NFL Network: Shell is gone
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Thursday, December 21st, 2006 at 5:01 pm in Oakland Raiders.
I found out about Art Shell’s impending doom too late to ask him about it.
It wasn’t until I got home and a colleague phoned me with the news that the NFL Network’s Adam Schefter was reporting that Al Davis would fire Shell at the end of the season.
Schefter reported this during the Network’s “Total Access” show leading up to the broadcast of the Minnesota-Green Bay game.
The Raiders immediately fired off a press release which the studio host Rich Eisen read on the air.
“Adam Schefter has always been a false rumor monger with respect to the Raiders and anti-Raider based on his relationship with Denver and Mike Shanahan. No decisions have been made relative to the 2007 Oakland Raiders will they be made for some time. Adam Schefter could not have gotten his information from a reliable source because there’s only one reliable source, and he doesn’t trust Adam.”
Schefter’s response?
“Typical Raiders. Getting personal. But the fact remains nowhere in that statement did it say that Art Shell will be back as the Raiders head coach. If they really wanted to attack me and make me look really bad, then they would say, `Art Shell will be our head coach in 2007.’ Which he will not be. The plan right now is to release Art Shell after the season. He has one year remaining on his contract at $1.8 million and the plan right now is to fire Art Shell.”
A few notes on Shell’s allegedly imminent demise:
– Schefter covered the Broncos first for the Rocky Mountain News and then for the Denver Post. He’s written books with Shanahan and Bill Romanowski.
As such, he’s more wired into the Broncos than he is to the Raiders, but to assume he is doing this deliberately because he’s a Bronco fan is ridiculous.
This is probably an unpopular opinion for this forum, but the whole “Raider hater” thing is for the most part nonsense.
The Raiders are criticized because the Raiders deserve to be criticized. They’ve been horrible for four years now. The same people who shout “Raider-hater” are usually the same ones ripped the media from jumping on the bandwagon in the three-year run of AFC West titles from 2000 through 2002.
Does that mean I think Schefter is right? I think he thinks he is. But the phrase “the plan now” gives Schefter some wiggle room. He can easily report at a later date that the plan changed. If he’s first with that story, he can claim that as a scoop as well.
(Note: Just received the original report from Schefter in an e-mail from the NFL Network, and it ended with the statement, “Now, Al has been known to change his mind and could again.” So basically, the report is right either way.)
I’m not going to attack Schefter. He makes a lot more money than I do and has broken plenty of stories over the years.
– What is a false rumor monger, anyway? Doesn’t the term “monger” imply the rumors are false?
– The Raiders release, done in typical heavy-handed silver and black fashion, buries the lead, as they say in the business:
“Adam Schefter could not have gotten his information from a reliable source because there’s only one reliable source, and he doesn’t trust Adam.”
Let me be the first to break the story that Al Davis did not talk with Adam Schefter. And if you don’t get this information from Al Davis, then you’re taking a risk in going with the story.
You could be right. The Raiders could end up 2-14, after all. Dumping the coach is not a stretch.
– Schefter’s response that the if the Raiders wanted to refute his rumor they would announce Shell is returning for another season is absurd.
What multi-million dollar business enterprise makes a policy commitment to refute an on-air story that has no attribution?
Maybe Davis doesn’t know what he’s going to do yet. Lord knows he operates slowly when making decisions. The guess here is he is trying to figure out if it is sensible to make dramatic changes to the offensive staff but retain Shell. I think that’s what he would like to do, ideally.
But if the Raiders completely fall apart in the last two games, his hand may be forced.
– The real entertainment comes Saturday when NFL Network is in town to cover the game. Hope they already have their credientials and parking passes.
Thursday’s news and notes:
– QB Aaron Brooks missed practice with a sore neck, but Shell said he is probable to face the Chiefs. Brooks said he expects to play.
– Also missing practice were WR Jerry Porter, WR Randy Moss and RB Zack Crockett. Crockett is the only one of those three who will probably play.
For what it’s worth, Moss appeared to be limping as he walked into the locker room.
