How will Davis-Kiffin feud play out? Badly, most likely
By Ira Miller
Monday, January 28th, 2008 at 5:50 am in Uncategorized.
In November, I wrote an item about how Raiders coach Lane Kiffin wanted out, about his difficulties with Al Davis.
I was bombarded with e-mails from Raiders’ loyalists essentially telling me I was nuts and questioning my sources.
I expect I’ll be flooded with apologies this week now that the Kiffin/Davis feud had boiled into the open. But the fact is the problems between the two date almost back to the day when Kiffin was hired a year ago, and they stem largely from young Kiffin’s eagerness to take the job that he took Davis’ word on certain promises about his responsibilities.Kiffin should have known better. He should have asked his dad’s boss, Jon Gruden, who could have told him how he agreed to a new contract in 2001, but then, when it came back to him for a signature, much of it had been changed.
Even Art Shell, a long-time Davis favorite, learned the lesson last year but was spared because contract language protected him. After firing Shell, Davis wanted him to work out the next year as the team’s offensive line coach, but language in Shell’s contract specifically outlined his duties as the head coach. Davis had to pay Shell off.
Now, Davis is trying to avoid paying off Kiffin, so he is trying to make his coach so miserable that he will quit after just one season. Published reports say Kiffin has two years at $2 million a year remaining on his contract, but a team source said there’s only one year remaining, at $1.7 million.
Logically – and when did logic ever apply to the Raiders – this must end with either a firing or a resignation because Davis and Kiffin can’t work together and neither can Kiffin and Rob Ryan, the defensive coordinator he tried to fire before Davis overrued him.
But Davis has the Raiders so screwed up now that anything is possible and I wouldn’t even want to hazard a guess. Just to be devilish, maybe Davis retains Kiffin, and makes everyone even more miserable than they already are.You would not expect that to be the case, but you wouldn’t have expected what already has happened, either.
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January 28th, 2008 at 8:28 am
What does this mean??? “But Davis has the Raiders so screwed up now that anything and possible and I wouldn’t even want to hazard a guess.” Are you capable of writing an ariticle that can be read in English??? Do you not have an editor???
You are the most negative person I have ever read. What did the Raiders do to you that has you so full of hate?
Hope your day goes better, you need some help, man.
Good luck with that.
January 28th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Ira,
What a great anecdote about Gruden’s contract in ‘01 coming back altered by Davis after both sides agreed on the “final” language. What goes around comes around.
January 28th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Ira,
First off I really like reading your stuff here and on http://www.nfl.com.
I know this is a little off on a tangent but could you give some analysis of the KC Chiefs headed by Herm Edwards and the newly fired Al Sanders of the Washington Redskins. Every good team seems to have a football philosophy what is the Chief’s these days?
Thx,
MikeC
January 29th, 2008 at 5:38 am
The truth is never one version of a car accident.
January 29th, 2008 at 5:46 am
So it’s Tuesday and Kiffin and Cable interviewed Lofton yesterday for a possible position on the team. Looks like everybody was wrong (so far). I’ll hold my apology for the news conference introducing the new HC of the 2008 Raiders. Until then, your just as wrong as the rest…
January 29th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Dear Ira,
I’ve read your articles for years and you have always provided solid insight on the Raiders. I did not deny that a rift occurs between these two men. However, what I find humorous is that Kiffin will return this year. One may argue it is because of contract language and as a Raiders fan I will not deny that. However, i think that the press went further than it had to so newspapers could be sold and money could be made. They say “Where there is smoke there is fire”. But how much fire will you find at the end of a smoke trail is the true question. I am not blaming you or your sources or calling you a liar because if Davis had his rifts with Flores, Gruden, etc. then Kiffin should be no different.
Al wants control and working for Dan Synder or Jerry Jones is no different. The rift between the two is focused on loyalty and Gruden was also a victim of this issue. Al asks his players and coaches to be loyal to him, he is old school and if he doesn’t get that loyality he will cut the cord with that individual. Nobody can deny his charity and nobody can deny that he is ruthless when countered by someone. I doubt that Al Davis will change and it is very unfortunate for Kiffin but I am sure he has met Gruden, I am sure he spoke to his father about Al Davis and if he didn’t know about the whole Loyality issue than that is Lane Kiffin’s fault. Gruden lived thru it when he flirted with the Notre Dame and Ohio State jobs. Personally I can see the viewpoints of both men. When your the employee in an undesirable job you will look for a way out and you may have the right to that. If youare the employer and your employee is flirting with other jobs than your anger is fairly justifiable.
