Kiffin out of the loop on Lofton
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 at 11:40 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Just because it’s been relatively quiet for a few days doesn’t mean all is well with Lane Kiffin and the Raiders.
It turns out that James Lofton has agreed to terms to join the Raiders as an unspecified assistant coach, most likely wide receivers, and although Kiffin conducted the interview, he had nothing to do with the hire.
That bit of news came Wednesday night from a team source I trust, and pretty much ruins my growing belief that things appeared to be working themselves out between Kiffin and owner Al Davis.
This remains a fluid situation.
Kiffin, I’m told, was first informed by a third party not affiliated with the Raiders that Lofton is on his staff.
This is new territory where Davis and Kiffin are concerned in that Davis overruled the coach on a matter pertaining to the offense.
When Kiffin was hired last year he gutted the entire offensive staff, bringing in coordinator Greg Knapp, line coach Tom Cable, quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, wide receivers coach Charles Coe and running backs coach Tom Rathman, while getting Davis’ approval.
Lofton, however, was dropped in Kiffin’s lap, and while he is a Hall of Famer, an ex-Raider and probably a fine coach, this is no way to run a football team.
Things are precarious enough around Raiders headquarters with rumors rampant about Davis requesting a resignation, a letter which reportedly strips Kiffin of his power regarding staff and personnel, and the strange Raiders press release issued by someone other than Kiffin regarding the retention of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.
I’ll call the resignation request and the emasculation letter rumors because I have heard stories but don’t have solid enough sources myself to consider them factual. The information on the Lofton situation comes from a team source who prefers to remain anonymous.
Kiffin can be forgiven for believing Davis is trying to force him out, for while Lofton is a Hall of Fame player and probably a fine coach, he also happened to interview twice for the job Kiffin currently calls his own.
Even if Davis wanted to hire Lofton whether Kiffin liked it or not, an environment in which Kiffin is not told by Davis or anyone in the front office, and instead hears it from someone not affiliated with the Raiders, means there is a serious communication issue between the boss and his most important employee.
None of Kiffin’s choices at this point are too appealing.
The wisest course of action could be to dig in his heels, deal with whatever surprises come and continue to coach his team to the best of his ability. People outside the Raiders’ universe have their own view of how the franchise operates, and if Kiffin gets to six or seven wins, he would be a hot commodity.
Kiffin is paying dearly for not only going 4-12, but for not squelching the Arkansas rumor as well as speculation he wanted to return to college coaching. Whether it was true or not, Davis must have wanted no part of another Jon Gruden scenario, wondering every day if his prodigy had turned ungrateful and was looking to get out of town.
Loyalty is huge with Davis.
If you believe in happily-ever-after, perhaps Kiffin could regain Davis’ trust and and serve out the last two years of his contract, with the Raiders holding options through 2010. That isn’t the way to bet, but if Kiffin gave Davis a winner and got JaMarcus Russell on the track to stardom, all would be forgiven and the boss would be only too happy to take credit for it.
The other option is to resign, forfeiting his salary, at a time where all the good college head coaching and coordinator jobs are already filled, with most NFL options as an assistant exhausted as well.
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January 30th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Maaan this gotta stop!
January 30th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
It will get worse before it gets better. The draft isn’t til April.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Davis is a cancerous tumor….must remove HIM NOW!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 12:00 am
What a disaster this Al Davis, Lane Kiffin issue has become, it’s just further evidence of the rampant dysfunction and chaos that is the Oakland Raiders of the 21st century.
Just when it seems as though we have a bright young coach someone we can build with, someone we can win with, Al comes in and destroys all the continuity and credibility that Kiffin and team may have once possessed.
Now in the eyes of his staff and players Kiffin is a lame duck, powerless, a heel bearing no more than the neat title of Head Coach, Al’s little Cabaña boy.
Come April Al will Draft a shinny new toy with great speed and no heart (the Kiffin-Davis divide in turn becomes a gaping chasm) Kiffin’s bitterness now swells, him having had no say in the draft or his staff and he sees no future beyond 08. (Can one really blame him?)