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December 21st, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Adam Schefter probably does have some bias against the Raiders due to his ties to the “rat” Mike Shanahan. However, I agree with Jerry in that why would anyone hate us about now. Probably the hardest thing to swallow about the last four years is that our divisional foes have slowly gone from hating the Raiders, to not worrying about the Raiders, to finally feeling somewhat sorry for the Raiders. I stand by what I asserted earlier, if Shell is going to be let go it will be done in a manner which will at least attempt to let him keep whatever dignity that he has left. Frankly, none if it really matters, Maddenraider is right, nothing is going to change anytime soon, unless drastic changes are made at the very very very top.
I will be at the game on Saturday. Maybe, we can see Al go after Adam Schefter like he went after Scott Ostler a few weeks back.
December 21st, 2006 at 5:39 pm
My question is who would Schefter be getting info from that makes him think he’s so right about this?
December 21st, 2006 at 5:41 pm
Remember Davis digging at Schefter after the Madden HOF ceremony? He was interviewingg0i Davis for NFL Network. Davis saw Jerry Jones during the interview, called him over and they chatted a bit on camera, and Davis told Schefter something to the effect of, “Hey you’re not in Denver anymore, you’re working for ‘us’ now. No more negative stories”.
I know I’ll get bagged for this, but I really hope Shell stays. I thought he’d get at least 2 years to do something. Remember he didn’t get much of a chance to select AC’s (exept for Walsh, which was a disaster, although Shoop proves that it’s not all Walsh’s fault, i.e, if you can’t block, you can’t execute any kind of offense).
No one expected the disaster we got this year, but he’s got to be given a chance to get out the bad apples and start implementing his vision. One season with essentially no off-season time to weed out the malcontents and get assistants he wants is really not good…unless Al is listening to Lombardi and/or the players who have his ear are yelling mutiny…Then I could see Shell gone.
Oh well, just when I thought I’d pulled out emotionally from this season, they pull me back in with this bit of news/”rumor mongering”!
December 21st, 2006 at 5:43 pm
No, “monger” doesn’t imply any amount of falsehood. The “rumor” bit implies dubiousness.
December 21st, 2006 at 6:16 pm
Why would Davis fire Shell? Can Davis not see that Art’s mind games are starting to kick in? We’re just 7 years away from breaking the 8 win mark. Have faith!
December 21st, 2006 at 6:19 pm
Ooh, it’s a official!! Raiders new enemy: THE NFL!!!
Onward, Raider Nation!!!
What?
Tell you something you don’t know? Well, thank you too, Nostradamus.
December 21st, 2006 at 6:23 pm
I think that Schefter’s report is wrong… working on something to back it up check out http://raiders.mostvaluablenetwork to see if I am right or fall on my face. (It would not be the first time)
December 21st, 2006 at 6:31 pm
Monger (n., usually in compounds) (1) a dealer in some commodity. (2) one who busies himself with something in a sordid or petty way. (from my dog-eared dictionary)
A lot of reporters flip a story out there to see what they can come up with statement-wise. I follow the SF Giants, and that means Barry-Bonds-a-lot, and I’m sure any Bay Area scribe knows Bonds trusts some reporters more than others. The rest (out-of-towners mostly) are occasionally forced to come up with rumors spread as fact as a method of phishing, to see what they can catch - “he’s not denying it, so it must be true, etc.” Schefter was bored and he thought he’d provoke a fight as part of the pregame NFL Network buildup. He managed to get a personal response from Al. Nice work jerkwater, now go stick your head in the john and flush. Personal. Typical heavy-handed Raiders. Whatever, man. Funny how even at 2-12, this Raider thing gets your dander up. Makes me wanna break thru the paper with the “Miller Lite” on it and start yelling.
raider4ever - “… dramatic changes to the offensive staff but retain Shell.” Works for me. One year is not enough to tell.