In the end, Lane should have went to Al and just said I have been contacted and I’d like the opportunity to talk to these colleges. That would be the fairest way for an employee to deal with an employer who has him or her under contract. Its fair, honest and open. If Lane didn’t do that then you cannot blame Al Davis for that anymore than you could blame Lane for searching for opportunities that he feels will better his personal situation. Lane should have been honest and he wasn’t.
I think you and a few other reports are correct. Lane will not return to Oakland next year unless the Raiders win 6-8 games. This shouldn’t be too difficult if they can overcome this situation, sign free agents and draft wisely. In Oakland this hasn’t occured as much as it should but the Raiders can do it. In my mind the Patriots are the only loss and the remaining fifteen games are winnable. I am not saying that the Raiders will go 15-1 but 7-9, 6-10, 8-8 is possible with the talent that they have. However, their 2008 record along with Lane’s future in Oakland will not be solved until 2009 when the dust of the ‘09 season has settled and history has been recorded. Mr. Miller I will see you on Jan. 29, 2009!
January 29th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Yeah a Schefter has credibility because he called Shell’s dismissal at 2-14… this reporting by through crap against the wall is old… sure Al and Lane clashed, and what is wrong with that? Al has always pushed everyone who has worked for him to be better, to back-up everything they say/want, with conviction and reason… and that makes him out to be a tyrant? Please… and do you really feel that Kiffin had earned that much clout after one season at 4-12, that he should have final say? then you are foolish and a crap disturber…. look its easy to say that if the Raiders were winning then all of this stuff would go away, but thats naive as well… when Gruden was here, as soon as the media figured out he was a great coach, the rumours of his leaving for college started, and never stopped… even when we had a great stretch and were one of the best in football, the rumours were flying and all the success was in spit of Al Davis… you guys need to give it a rest… nice caveat you thow in as well, just in case Kiffin does stay… look Kiffin and Davis will clash from time to time, thats doesn’t neccesarily mean its disfunctional… it can actually be very healthy, and to be honest goes on in most pro sports organizations… but you would never be fair and write that, would you? PS get a proof reader, your gammar is poor
January 29th, 2008 at 9:18 am
To the The TOOZ from Canada…right on bro, right on, you said what I feel succinctly.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Raider fans can be loyal to a fault. Al Davis is a mess. The Raiders organization is a mess. What else can you say? It will only change when Al Davis ceases to exist in this world. I’m sorry to say that but I think it’s obvious. Am I a Raiders fan? Yes, I’m sad to say but it’s true. Now some blind faithful will want to lash out at my comment and call me out questioning my loyalty to the Raiduhs so let me answer that person before he waists his time trying to think of nasty things to say. It is what it is. When you lash out in anger it’s because it’s the only way to justify your own selfish, deluded feelings about the matter. Yes I am a Raiders fan through and through but I am sick and tired of the nonsense, the losing ways, the lying and spin-doctoring that goes on in the world of AL. I see it this way; Al doesn’t respect the fans. As long as people blindly believe in “The Greatness of the Raiduhs” he will not care nor will this kind of foolishness ever cease in Raiderland. Say what you want. I am a fan …. I just try to be a realist as well.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:42 am
All us Raider fans should send emails to Bspn for that one sided report during the Senior bowl. About Kiffin not wearing any Raider gear. Because none of those idiots bothered to point out that Coach Nolan didn’t have any 9er gear on. A Sehfter and Al Davis have never liked each other. But seems to me since Sehfter has been at ESPN. At the end of every year he has an inside source from the Raiders. He is a former Bronco beat writer and I believe he is out to tarnish the Raider image. By starting all these rumors because free agents read this stuff and may chose not to come to Oakland. He has no inside source at Raiders HQ.
Win,lose or tie Silver and Black till I die!!!!!!
January 29th, 2008 at 9:48 am
RaiderMerv,
They don’t care about the fans? They lowered ticket prices over the last couple of years while other team had increases. I will not question your loyalty to the Raiders. You either like Big or you don’t but he is and always will be the RAIDERS!!! Like or not even after he’s gone the Raiders will be attached to Big Al.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:21 am
New Mexico raiders,
They lowered the prices because there were always too many empty seats. It wasn’t for the fans. If he wants to please the fans he would get off his ego trip and let a decent team flourish…. for the fans!
