don’t buy gear. Try something new on Sundays. I’ll watch away games but I would be surprised if every home game next year isn’t blacked out. It sucks but what can you do. Commitment to Excrement!!
January 26th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
So true and so sad…after 40 plus years, I AM DONE.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Al owes it to the players and the fans to clear this thing up… Kiff is the best thing we’ve had since Gruden. Just a thought, has anyone actually sen the letter? just who are these unnamed sources? If this is true we should picket raider HQ and boycott the games until Al is gone. if this is truthen it means that Al is willing to throw the team and the fans under the bus because his paranoia and control issues… Let’s all pony up for a hitman…
January 26th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
you know i am going to laugh in thedaces of all these dumb reporters if any of this is untrue, lane kiffin is the coach, and hell for all we know these reliable sources close to who ever with information is probably mike lombardi, so i am not worrying about this until i hear lane kiffin has resigned or is fired, or if he still is the coach and we look like crap next season, i dont believe a word that cmort (a former writer for the Kansas City Star), adam schefter (a former bronco beat writer) or clayton (a former steeler beat writer in the 1970s) has to say, oh and peter king, a long time raider hater, for once i am going to believe that this is crap drafted up by the media, KIFFIN IS THE COACH AND RYAN AND HIM GET ALONG AND DAVIS WANTS KIFFIN BACK!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
If you are out, you were never in. Go root for the Patriots like everyone else.
I am in, ’till I am under 6 feet.
January 26th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
i think it’s interesting,yet tragic, that an owner, Al Davis, that can arguably be compared to George Halas…,whom- once upon a time -was labeled a genius,…could be allowed by the N.F.L.exec’s to continue in any active capacity….for long…. I shudder what to think would have to happen for not only the N.F.L., The T.V. networks, Dr. Phil and the U.S. Congress to get activly involved. Imagine the precedent…a pro sports owner is forced to sell or abdicate due to mental illness.If I went to C.B.S. and tried to pitch that premise as a reality show…
January 26th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
To Mr. Raiders Clubseats,
I thank you for your letter, and your very professional and business like vocabulary. I am however going to point out some inaccuracies in your letter. Starting with 2006, look at some of the games last year, they were not over with by halftime. The Raiders passdefense was one of the best in 2006. So enough with that. In 2007, no speed with the linebacking corps, does’t Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison both run a 4.4 40 yard dash, which is faster than some runningbacks and tight ends in this league? Art Shell was a good hire at the surface, didn’t he have a winning record in his first stint as a head coach? Wasn’t Norv Turner a decent hire for his offensive expertise? Didn’t Bill Callahan coach our offensive line and was the offensive coordinator under Jon Gruden? Didn’t Joe Bugel’s offense produce more plays of 20+ yards than any other team in 1997 and didn’t Jeff George have the least amount of sacks and 35 touchdown passes that season and until 2002 was a Raiders record? So yes it hasn’t been alot of winning on the field but we have been close, also look at the team in 2002, Rich Gannon, Tim Brown, Jerry Rice, Barrett Robbins (still a gret center), Charlie Garner, Then On D, John PArella, Charles Woodson, Bill Romanowski, all of those for sure will be considered for the hall of fame someday. So when you hacve great talent with good execution, you win? Well its the lack of execution that has been the problem, not poor coaching. KIFFIN WILL STAY!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Hi Rob,
For the past 20 years I have been pointing to the same meaningless “facts” as you mentioned, as well as our “record” against the other teams in the NFL and the “Winningest Franchise in all of Professional Sports”. They are all meaningless. Are you insinuating that we were a good team with Jeff George? Does the fact that Bill Callaghan was an offensive coordinator under “offensive genius” Jon Gruden have any merit on whether he was worthy of a position as head coach of the Raiders, er Nebraska, er NOWHERE.
Joe Bugel, Mike White, Art Shell (both 1 & 2 - I was on the sidelines during his brilliant spat with Marcus Allen for the entire season - wasted season) they are all rejects, has beens and never weres.
I could care less about individual statistics for this or any other season. I thought our motto was “Just Win Baby”.
And finally, please everyone stop referencing players as HOF of future HOF who played or are playing most if not all of their productive years with another team. Ronnie Lott & Jerry Rice are not in the HOF because of the Raiders stint. Our myopic Game Day magazine lists almost 50% of the “Raiders in the Hall of Fame” who spent only 1-3 years or no productive years with us.