December 21st, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Tough, man. Tough. I know how it is. Were I Art Shell, I would have negotiated more control over franchise and on field decisions in the contract. Oh, I was bewildered sitting in that interview seat with Mr. Davis. Sitting there with all my free Raider gear on, kissing the old man’s ass. But Chucky had his third eye open, man. I was playing him, like a fiddle. Soon as I took the field at practice, I impemented a West Coast offense. “Don’t worry, Al. I’m just setting them up for the big one..”, I’d yell to my boss as he looked at me with his arms folded. I’d even run a long one just to appease him. Man.
A year later, I would have a techie of mine from U of Dayton doctor in some highlights of Darryl Lamonica, and impose Rich Gannon’s face inside of the helmet. I had no choice after rounding up my highlights of all Rich Gannons deep passes throughout his career, where the longest one I could find was a sidearmed, 7 yard shot to a fullback in the flat while he was with the Chiefs. The superimposed video went well. The old man fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.
Point I’m making, man, is that you’ve gotta be creative with Al. You have to pretend he knows what he’s talking about, while covertly implementing your own system. Shell only had half of that down, obviously. And, now he’s going to be a scape goat.
Worst part of this is Shell’s won-loss record. It was up their with mine and Maddens, and now it’s in Mike White range. Live and let live. What can a 4 foot tall mutha f**a do? But adjust his visor and call a 5 step drop xy stat 33 reverse slant q on silent 3? Nothing, man. Not a damned thing
Good luck, Raider Nation. And, if I continue to stink up the joint in Tampa, we could be reunited sooner than you think. Man.
December 21st, 2006 at 6:58 pm
Adam has been pretty fair towards the Raiders the last few years. I hope Shell is gone, the game has passed him bye.Great player, Horrible coach
December 21st, 2006 at 7:06 pm
Gruden 76-66, Shell 56-50.
December 21st, 2006 at 8:43 pm
I just hope Bobby Petrino changes his mind. Maybe a couple of millions extra could change his mind in the offseason. We hire Petrino, draft Brohm and we could have a team for next year.
December 21st, 2006 at 9:04 pm
Jerry: No, to monger does not imply the rumors are false.
December 21st, 2006 at 9:09 pm
Finzel, you trying to make the point that Shell is as good as me? Is that where you’re going with that stat?
I took Al Davis’ dead system and made his team a playoff contender. I improved the team by 4 wins in my first season, with a 5 game win streak, thank you. Immediate results. None of this, ‘it takes time’, crap.
I brought in Rich Gannon, Jerry Rice, and Charlie Garner (3 players that never would have stepped foot in Oakland if it wasn’t for me) and built a team that would eventually go to the Super Bowl.
To be honest, I like Shell. I think his problem is that he’s too nice. He’s the wrong coach for the kind of retards that Al Davis likes to call ‘playas’. You need ME! My god, man, give me Aaron Brooks, Randy Moss, Doug Gabriel, and 5 fatass linemen for me to whip into shape and I would have your guys’ record inverted.
We’ve spent most of our money on defense in Tampa over the years. I just don’t have the offensive weapons you guys have. But if I did, my god, you certainly wouldn’t see me sitting at 2-12 and playing Captain Obvious every monday morning at the press conference. I’d do what I did when I was in Oakland myself, bring results. And, I’ll do it in Tampa, too. I did it in Oakland, I’ll do it in Tampa.
Shell needs to be in a place that drafts smart players, where he can offer his subtle guidance to put the icing on the cake. In Oakland, he’s just an enabler. An additional cheerleader to a squad of pampered babies. He’s only allowed to play coach with the players that are in Al’s dog house. Everyone else? He’s all pom poms. Shell, like Joe Bugle, is like the a hapless parent who’s kids are bouncing off the wall, and I’m the nanny who comes in to clean house!
December 21st, 2006 at 9:39 pm
Thanks to all for your support regarding my son and mine’s game status for Saturday, much appreciated!!!