A sub-500 2008 season has passed and its now 2009, Kiffin is gone his mind having left long befor its owner!!! Ryan will still not have had a chance at any impact players with which to build a solid run defense (see Al and his infatuation with speed) and so he too will be gone.
With his new stooge err HC and the number 1 or 2 pick in the 09 Draft Al selects……. That speedster out of fast guy “U”…. … the steady beating of Al’s coach-skinned drum drones on as he and his once proud Raider franchise steadily continue their death march into obscurity.
Oh-we-oh-we-oh-oh!!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 12:01 am
At least he’s proving his point….he remains in power.
Cool we all respect you now, BIG AL….can you now let your coach do his job…
Probably not, you decrepit old withering soul!
January 31st, 2008 at 12:04 am
At what point of the off season can we expect a non-raider issue.
The more i read the more the pill is harder to swallow watching my beloved team implode, just when you think that you have a future winning coach & QB in place.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:44 am
Like sands through the hourglass, these are….the oakland raiders…..
January 31st, 2008 at 12:59 am
Al is just killing himself here.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:21 am
Maybe Crazy Al is teaching Kiffin a few lessons on:
-HOW to be loyal…”Just kiss the rings, baby.”
-As The Rock used to say, “KNOW YOUR ROLE, AND SHUT THE HELL UP!”
-Being and getting humbled. Kiffin was getting a lot of positive press in the second half of the season. Also being linked to job rumors must have gotten to young Lane’s head. Kiffin thought he could start calling some shots. Crazy Al is teaching Lane a lesson…a little tough love from the boss??
January 31st, 2008 at 1:24 am
I also liked Kirk’s comments on Kiffin!! Now that Sapp is gone, Kirk is the next best leader out there on the defense. I really like how he has stepped up here, especially with all the rumors and speculation about Raiders management. This is a HUGE endorsement!!
January 31st, 2008 at 1:28 am
I’d love to hear any other comments Howie had about Chris Long.
How old are Kyle and Howie Jr?? Kyle sounds like a DT.
How big is Howie Jr? He likes to “Torture” people?? Awesome!!!
Maybe we can eventually draft all 3 of them!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 1:33 am
Jerry,
Nice feedback on the language and name borrowing that goes on here. We all needed slaps on the wrists, myself included. Great updates today. We’re starting to get closer and some more insight into the TRUTH in Raiders management these days.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:36 am
I like the James Lofton hire. It seems Big Al wants to continue the tradition of HOF WR coaches. At the very minimum, he will shed much light and insight into helping us finally beating the Chargers next year!!!
Big Al, way to show Lane who’s REALLY the boss!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 1:43 am
This keeps up there could be a lawsuit on the Raiders hands. Kiffin may have grounds if things get way out of control.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:46 am
Bah!
January 31st, 2008 at 1:47 am
I’m with Al on this….based on the whole scenario of Kiffin trying to leverage his job mid-season for a college HC job.
This is exactly like Petrino no matter which it’s cut/spun.
There’s far too much anti-Al venom going around, and I truly believe as objectively as possible, that Al is in his rights to remove Kiffin.
He’s a lame duck coach now anyway, so he has to be removed.
I wouldn’t be surprised either if Dennis Green has already said ‘yes’ to Davis, and everything is just on stand-by as Davis gathers up his new staff for 2008 to serve under Green.
Also, I’m not even sure Ryan is still in for sure, because the Jets DC position is still on stand-by for him, and apparently Davis was looking to fire Ryan anyway before Kiffin tried to.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:48 am
Being a Piedmont High School alumni, I used to HATE Bishop O’Dowd. Kirk Morrison has completely changed my perspective on BOD. No more “Duck the Fragons”!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 1:54 am
GG, Do you remember two years ago before Shell was hired, Denny said the Raiders job was “treacherous”. I don’t think this has endeared him to the job more.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:05 am
Hobs Gnarly.