So Rob, with all due respect and appreciation for other POVs, a 3 year stint with Jon Gruden over the past 20 years is our only highlight as fans. And Jon Gruden began to be undermined by Al Davis in his second year. For those who remember him during the “Tuck” year, he and his agent said they would honor his contract but under no circumstances would he ever sign an extension. So he is traded to TB for draft picks that were wasted and money that Al didn’t need, and kicks our a**es in front of the world (an d please don’t talk about I quit on my team Barret Robbins).
Al’s mottos “Commitment to Excellence” and Just Win Baby”, are nothing more than archaic references to a past franchise that resembles nothing of this current state of affairs.
As long as we don’t win consistently, we will continue to be one of the leagues poorest revenue teams (like I said, sooner or later our intelligence will prevail over our loyalty as fans), and we will be unable to attract top free agents and coaches.
It”s Al’s team, and for the first 17 or so years, it was great to be a fan. The last 20 have worn on me to the point where I can no longer hide behind “lies, damn lies, and statistics”.
Scoreboard is that the Raiders have one of the worst records in the NFL over the past 20 years and no Superbowl trophy. Scoreboard is that we went 4 years without winning A SINGLE DIVISION GAME. The Scoreboard
doesn’t care about statistics or would of, could of, if only if…it only shows winners and LOSERS. Unfortunately we have endured too much losing.
Our “fresh start” with Kiffin is exactly what I was hoping for - New Blood. Even an old organization can benefit from a fresh transfusion periodically. Perhaps the story is false, bit as I said before, every other owner in the NFL would have, within 24 hours, publicly refuted such a baseless story that could dramatically affect season ticket sales and free agent decisions.
“Just say it isn’t so” Al, so we can all sleep easy.
January 26th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
The only hope left is the fans taking things in their own hands and making it very clear to Al that we will leave in droves and never come back. Protests? demonstrations? patitions? efffigy burning? I am open to suggestions.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Indeed. In these past 2 days.. more fans, die hards AND writers have turned against Al than this Sith has ever seen! So why do I now have the feeling that Al will hold a press conference stating that he wants to retain our young coach for next season?
I’m not sure…a tremor in the force?
Maybe he now realizes the future impact of his actions??…
one can only f%$#ing hope.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Repost…I have questioned big Al’s decision making ability in player personnel since the last Superbowl because he has ignore or refused to fix the “O” and “D” lines, which are the foundation of any playoff caliber team. But one thing is for sure is that any sane football fan with half a brain cell knows that Al Davis is the owner and general manager of the Raiders. All decisions go through him period. Rob Ryan and the defensive coaches were on board when Kiffen was hired so Kiffen knew that as a head coach his authority was limited.
I believe that the head coach should have complete authority over his coaches and players but we know that is only true with some franchises. Look at the Chargers and what happened when Schottenheimer wanted to hire his brother and the GM of the Chargers, A.J. Smith said no. Schottheimer resigned over the issue of authority. How much leash do you think Soprano will get from Bill Parcells in Miami? The point is I believe the rumors are true in Oakland, that Kiffen did fire or try to fire Rob Ryan which I personnaly agree with, but the fact that Kiffen did not first clear his decision with Al Davis would make him a bigger idiot than AD.
So the logical conclusion is that Kiffen bit off more than he can chew as the head coach and wants out of Oakland. Kiffen then orchestrated his departure by firing Rob Ryan without clearing it with AD.