As for the current status, the airport is scheduled to re-open at noon tomorrow, but with limited Friday (originally scheduled flights only) sounds like there’s a chance to get out Saturday for him. Still hoping…
As for the story about Shell, I didn’t see it, because my Aunt’s house doesn’t have a TV (oy!!!)…but I don’t know if it’s even really a story at this point. As Jerry said, not totally inconceivable that he could get fired for 2-14…at the same time, prior to doing so, I think they better have a REAL good idea of who’s willing to take the job. Rob Ryan or some relative unkown would really be the only realistic candidates.
We’ll see…oh, and Brooks missed practice, coming off a benching, coming off a “talking crap” post game session, and he’s still gonna start…”fishy”!
December 21st, 2006 at 9:43 pm
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December 22nd, 2006 at 12:31 am
Wow, another mystical day in raiderland,only when AL says so will we really know whats gona happen.
December 22nd, 2006 at 1:08 am
Is that really you Gruden? Lombardi is on his way out, I would love to have you come
and take over as Head Coach when I move up to GM we need your fire and intensity
back to bring the nasty home to Oakland.
December 22nd, 2006 at 1:55 am
Mac, isn’t that true of any franchise? Whether it is a rumor or not really does’nt matter. The fact of the matter is that Art sucks. He is a Ho Famer offensive lineman. We have, arguably, the worst offensive line in the league! So if the Ho famer can’t even coach his position, what makes you think that he can coach an entire team?
I mean, honestly, look at him. Does he look like a man he has ever had an original thoght? I think not, he looks like (as someone else acurately described) a hippo on Mutual of Omaha nature program- you know like when a hippo is just standing there with a blank expression as a Lion jumps on it’s back and starts to chew on it neck. That is exactly what Art looks like. His record speaks for itself. I hope
Art is fired today.
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:04 am
It’s not really me. It’s MaddenRaider. But good to hear from you anyhow, Art. Good luck with all the b.s. I feel for ya, brutha.
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:16 am
Jon — Al told me to challenge you for best results. It worked!! Would you please sign your name on this blank check ? Are you really thinking about coming back to Oakland? Great, another retread. Make sure you fire Ryan, that Davis mole. Could you recommend a good offensive coordinator?
No, I’m trying to make the point that you ain’t exactly a panacea either. AD and the Raider tradition had a little something to do with the three offensive free agents you mentioned, because they certainly don’t seem to be flocking to the Bucs banner, even with Bruce Allen to help. You need a meaner owner, someone who’ll kick YOUR ass into shape. The Glazers put you in charge and you can’t even build a decent D of you own, even with all that money they spend on defense in Tampa. But Shell and AD have at long last got Rob Ryan heading in the right direction. In two to four years, he might even become a top flight DC like his old man and his brother. Sure looks good doing it too, just like you, Jon.
Gotta be MaddenRaider. There are certain characteristics of style being used. If my guess here is correct, Peace.
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:28 am
Re-reading the above including my own noise, I’m going to conclude that “mac” has the best thought of the day. The Boss’ll let us know in his own good time. 0530 here, I’m goin’ to bed.
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:28 am
I think neither Art Shell or Jon Gruden is present here. What is best for Oakland is to ask Rich Gannon to come in as Quarterback Coach, ask Art to take over the Offensive Line, and ask the real Jon Gruden to come back as the head coach and leave the defense up to Ryan. Al needs to let people do their jobs without his aged approach to offense. Art do the right thing by stepping aside but stay in the organization as you are a true blue silver and black legend.
December 22nd, 2006 at 6:11 am
Clearly, Shell is not up to the job. He has no idea how to manage people, let alone run an NFL team. But who’s going to take the job? Davis is completely out of his mind, talking non-sense and acting more paranoid than ever. Rob Ryan is probably the only realistic candidate, but who knows if he can run the madhouse?
December 22nd, 2006 at 6:21 am
How come nobody has considered the Rex Ryan HC possibility and keeping his brother Rob as the DC, or even Rob promoted and bringing his brother over to coach D… This may be a reach but how many of you wouldn’t do it for your brother?
December 22nd, 2006 at 6:54 am
Any reporter can come out and say that Shell will be fired. Any coach that has a 2-12 season is clearly on the hot seat. Anyone could have came out and made that statement. If it happens then Schefter looks good. And if it doesn’t then he can just claim that his source was incorrect.