January 29th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Al enjoys pitting one coach against the other… that’s his idea of fostering competition… (Much like young Lane)… If either really wanted out it’d be done… that include Ryan… both Kiffen and and Ryan could get jobs elsewhere… and both I’m sure have the funds to take a year off should a contract require it… as always… time will tell.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Raidermerv,
According to my cynical side, it will not be enough to see Davis go down the drain. Those fans who are apologestic towards Davis must also share the same fate. Yeah … a RaiderNation-wide purge. I would even recommend that Davis be erased from ‘official’ Raiders history and toss him out of the HOF. Finally, as long as Davis still owns the franchise, no city governments should ever make a deal with him. Pretty harsh? How in the world someone like Davis deserve reason? After all, he has already more than proven that he can defy logic and common-sense with impunity.
January 29th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Listen to all these spins on Al Davis and what a great man and owner he is, all he want is loyalty etc..sure.
January 29th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Al will have to keep Kiffin this year if he wants any warm bodies in the seats next year. And think of how this plays out to free-agents looking to come to Oakland. they don’t even know who might be coaching them next year. Can Al be ruled “Mentally-Incompatant”to be an owner?
January 29th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I believe Coach Kiffin improved the 2007 Raider
team immeasurably & I didn’t think it could be done
in one year.The offensive line was the biggest improvement & I’m sure Coach Cable had a lot to do with that. Gallery, at right tackle, even with many
penalties, was huge to protecting the QB & running game. A year before that line was a disaster. Kiffin
gave us a chance. A chance to win. Respect & a feeling of pride in the team. Davis made a great hire.
Now he must let the man go to work. Davis is the owner
but Lane Kiffin is the Coach the 2008 Oakland Raiders
need.
January 29th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Thanks for all the kind words of support. Look, it’s not a question of Davis and Kiffin clashing. Davis hired the guy, he got the team headed in the right direction and now Davis wants him to quit so he can start over again. Much of what Davis has done the last few years is very self-destructive, and one reason the Raiders are 19-61 over the last five seasons. It’s not going to change until he trusts someone to change it and it doesn’t seem that’s going to happen any time soon.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Ira the Duck, gets in line.
Nothing you said has been supported by one fact. You had Ryan the defensive coordinator in N.Y., didn’t happen, you had Al taking away all of Kiffin’s authority, but wait! Kiffin is seen interviewing a possible new asst coaches. Al stops by on his cart and talks to Kiffin and a former player, better yet! you have a letter given to Kiffin to quit, but no one has produced any letter. How do you know Al is trying to fire Kiffin? Tell us your source, you can’t because you don’t have one. You have Al taking away Kiffin ability to be involved in player selection but “WoW” Kiffin is at the Senior Bowl evaluating future players for the Raider roster. You think after Kiffin has evaluated all the information about the players, that Al is going to fire him? Please give Al a litte more credit then that. Its all in your make believe mind. Ira your an old out dated fart who comes to write garbage about the Raiders because you never ascertain any real facts to support your position. You can not, and will not, ever get one minute of Raider time because they know your not an honest writer. You don’t know jack about the Raiders except what other writers say about them. All of you bay area sports writer are like a row of ducks. When one writer has an idea, then all of you lineup behind the head duck and follow the idea and write the same column. Everyone of you made a statement about Kiffin not wearing Raider gear at the Senior Bowl. The bay area ducks wrote it was a sign of defiance against Al, but not one of you stated the obvious, that Nolan wasn’t wearing his colors either. It wasn’t until one of the bloggers pointed it out that you were even aware of it. There isn’t an orginal thought in the whole group. Ira, go follow the little white ball and get your mind off the Raiders. Take a few of the other ducks with you. It would really help the Raider Nation get our mind off the ducks.
Raider Country
January 30th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I will be succcinct. You were right. I apologize.
The Raiders will never win again until Al sells or “moves on.” I have known for a long time that the organization was dysfunctional (I got a rare opportunity a few years ago to see it in “action” when I got to go on the Raider charter for a road game) but had begun to believe that Al was realizing his physical limitations and declining energy meant he had to cede control to someone younger (Kiffin). How wrong I was. He is going mentally now, not just physically.
If Kiffin goes and we get Art Saunders/Al Shell as head coach, attendance will be horrible and the Raider Nation will blame only one person, Al (Contra Costa Times Poll shows this clearly). Maybe then he will notice just how much he screwed things up. Then again, probably not…
January 31st, 2008 at 9:10 am
As a Charger fan, I have to keep reminding my Raiduh fan friends, that in reality, there has been only one real head coach of the Faiduhs since 1963, and that is Al Davis. As Lord Acton observed, “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
January 31st, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I’ve noticed Niner articles never elicit this kind of passion.