I still want to know who it was that mishandled the three draft picks in the 3rd round of the 2007 draft for the Raiders. If it was Kiffen,then good riddance.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I have always been a Raider fan and always will be a Raider fan despite all the Raider haters out there. AD is the face of the Raiders and has earned his place in the NFL Hall of Fame. He may be an egomaniac and a poor judge of talent the last few years but the Raiders will survive him. Personnally, I now believe that hiring Kiffen was a mistake as he never struck me as the kind of person that had leadership qualities. I believe he told AD what AD wanted to hear and never had any intention of being part of the team. He took the job to further his own cause and does not care about the Raider organization or the fans.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
After years of this coaching carousel game we’ve been playing-where no matter what the coach does Al doesn’t like it-I thought it what finally over when the only guy who could coach the team the “Al Davis” way-Art Shell-was a miserable failure. I really let myself believe that Lane was coming in and was going to be given the power and latitude to turn things around. And now this. It’s not just that the team was more competitive this year and that the attitude was much more positive that I want Lane to stick around. The fact is I really think he is going to be a great coach. He made plenty of rookie mistakes this year but how many first year coaches do you see instilling confidence in their team by going for it on 4th down at non-traditional times. And letting SeaBass try ridiculously long field goals to help boost him up. The fact is most coaches are so ultra-conservative (i.e Norv) because they are so concerned about being second guessed. It was refreshing to see a guy that appears to have a good football mind, a good sense of running an organization and the guts to try and win instead of trying not to lose. If he goes I’m just not sure I’ve got it in me to believe the next load of crap that Al and his cronies will be feeding us. It’s too much already!!
January 26th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Mr. Club Seats,
Yeah as I pointed out, the Raiders did not produce with the players they had. I can tell you as a former player in Division IA college ranks, it doesnt matter what you draw up as coaches, IT DOESNT MATTER IF VINCE LOMBARDI IS ON THE SIDELINE, IF YOU DONT EXECUTE, IF YOU DONT FINISH THE PLAYS OFF, IF YOU DONT PLAY HARD, IF YOU DONT PLAY SMART, YOU DONT WIN!!!! Its been our players not executing, is what has costed us games over the last 20 years, its not Al Davis (although this situation is a mess with Lane Kiffin and IF THIS IS TRUE, he is being irrational), its not LANE KIFFIN, its WASNT ART SHELL (WE ALL KNOW WHAT HE DID WHEN HE PLAYED), IT WASNT NORV TURNER, ITS ALL THE PLAYERS FAULT IF YOU DONT WIN GAMES, COACHES DONT PUT PADS ON, but THE PLAYERS ARE NOT PRODUCING, WHICH IS WHAT IS COSTING US GAMES. JERKS LIKE LAMONT JORDAN or RANDY MOSS or how JERRY PORTER acted with SHELL, or ROBERT GALLERY FALSE STARTING, OR BARRY SIMS MISSING BLOCKS, OR JOSH MCCOWN THROWING BAllS INTO TRIPLE COVERAGE, THATS WHAT COSTS THE RAIDERS BALL GAMES, AL SHOULD BLAME THE PLAYERS AND SO SHOULD YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE!!!
January 27th, 2008 at 3:09 am
THIS IS BAD….REAL OR FALSE THIS BAD….WE ARE SCREWED FOR 2008 AND BEYOND.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:47 am
FA will never want to come to Oakland if we have a new coaching staff every year. Kiffin came with a project, with new coaches (Cable), with a competitive mentality (starting competitive players over players with bigger salary and name: Fargas over Rhodes).
We need to keep him so we will have some stability to keep working. Who will come to coach us or play for us if dont have a project?
January 27th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Love you Darth for, once again, your words of wisdom in this insane place we call “THE NATION.” Being in Miami and a Raider fan is no easy task, but junk like this gives these enemies of mine too much ammunition…and it sucks. However, I bleed silver and black and while I might think Good Ol’ Al needs a shrink (I would guess a diagnosis of Dementia for sure)and some good meds, I am STILL IN! Al’s days are numbered gang (he’s 78!)…we just need to out live him!
January 27th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Sorry, Doc, his people live to old, old age. I’m bailing after 40 years. All of you who say, “I’m in,” are in for what? Making people think you have to be stupid to go along with a senile, paranoid, old egomaniac? I’m going to get Miami channels on my satellite, read the Herald on line, and watch the Tuna reel in and catch Spygater. When Davis dies or is removed by the NFL, I may come back, Until then, screw you, Davis.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Mr. Club Seats,
Although I do agree with the spirit of your letter we have not stunk for 20 years, only the last 5. We have been up and down the previous 20 years but not the stink level we have been over the past half decade.
Also, I remember at the beginning of the year most of the Raider Nation celebrating the release (barely a trade) of Moss…say what you want about him, but most superstars are superstar assholes and as he is proving now if you stick a successful system around him he can do what few others can. And thats what I see as the main problem with the present incarnation of our team. It used to be that we took on the outcasts and problems that the other teams couldnt handle and as long as they had talent they performed for us. We need to go back to that kind of thinking.