Whatever! I will still be watching my beloved RAIDERS on the tube tomorrow night. Maybe they can muster up some pride and kick KC in the ass.
Merry Christmas RADIER NATION !!!!
Win,lose or tie Silver and Black till I die
December 22nd, 2006 at 7:08 am
Should Calvin Johnson enter the upcoming draft after his junior season (he said he’ll decide after Tech plays in the Gator Bowl), the Falcons could get that incomparable wide receiver by offering, say, their No. 1 and 2 picks, along with The Great Matt Schaub, to quarterback-impaired Oakland or Detroit. In return, the Falcons would get Johnson’s striking physical gifts (4.4 speed, sure hands, impressive strength, 45-inch vertical jump) and splendid work ethic.
Posted December 22, by Ben Maller
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Now this is what I like to see!!!!!!!
December 22nd, 2006 at 7:18 am
GOOD - Fire Shell, then Davis should fire himself. Let Lombardi take over and hire the new head coach and somehow keep Ryan on the staff.
December 22nd, 2006 at 7:23 am
I’ve been a die-never Raider-fan for 30 years, and I’m sick and tired of everyone
complaining about “the media” and “RaiderHaters”. We used to love to be hated.
Now we use it as an excuse for our miserable excuse for a football team.
All of this crying about “the officiating” etc. When did Raidernation turn into a bunch of
sniffling babies. You want revenge against the media and the officials? STOP CRYING
AND WIN SOME FOOTBALL GAMES.
December 22nd, 2006 at 7:36 am
Oakland signal callers have been sacked a league-high 66 times this year and have posted an abysmal touchdown-to-interception ratio of 1-to-3 (7 TDs, 21 INTs). Left tackle Robert Gallery, the second overall pick in 2004, has seen a steady stream of defenders dashing by him, and even colossal bust Tony Mandarich has been laughing all the way. Expected back on Sunday after missing the past four games with a dislocated elbow, Gallery had personally allowed an NFL-worst nine sacks at the time of his injury.
Posted December 22, by Ben Maller
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Now this is not what I like to see, Sapp needs to hold him down and shave those girly locks maybe that will light a fire under his ass
December 22nd, 2006 at 9:01 am
Now I bet because Adam Schefter reported it Davis just to spite him will retain Shell… Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face… I wish Schefter would announce that Davis is going to stay on as head of the organization and just to spite Schefter Davis would step down… You show him Al!!!!!!!
December 22nd, 2006 at 9:42 am
i’m of the minority, but i’m sympathetic towards shell’s situation. he was hired late, so rather than hire a stranger as his OC he brought back Walsh, a guy he trusted and a system he knew. but it failed miserably. and who knew the O-line was THAT bad? on top of that, his two biggest stars - porter and moss - completely turned on him.
if we fire fire shell than where do we go from there? rob ryan? has davis ever hired a defensive coach as the HC? if we bring in someone new than all the players, defense included have to reassimilate themselves to yet ANOTHER philosophy. by the time that gels our great defense could be dismantled. there are no easy answers. so many people are calling for shell’s head. the guy made some really BAD decisions over this season. enough to warrant the pink slip. bu but in all fairness, give him some players who can play the game and then see what he does.
December 22nd, 2006 at 10:10 am
We might be seeing some hope…I’ve posted it before, and I’ll post it again…
NOTHING CHANGES UNTIL DAVIS CHANGES.
Regardless of Schefter’s claims, counter-claims, and “CYA statements” like the one below…
(Note: Just received the original report from Schefter in an e-mail from the NFL Network, and it ended with the statement, “Now, Al has been known to change his mind and could again.” So basically, the report is right either way.) it still remains to be seen whether any of this plays out.