Win, Lose or Tie… You Know The Rest
January 31st, 2008 at 9:28 pm
As a Chargers fan I sit back and watch this soap opera from CHOKEland and chuckle. You guys deserve Al, he’s the Chargers and Charger fans ally. We love Al down here in San Diego and we hope he lives to be 200 years young. If Al needs any blood or plasma to stay one more minute on this earth Charger fans will be more than happy to oblige.
Chargers = SB XLIII Champions!
February 1st, 2008 at 9:43 am
What I never understand is why would anyone apply for a coaching job with the Raiders? Shouldn’t Lane be asking Gruden for his opinion prior to accepting the position? When the job was opened, there were no takers except Lane. This coaching job is toxic.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Btw, I saw a picture of Mike Nolan at the Senior Bowl, and yes he was wearing a 49er Cap (to go along w/a new goatee)
So, uh, you’re wrong.
Not that those of us who take Ira’s point of view over yours needed any proof.
You love the Raiders. Good for you.
But ask yourself: Why? What have the Raiders done for you lately?
Lowered ticket prices? Big deal, that is a supply/demand thing like the other man pointed out.
Raider fans (and Niner fans) should all revolt, and then perhaps w/empty stadiums and lost revenue these two bottom dwelling ownerships would be Forced to sell.
Get some owners w/a clue.
Where is Eddie D when you need him?
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 am
This is for the last poster, Mr. Riker.
I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. I don’t give a darn what kind of hat Mike Nolan wears and I never write about coach’s clothing. So get a grip, man.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Ira, I think Action Jackson Riker was responding to New Mexico Raider with that comment, not your post.
February 10th, 2008 at 6:58 am
Ira, First you state Kiffin wanted out in Novenber and then you go on to say, Davis wants him to resign. If Kiffin really wanted out, don’t you think he would have resigned? I think Kiffin wants to stay. As for Rob Ryan, I hear he is a 3-4 defensive coach and because of Warren Sapp, he was forced to use a 4-3. Provided the Raiders improve thier safety and DT issues, I think the defense can be back on top.
Tell me, do you think anyone has Al Davis’ ear? Why hasn’t someone with Davis’ respect (although it may have occured and we just haven’t heard about it) like John Madden, talk to him and speak some sense to him?
February 14th, 2008 at 11:43 am
David, Kiffin wants out and Davis wants him out. But Kiffin doesn’t want to leave empty-handed (that’s why he tried hard for the Arkansas job) and Davis doesn’t want to pay him off, so there is a standoff. It’s still not out of the question that this could blow up between now and September, but it appears that Kiffin is getting good advice to keep quiet and tough out the year until his contract is up. As for Davis’ ear? No one has it. Al likes to surround himself with “Yes, Al,” people, and anyone who disagrees is excommunicated from the inner circle.
February 15th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Ira:
Whats up with deleting my posts?
You and I know both know that you have zero insight on Al Davis.
Youre a joke man.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Ira,
I never liked it when you wrote negative articles about the Raiders. But I am done with Davis and can’t wait until he leaves. Keep ripping this team. Keep those “blind faith” fans grumbling about the “Woe is me” Raiders. The Raider Nation need to know that Davis is DONE. His days as a football guru are DONE. He’ll never get it back. NEVER! And to those pathetic fans ripping your grammar or whatever, screw them. They do that cause they know what you are saying is true and they can’t take it. “Blind faith” is for the weak minded who see the world with fantasy eye! Get real Nation DAVIS ID DONE! 5-11 at best for ‘08. BOYCOTT THE RAIDERS UNTIL DAVIS IS GONE!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 9:30 am
When I start reading other articles by other known writers in the bay area, those who attend and ask questions at the news briefings. Who have contacts and access to players, coaches, and staff, I realize that Ira isnt making up stories or headlines to sell papers. Raider Fans — check out what other writers are saying in the local papers. Being in the bay area, they are not parroting rumours or stealing lines from one another. They dont have too, they are at the briefings, in the parking lots etc, at training camps.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:24 pm
WHY IS THIS STILL ON HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 15th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
IRA, I hate reading articles about an inside source discloses this or that. I don’t believe unnamed sources because in the world we have today sports writers are in such competition for things to report on, especially in the off season, that they let the imagination run wild and write articles and blogs that fan the emotions of the FANS. Al Davis, like Osama Bin Laden passed away several years ago. Both men were replaced by robotic look alikes. This is a major conspirity that the NFL know about. I got this information from a guy at starbucks! I can’t wait to see how it plays out.