And Sadly, time has passed Al Davis by. Enough is enough. Football strategy has changed and he hasn’t.
January 27th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Hey Rob and NY Raider,
Rob, you make a great point about players executing and holding them accountable. However, that is exactly why a NFL team has over a dozen coaches, all lead by a Head Coach. If players haven’t executed, it is ultimately the coaches fault. It is the coaches job to field a competitive, fundamentally sound team. If we blame the players for failure to execute, and ultimately hold them responsible, then is counters the reason 29 other NFL teams seem to value the coaching staff (Head Coach) as much if not more than the players.
MY Raider - I agree about integrating older players into the system and getting a couple of great years out of them - You have to have an organization and Head Coach who can get the most out of the players - and that can only be accomplished with STABILITY IN THE COACHING STAFF. As much as I hate New England, they are exactly what the Raiders were in the 1970’s. If we had Bill B. we would not be near as good of a team as New England, simply because we have an owner who will not let anyone run a team “their way”. That is why we are relegated to hiring 31 year old potential prodigies.
You never ever heard of Jimmy Johnson, Bill Parcels, Mike Holmgren, Jack Del Rio, Bill Cowher or any other proven winner ever being interested in the Raiders, and Al was never interested in them. Why - because the time is long past that we can attract much less keep a championship caliber head coach, and Al believes (mistakenly) that the old way is the new way.
Mark my words, if Lane Kiffin stays and gets this team to a 10-6 record in the third year, he will not sign a new contract (just like Gruden) and we will once again be back to square 1.
Our ship has lost its rudder due to the increased meddling and antagonistic behavior of Mr. Davis. It will not regain stature and consistent quality until Mr. Davis allows a head coach full control of the team (not personel decisions, but coaching staff, game planning and game execution).
Unlike other comments, I do not wish ill health or demise on Al. I am thankful as a fan that I have such a passionate owner. Mr. Davis earned his HOF. It was a great day to watch his induction. However, the HOF was based on past accomplishments and contributions to the NFL - of which Mr. Davis was one the the key reasons for the integration and success of the NFL. However, his actions over the past 8 years (yes 8 as that marks the date that Al began to undermine Jon Gruden) has made Mr. Davis a ridiculed, maligned caricature by virtually every NFL insider.
It is time for Mr. Davis to emulate Bob Kraft - hire the best and sit back and enjoy being a fan. Lord knows I wish I would have that luxury!!
January 27th, 2008 at 9:50 am
WHAT THE NFL ALSO NEEDS TO DO IS START ALLOWING HITTING AND NOT BE SO HARSH ON PEOPLE WHO COMMIT PERSONAL FOULS, SO THAT WAY WE CAN GO BACK TO OUR OLD WAYS. THE RULES ARE SET UP TO WHERE THE RAIDERS WAYS CANT WIN, BECAUSE A GUY LIKE ALZADO WOULD BE GETTING FINED RIGHT AND LEFT OR JACK TATUM WOULD BE GETTING FINED RIGHT AND LEFT, THAT HIT ON STINGLEY TATUM WOULD BE SUED FOR IN TODAYS SOCIETY
January 27th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Committment to Dissapointment,
Committed to High Draft Picks,
Committment to Providing ESPN with new ways of dogging our Franchise…..
These are very dark times for the Silver and Black. The team is in dire need of an overhaul from the top down. Al Davis needs to go (time for impeachment). Sweep away the cobwebs and start fresh. SOS…I don’t want to turn my back on the team like Al has done. But, it is becomming unbearably difficult to watch season after season go down the drain. Somebody Save Our Ship.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:52 am
After reading some of your comments defending AL Davis, I can only come to one conclusion that are all as FUCKING mental as he is!. This is why we are losers, in fact the losingist team in the NFL over a five year period! thats a fact!.
For those of you that need some clarification, I have a relative that works in the Death Star, and sees Lord Davis and Kiffin daily. What we don’t understand is that players want to play for Kiffin, and those that don’t tow the line can shove off. Kiffin brings stability to a completely archaic raider society, Kiffin brings a focus, a plan, a discipline that the team wants and needs to be sucsessfull. Al does not!.