True. Well, Green may have felt even more sure of his comments after what Davis did to Shell, let alone Kiffin.
But then so would Lofton, or Ryan, or any prospective HC now.
But I think Lane just erred badly in sneaking around, and maybe Davis isn’t gonna get more paranoid and possessive with an experienced man and tough-nut like Green?
January 31st, 2008 at 2:07 am
Who knows, Al’s skin is so thick now that I don’t think anything can penetrate it, let alone any paranoia escaping.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:15 am
I’ve said this before elsewhere, but imo, I’m an Al fan, ok, but maybe the best thing for Al and the Raiders is for him to actually step back as owner, and hire a GM and HC to be 100% accountable and therefore give them the appropriate degree of control over the staff.
Then, when anything goes wrong, he can at least be comfortable knowing everything is on them and they’re expendable, and doesn’t have to keep himself up all night worrying about his Raiders and who maybe is against him etc.
However, I do understand Davis’ pov that he values his friends and loyal Raider comrades working in Alameda and just can’t trust some new GMs etc who could perhaps come in and with a lot of control start firing people that Al doesn’t want to see go etc.
However, I’m not even sure Al strictly thinks that way anyway.
If there’s any truth to that, maybe it’s him trying to balance loyalty to those comrades while trying to assemble a successful group of coaches/players.
Which places him in a catch-22 and doesn’t necessarily foster cut-throat success on the field.
Al’s mistake imo was hiring Kiffin from asst OC in the NCAA to HC in the NFL in one leap. With zero experience basically, but demands and wishes for more power, then Davis was always going to find his HC wasn’t too good.
If he wants to give more control, which he should, then he should find a truly good and loyal/appreciative candidate like Jim Harbaugh, who is also young and can therefore maintain long-term stability. Not a fill-in experienced older HC who would do two years then leave.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:23 am
This story doesn’t make sense to me. Why would Lofton or any asst coach take a job w/o an understanding that the Head Coach is in agreement with it?
It makes more sense if Kiffin had been in favor of the hire anyway and conveyed that to Lofton, but was not told when the hire had been done later in the day. Or was surprised that the hire was done w/o a consultation between himself (Kiffin) and Davis….
The other way it could make sense is if Lofton was told by Davis that Kiffin is OUT. But then why would Lofton interview 5 hrs w/ Kiffin and Knapp?
January 31st, 2008 at 2:25 am
My boss is kinda like Al Davis. He tells you to take initiative, but when you try to do so he stops you. Then when he has stopped you and nothing happens, he tells you that you took no action and then blames you for the fact that the ball was dropped.
You can’t make a coach accountable for ANYTHING when he has no power to make decisions or take action without the blessing of the boss.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:41 am
GG, and if Dennis Green says no? It’s either Greg Knapp or Lofton. Yikes… They actually both make Shell seem good.
No doubt this is about the loyalty thing. But Al needs to realize it’s 2008. People entertain offers. We’re all free agents in the digital age. Loyalty is an industrial age philosophy. I swear I read that somewhere, but I’ll roll with it.
The greatest leaders in world history change with the times. Then again, what does Al Davis have to do with the greatest leaders in world history? I guess his stubborn style of leadership at present day is all the more reason to believe there is very little great about him. But what a standard it raises, ey? He softens his position, let’s Kiffin choose his staff, the worse case scenario is that we stay in last place. The best case scenario is that Kiffin is the next Belichick. The likely scenario is that we’re a playoff team by ‘09, and Al is one step closer to leaving a legacy of greatness throughout his career, as opposed to just the first half of it, which is all he’ll be remembered for if he were to retire today.
Oh, tell everyone at you know where I said hello, GG. You guys have a great membership there. Don’t know about the mods, though. But aren’t the jails full of people bashing the system? It was probably my time.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:47 am
Oh, btw, I told y’all so, regarding resignation-gate not being over.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:48 am
MaddenRaider, I will pass on your hello’s. Are you gone forever? For a few months? Either way, I’m sorry to hear you and others went by the wayside. There are other places too.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:50 am
Why would any coach who aware of a situation like this going on want to continue with the process unless it’s his only choice?