Maybe Al is seeing the light, maybe he isn’t. Only Davis knows. STAY TUNED…
December 22nd, 2006 at 10:45 am
Huae, err no, its not a-typical of every franchise. it is a raider trademark.Or AL will sue them.lol
December 22nd, 2006 at 11:53 am
In response to Paul K. ’s comments, I agree that we need to do less talking and more
winning. The problem lies in the fact that in todays parity-crazy NFL, these games that are so close can easily be swayed by just a single crucial call.(ask Mike Holmgren). Does anyone remeber the incredible “tripping” call against Ed Jasper in last years chefs game? That game was over. The Chefs would have been facing a 4th & extremely long instead of a first down in Raider territory.
Are we supposed to just pretend that some Anti Raider sentiment does not exist in the league.. That call is just one example. I would guess that we could have won 8 - 10 more games the last three years if not for some horrific and creative officiating.
I too have been a faithful meber of the Raider Nation for a long time, and I am waiting for the day that Al has his revenge. We may be closer than you think.
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:23 pm
Jerry, Desert Raider 24, NewMexicoRaider, Danny, Mark F, Coach Sean, etal…Have a great holiday guys! Hope you’re sitting in the Coliseum with your son come Saturday Sean. Keep the posts coming everyone. Silver and Black forever!
P.S. - This one really applies to us this year…”Nehil Illegitimo Carberundrum”…Possibly a couple of spelling errors, but is Latin for “Never Let The Bastards Grind You Down”.
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Monger simply implies someone who sells or trades. Mybe over the top but not redundant
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Monger ? buy and sell,short for mongrel,,has to earn a living,from higher stock but having to work to raise the value.Ghengis khan?
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Or just AL Davis,lol
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:07 pm
What is sooooo different between Shefler making an “insider” report or Mortonsen or Clayton? Other than Al Davis hates the MFer.
December 22nd, 2006 at 11:18 pm
Tim, respect is earned. Shell earned a trip to the HoF so much respect for that, but as a head coach he sucks! The guy can’t think on his feet so I hope Shefler prediction comes true. All the players that he was given graduated from college and made it through the draft so they are considered some of the best players in the U.S. A. Do you think someone like the N.E. head coach would have won only two games? Hell No! Excellent head coaches have analytical minds, they are quick to see flaws in the opponents game plan and recognize weaknesses in our game plan. They make changes as the game progresses and especially at half time. Name one game the Raiders won due to head coaching and I will genuflex before Art and accept him as head choach. Tic toc, tic toc, tic toc…..See you can’t, can you? So FIRE the Bum!
The writing (flourescent) is on the wall, all Shefler did is state the obvious.
December 23rd, 2006 at 2:19 am
Well, it’s 2:00am on game day, and my son (and wife and daughter) have made it as far as Salt Lake City…FRONTIER AIRLINES BUMPED THEM COMPLETELY, SAYING THE BEST THEY COULD DO WAS GET THEM OUT ON THE 26TH, UNLESS I WANTED TO PICK THEM UP IN ORANGE COUNTY AT 10PM ON XMAS EVE…FOR AN EXTRA $1300!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??? SO THEN THEY HOPPED A GREYHOUND BUS, WHICH SHOWED UP ABOUT 2 HOURS AGO IN SALT LAKE, WITH NO CONNECTING BUS DUE TO SHOW UP TIL NOON, LATER TODAY, A MERE 12 HOURS LATE, A BUS FOR 55 PEOPLE, DESPITE NEARLY 200 STRANDED AT AN UNMANNED BUS STATION IN UTAH!!! NOW THEY’RE SITTING IN THE SALT LAKE AIRPORT, SCHEDULED TO FLY INTO OAKLAND AT NOON.
ORIGINAL FRONTIER FLIGHT FOR FAMILY: $1,000.00
RAIDER TIX BOUGHT TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO ATTAINED BOTTOM FEEDER STATUS: $160.00
GREYHOUND BUS TIX: $300.00
JETBLUE AIRLINE TIX: $850.00
WALKING INTO A SOLD OUT COLISEUM TO SEE LIFELONG FAVORITE TEAM WITH 10-YEAR OLD SON FOR FIRST TIME: PRICELESS…WELL ACTUALLY LOTS OF SMOKES, BETWEEN PHONE CALLS WITH TRAVEL COMPANIES GALORE, AND SLIGHTLY $2,500, BEFORE WE EVEN GET THERE, BUT WHO’S COUNTING?