I hate to tell you all, but people who get old cannot do the same chores as they did when they were young, with the same comptense. I no longer hold on to any dillusions that Al can lead a group of field mice to cheese. there is no structure or written plan for the leadership role for the Raiders when Al dies. This is based on his unmitigated fear of death.
All this paranoia, is unhealthy for us all. We need people in place to run the orginization, if you find it reasonable to be the butt of jokes thats your perogitive, but I am not going to spend my hard earned dollars to buy gear for a team THAT DOES NOT GIVE A FUCK ABOUT ANY OF US IN THE RAIDER NATION!!!!. If you don’t like Kiffin then who?, Dennis Green, Brian Bilick require complete control and a minimum 3+ million dollars a season. Oh hears another name Al Saunders, James Lofton are you NUTS!, this is a collection of retreads. Al should have hired Rob Ryan last year, but nnnnooooo! Al can’t hire a defensive man to run the team(ie; John Madden LB coach), they don’t know what to do. You see if Al had made Rob top man Al could have hired all the O-staff and let them run it under Rob.
Do you know which offensive guard tandem gave up the least ammount of sacks? in 07 …try Gallery & Cooper with 2 sacks, yes 2. Should we fire Tom Cable now?, because he is taking to much credit from Al?…well. There is no direction for my beloved Raiders as long as Al is trying to run the show!.
His managment style is archaic and retarded, if he truly wants to win before his death, then he needs to let the right people do their jobs.
One last comment about Al. He is being advised by people who do not have his or the Raiders interest at heart, and thats within the organization. Thats not good. This is a very distressing time for the Nation. and I hear all this Al is being Al bullshit,and don’t we deserve better?, shouldn’t we have a team that is rising above heading to greatness?…since Art Shell was fired in 94′ we heave 3 winning seasons, and 3 .500 years. For me and for you thats not acceptable, only idiots retorte with “well in 1983 we kicked the Skins asses”. Weare better than this!!!!>
January 27th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
This suck! Al Saunders could be OC (we alredy have one in Knapp) or DC (Davis love Ryan). So I think he will be interviewed for HC.
So again, this sucks! Is he an upgrade over kiff? I dont think so. If we fire Kiffin, 2007 will be a wasted year.
The one who has to go is Ryan, who specializes in losing leads in the 4th quarter, not Kiffin.
January 27th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I have been a Raider fan for over 30 years and been with them through the good and bad times… have seen Super Bowl victories and embarrasing seasons as well.
I really thought I had seen everything… until now.
Just when it seemed we were on our way back to greatness, the senile one makes the stupidest decision he has made his whole life!!!!!
I am calling you Raider Nation members to BOYCOTT the team!!! I never thought I would be saying this but we have to show the old man that we care about the team and are not willing to stand this anymore. For those of you who have season tickets, CANCEL them. For those who go to games ocassionally, DO NOT GO.
Enough is enough, we are Raiders customers and deserve better. FIRE AL!!!!!
January 27th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
WE NEED TO STOP AL DAVIS NOW, NOBODY WITH RIGHT MIND WOULD WANT TO COME TO RAIDERS, FREEAGENT AND COACHES ALIKE, CALL RAIDERS AND LE THEN KNOW THAT WE ARE UNHAPPY
I KNOW WE ARE LOOKING AT ANOTHER LOSING SEASON, SO LETS STOP AL DAVIS NOW
January 27th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I think I have had enough with the sorry state of the Raiders. There is not a speck of accountability here. If removing Kiffin is not the company policy, then Davis should promptly hold a press conference and firmly say it ain’t so. He has done nothing of this sort. Instead, his behind-the-scenes actions have snowballed Kiffin rumors. You do not need to blame it on ESPN; Davis has clearly shown he likes to wank the mass media to his content.
As long as Davis is the boss and still a plenty of Davis-sympathizing homers within the ranks of the Raider Nation, the franchise will persist as the laughingstalk of the league.
Starting with the next season, I will cheer whenever rival teams savagely spank the Raiders. How the hell should I put up with the owner who does not have the patience required to rebuild a team?
January 27th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Al Davis is sucking the life out of this franchise like a big old spider , with us caught in the web. Damned if you do , and damned if you don’t. Draining the hope from us battered fans , Al Davis strikes again!
January 27th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Darth,
I started following the Raiders when I was 9…I just turned 40
I watched part of Super Bowl 11 through my neighbor’s window because we didn’t have a TV. I went home and listened to Bill King on a transistor radio in the second half as Old Man Willie Brown clinched the win.
I asked for only 1 birthday present for my 13th birthday…and got to sit in the 4th row behind the Seahawk bench as Branch, Plunkett, Hayes and company whupped Seattle (I believe the score was 31-13).
I felt betrayed when the team moved to LA…but stuck with them.
I winced as I watched Al treat players like Marcus Allen and Van McElroy like crap
I winced again when he canned Shannahan and began a long, painful streak of hiring losing coaches.
I rejoiced when they returned to Oakland (even though I had moved to Southern Cal) and again when Gruden was hired and the team returned to glory.
I screamed when he was fired…knowing that it would likely start another downward spiral
I spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars to travel from Southern Cal to Oakland to sit in Sections 116, 105, 106, etc. so I could surround myself with the truest diehards (Violator, Goth, Raider Rick, many more) and scream my brains out.
I spent over $4,000 to go to San Diego and see them get crushed by Gruden and the Bucs…
…but now I am done. That’s it. I can’t care about it anymore. No more flags on my 4Runner, no more Raider Image visits, no more games. I won’t start following another team…I just won’t care as much any more.
This isn’t like being the fan of a crappy team and watching constant mismanagement lead to one losing season after another.
This is the Raiders.
And I can’t continue to care as Al pisses away everything that made him and the team great. All those diehards deserve better.
So, goodbye, farewell, and maybe the team’s next owner will restore them to glory after Al has faded into the sunset.
January 27th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
At first Al’s comment that he wants to stick around until the Raiders win two more superbowls made me laugh. With him there, we will never win more superbowls. But then, I realized something. He has made a Faustian deal with the Devil! He agreed to sell his soul to the devil in exchange for two more superbowls–but then . . . the gambit. Al is systematically destroying our beloved team in order to gain immortality. As long as he doesn’t get his two superbowls, the devil can’t get his soul–and he’s safe, he’ll get older and more decrepit, but he won’t die.
It’s the only explanation that makes sense.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Whoever purchases the Raiders in the future will have to conduct a thorough exorcism to purge anything and everything that even remotely suggests Al Davis. Hell … change the team colors and logo. Hire a demolition company to dispatch the Black Hole and the Alameda HQ!
January 28th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Well, this a complete phucking fiasco, plain and simple. I am so tired of this nonsense.
NONETHELESS, I am and always will be a Raider Fan!!! Even though I am wishing more and more that Al will give up (or stroke out, I know that sounds bad), I will never give up on the TEAM. For me, it’s not about Al or the Head Coach, it’s about the team, the fans, and feeling I get walking into the HOT (House of Thrills).
Yes, I get tired of the drama by Al, BUT I will never stop being a fan of the Raiders. Things will change eventually and we will get back to greatness. I’ve been a Raider fan for 25 years and will never stop. That doesn’t mean I will spend a boat load of money on them, just means I’ll keep supporting the team!
By the way, I think “Grimtraveller” has it right. Al must have sold is soul to the devil. That shyt was pretty funny!
January 28th, 2008 at 9:56 am
I hear your thoughts, Nation. I just hope Al does the right thing to make us happy once again.
For some reason, I keep seeing my self ALONE in the Dark Side End Zone next September..
rooting for Kirk Morrison, JaM Russell, Fargas, Asomugha, Burgess, etc. etc..
The Players are really the only souls I care about now..
January 28th, 2008 at 11:13 am
There is no way I can support Al anymore with my hard earned money. DR, you and others with websites can do something about it. You can make noise and force Al’s had to prevent a complete revolt. At some time, we as a Raider Nation need to stop the bully on the playground from pushing everyone around. We need to finally say enough is enought, no more. We can’t wait for Mr. Davis to pass away, we need to take the situation on. Some how, some way.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
DR is one with the people..so whatever you’re feeling..
I’m feeling double.
ALTHOUGH, The lord of the Sith is truly wishing no soul on this earth DEATH..
That kind of thinking is TRULY the path to the dark side and a lack of respect for humanity’s well being.
Like I said before, I just hope the old man comes to his senses. Has he before? You know he has…
For Chriistsake, he helped us win 3 Super Bowls..(3 more than the Chargers)
He signed one of the first Hispanic and black Quarterbacks..