You all better put on a show tomorrow…where’s the post game BBQ and beers at??? Ya’ll can look for me and the boy…NW endzone, 2nd level row 6…Howie Long jersey (dad) and Warren Sapp jersey (son)
Go Raiders!!!!!!!!!
December 23rd, 2006 at 2:25 am
FINZEL, what’s crackin, man?
I’m a retread? And, what’s Art Shell, the next Vince Lombardi? How dare you!
Al Davis has nothing to do with Rice, Garner, and Gannon coming to MY team. Did you really think those guys would have come to a team running an archaic 1960s offense, like the one you were running before I came there, and the one you’re running today? Oh…Shoop’s little slant passes not withstanding. Pfft. We know who’s in charge over there. You guys are still forcing those deep balls. Al Davis’ offensive philosophy is a F’N JOKE!! It never worked. You guys never won a Super Bowl without running the football and setting up the deep pass with dump offs underneath. That Davis is living in a pipe dream.
Yeh, I’m struggling here in Tampa. Aint that f’n obvious. BUT I WON MY DIVISION LAST YEAR! Step to that! I’m transforming a defensive team into an offensive team, and I’ve PROVEN that I can win in today’s league with my system. I won a division a year ago, I won a Super Bowl with a team that Tony Dungy failed to do so with year after year, and I resurrected a f’n corpse in Oakland. I’m a magic man! Women want me, and men want to be me! Source: People magazine. Let me know when Art is voted one of the WORLD’S most beautiful people. Dude, Cindy Crawford’s on that list. Harrison Ford. You just can’t f with me.
Oh ho ho, Man, with Al Davis as your owner, you have no room to tell ANYONE they need a new owner. You may very well have the worst owner in professional sports when it comes to general management and on field results. Do you realize that anyone posting comments on this blog right now could build a team that would win 15 games over the course of 4 seasons??? What has Al Davis done in recent years, besides having the common sense to HIRE ME, that my 7 year old frecked face little brat Chucky Jr. couldn’t? My wife could build a better team than Al Davis.
Shell has Rob Ryan heading in the right direction? Shell has whatever Al Davis tells him to ‘has’. Shell decides NOTHING. Shell controls NOTHING. Shell makes one decision every day, and that’s rather or not he’ll show up to Alameda every morning to take orders from daddy Al. Rob Ryan has the defense playing well because he ditched Al’s prevent -on -every -down defense and started lining guys up on the line of scrimmage again. Not to mention, it’s in Ryan’s blood to control his squad. No matter how much the old man hovers over him, he’s still going to get in his players’ faces and be a coach. That’s a trait of masculinity that is Art Shell is VOID of.
And, I already told you I was MaddenRaider, inspector gadget.
Merry X mas, Finzel. Put a coach that’s a carbon copy of me on your wish list, because it’s your guys’ only hope.
Sincerely,
Jon Gruden, the only whiff of victory in the Raiders organization in the past decade.
December 23rd, 2006 at 2:32 am
Alright, that was rude. I’m sorry, Finzel. No more chucky alter ego.
Instead I offer this to the congregation:
If we win our last two games, Shell will win 10 games next year. That’s what my crystal ball sais, and I’m always right. So, we have that to root for.
December 23rd, 2006 at 2:35 am
Coach Sean, glad to see your son will make it. Have fun.
December 23rd, 2006 at 2:35 am
And, don’t worry about being late. You get there by the second quarter, and you only miss 2 Chiefs touchdowns.
December 23rd, 2006 at 11:50 am
Coach Sean - I logged on hoping to hear some positive news today. Most excellent. It’s a division game, and we’ve been playing them tight. You never know.
MaddenRaider — By some coincidence, we were writing our 12/22 (0204 and 0216) posts at exactly the same time. Sorry I missed you. I kinda thought it was you from the football terminology BS (funny), the humorous revisionism, and the overall tone of voice.