He hired Madden..
Recently, he drafted Russell and also hired Cable AND Kiffin..the Coach we’re trying to fight for.
Sure, he screws up..but he makes great decisions too.
I support and loath him. But I’m sure the whole organization feels what I’m saying, along with the Players.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Kiffin is the one who signed Cable, not Davis. And signing Cable allowed us to sign Carlisle, Newberry and Griffith.
Give credit to Al for not firing Ryan, who is responsable of our pathetic Defense, despite having 7 first rounders playing for him. Ryan is the one who should go, he likes the 3-4 Defense, not the 4-3 we play, so let him go to New York.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I’ve been a fan for almost 30 years. My grandmother got me into football as a wee little lad. It began with the University of Alabama & Coach Paul Bryant. That was her team & her coach. As a direct result of her influence they became mine as well.
I remember being about 4 years old & we were watching a game together. I recall asking her who was playing b/c I could see that it wasn’t BAMA (the only football team I knew of at that point). She told me it was the Oakland Raiders & I forget the opponent. I was confused b/c only Alabama played football as far as I knew & she explained to me that the quarterback for Oakland played for Alabama when he was younger. This was 1978 so obviously I’m talking about Ken Stabler. Between that & the cool pirate on the helmet I was sold. 29 years & a $350 shield logo tattoo later I’m in for life.
Through all of this time I’ve defended Al Davis as the evil genius, the original Darth Raider (no offense DR), etc. I even defended him after the Gruden debacle purely out of blind loyalty even though I knew we had made a HUGE mistake.
This situation however is inexcusable. All signs point to Kiffin being a solid coach with a very bright future. Without a doubt, the best hire since Gruden. The old man has completely lost it! He is a drooling old fossil & measures need to be taken to remove him from a position of power within the organization. He is destroying what should be one of the proudest franchises in all of professional sports! Because of what he has done we are not even the butt of jokes. We are a pimple on the butt of the joke.
I remain a loyal citizen of the Raider Nation, but I must now admit that true success will continue to elude us as long as Al Davis is in charge.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
There is a report that James Lofton is interviewing with the Raiders today for a TBA position, it might be the HEAD COACH position. If it’s so, I am freaking retiring as a football fan because I can’t root for another team different than the Raiders. It freaking sux right now to be a Raider Fan; I had a lot of respect for Al but I am about to loose it.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
As a 25 year Raider fan, I am throughly disgusted by what is going on in the organization. The only thing that I could think of doing was going to the Raiders website, found a e-mail address in the contact us section, and sent the team a steaming e-mail about how disgusted I am. If Kiffin is fired/forced to resign or loses any power, I am out as a Raider fan until AD gives up control of the team or dies. Under Al’s great leadership the last few years, all we have gotten is disfunction and losing.
January 28th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Like I said before, I think I’ll be the only one returning to my Dark Side End Zone this year..and I can’t say I blame any of you. I have to admit, there were times this year even ol Darth wanted to stay in…but here i am..going into my 13th year, not one game missed. I am sure many will call it blind faith..
Wow..come to think of it, the Oakland Raider season ticket request form should be coming soon in the mail..
f#&k! what horrible timing.
El Tato, Al signs on off every signing/draft pick/move made despite what you’ve read or heard…trust me.
January 28th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
DR,
Don’t worry brother, I’ll be re-purchasing my season tickets right there with ya, although I sit in the East Side Club. I will continue to buy them as long as I live in the Bay Area.
As everyone else, I do truly care about this team but I cannot give up on my favorite team because of some senile old man and his stubborn ways. Yes, he has led us to victory several times, but I think those times are just about over…for him anyways. He is pretty much wreaking havoc on this team right about now. He needs to leave Kiffin alone and let him lead us back to the dominant form that we all know and love. We were feared at one time, WHAT THE HELL HAPPEN???
Anyway Raider brother, I’ll be right there with ya sitting in what will most likely be a half empty stadium…that is unless Kiffin is allowed to coach.
January 28th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Sorry Al, I have admired you since the first time I started following Silver & Black football from 12500klms away. I made a visit in 1985 but faith is failling u must let a HC make his own decisions on assistants and personnel. Check any other sport in the world the coaches with control win championships. Come in to this century, let Lane do 3yrs because by God it could not be worse than the last 5.