I have a different opinion. Art’s not a puppet. It was HIS idea alone to bring back the 1970s Raider playbook, HIS suggestion to bring back Walsh, etc. And he was wrong, and he deserves all the crap he is getting. We’ll see about next year, and what kind of plan he has. Shoop won’t make it unless God drops everything else.
I didn’t make up that 76-66 record. I was actually surprised it was that close to 0.500. I tend to distrust people who get more than their share of the credit because of their looks. Jon was effective with Oakland because of the combination of him and Al, and a synergy with the community and fans. I’m sure his agent tells him differently. I liked him too … I was playing devil’s advocate just a little. In Raiderland, nothing is certain except uncertainty, he may come back here someday. I’d prefer a coach who’ll improve the defense though. Shell has correctly identified, in more cases than his predecessors, who to get out there on the field, and he had input into drafting Huff and Howard. Morrison is a better MLB than Clark. Blame him for the offense, credit him for the defense. The defense is NOT everyone-up-front, it’s set up to stop the wide run and the medium-to-deep ball, giving the opponents the line buck, with occasional unfortunate results there. We’re just not good enough to shut everything down yet. This is different from last year, we play a different scheme now. It’s not all Ryan. It’s only fair to credit Shell for his input here.
Merry Christmas to all of you who are still reading. I gotta go to work, catch you after the game maybe.
December 23rd, 2006 at 2:30 pm
HUAE - Hurry Up And End!
December 23rd, 2006 at 3:52 pm
so what?
December 23rd, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Glad to see walter get a chance to see if he can succeed in the short pass, 3 step drop game with crisp, accurate passing without making stupid mistakes in the red zone like brooks. walter at least has the height to throw over the D.
December 26th, 2006 at 9:14 am
Losing Shell is not a big deal. As someone said in an earlier post…change has to happen up at the top spot- the very pinnacle. You hear me Al? Retirement buddy, that’s the thing you need to do sooner than later.
On paper, the players are good except for Brooks. he has proven year after year in New Orleans that he is a bum. Why rest hopes with him this year. Andrew Walters- you’ve had yoru chance to shine- you might be good but not with the Raiders at present. I see the problems with coaching. The players again are decent enough to put a qulaity product on the field but the play calling is lousy and most of all, the tenacity and emotions of Raider’s past is not there. Shell can’t motivate anyone, he’s like Callahan. The last great coach was Gruden. He has tenacity, emotion and motivates his players. Shell is a statue on the sidelines and I assume any motivation that comes from the locker room or practice field is negative- i.e Porter and company. the Raiders need someone to work with all these head-cases on the roster and make them play as a team, then give them some play calling tools to make it work. New coach? Yeah we could use one, but Davis needs to retire too.I can’t wait for next year’s draft. I wonder which non-impact player we’ll choose for the first pick- maybe another worthless tackle to DB.
December 26th, 2006 at 9:28 am
Raider’s Needs for 2007:
1) New motivating coach- someone who gets excited on the sidelines- i.e Gruden, Cower.
2) New Off. Coord or possilbe- Schoop seems okay
3) A.D to retire and give up reigns
4) New scouts- the past sevearal years drafts have been busts. Raiders need an impact player in the draft not another dubious position. Huff is okay, Gallery is a bum. (Of course, most of this is Davis’s heavy handed direction another reason see #3 above)
5) QB- get a veteran “BACKUP, but draft a rookie and give him a chance with good play callilng. Obviously Tuiasospo has been on the team for some year ssn no one wants to give him a chance and when he was given some rare chances, he wasn’t the answer and Walters has had every chance to shine and he can’t work with in the Raiders system. Brooks is and always was a proven bum, so it’s back to square 1.
6) Get rid of head cases in the locker room. What’s up with Porter- he had everything going for him now he’s a head case. Moss was behaving until mid season when he figured the Raiders weren’t going anywhere and this just reinforces the need for a good coach to clean house and keep it in tact so none of this crap emerges in the first place.