January 31st, 2008 at 2:54 am
Madden, Do you sleep?
January 31st, 2008 at 2:55 am
I am in another time zone (London) and if your on when I’m on it’s late for you dude.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:59 am
Anyway, like others have said, this story, the logistics of it, makes little sense how it could work.
1. Kiffin/Knapp interviewing Lofton for ‘unspecified’ job, tho they both probably knew it was for WR coach. I mean, how could they interview him for the HC job or asst HC job if they were against the move or suspicious of Lofton’s hiring replacing them.
2. Kiffin informed by 3rd party for an unspecified job, or assistant HC job. How does that work that Kiffin is ’surprised’ Lofton got hired, if he just interviewed him for assistant HC job??
January 31st, 2008 at 3:01 am
I think they are well aware of Al’s intentions as a message to them, I have your replacement already in place. It’s mind games aimed at getting Kiffin to quit, I think.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:02 am
I swear I am just tired of this, but rooting for another team is not an option. It’s just demoralizing. Your favorite team should not be so much work, should it?
January 31st, 2008 at 3:03 am
Oh and I had an inkling this wasn’t over madden as well.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:08 am
Did Knapp go behind Kiff’s back to Al? Angling for the job? Showing his “Loyalty” ?
January 31st, 2008 at 3:09 am
I wish Al would realize loyalty is not imposed, it’s given
January 31st, 2008 at 3:13 am
Hobs Gnarly…
Ok so it’s a message, but how does that even work when Kiffin is interviewing them! I mean, do they sit around and just twiddle their thumbs, saying: “Ok I know you’re here for the HC job, so let’s just sit around and play a game of backgammon for the next few hours”.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:32 am
Ok, you know how this may work?
That whole thing of Al stripping Kiffin of every power to make decisions.
Because Lofton is on his staff now.
Meaning, Kiffin’s job is just to HC now, nothing else. He has to work with whomever Al hires for whatever positions he hires in.
Tho, the fact that Kiffin found out from a 3rd party (ie, Chargers man), that Lofton got hired would indicate that there’s no speaking terms between Davis and Kiffin.
To the point where Davis doesn’t even need to tell Kiffin, he can find out in the media for all i care.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:32 am
Why do we even waste our time supporting the soap opera that is the NFL. I heard the other day the statistic on the patriots o-line that have gone So many Plays without an offensive hold, PURE BS!!!! The NFL is the next WWF/WWE! Al Davis is an old hippie that smoked way too much of Mary Jane!!!! KIFFIN resign now theres no shame in quiting while your ahead ; you don’t reason with a 2yr old or 78 year old senile lunatic! The Raiders are a joke within a joke that is the NFL.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:35 am
But….
Then how did Kiffin even know in the first place that Lofton had an appointment to interview with Lane?
Al or someone would’ve had to tell Lane to be there to meet Lofton.
And, apparently towards the back end of the interview, Al arrived and talked with Lofton, chit-chatting and what not.
So Lane and Al would’ve had to be in the same room, talk with each other or something.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:36 am
The defense in retrospect was worst then the Offense .. Same coordinator for 4 yrs returning eleven starters and what do they do they SUCK! LB’s DB’s DT’s all underachieved.. YET AL keeps Ryan!!!!!!!!! please allow me to throw up now!
January 31st, 2008 at 3:39 am
It would’ve had to be a professionally conducted interview. Otherwise Lofton would just run for the hills if it was a situation where Al and Lane in the same room with Lofton are speaking at each other thru Lofton.
AD: So, James, tell Lane why you think Higgins can be a star.
LK: So, James, how about you ask Al how we’ll run a 4 receiver set if he isn’t looking at drafting any WRs.
AD: Well, James, you can tell Lane that I will be drafting a WR.
Etc
January 31st, 2008 at 3:43 am
The NATION in part is at fault!! For supporting mediocrity … Why sit here and say Oh I”m done if Kiffin gets fired .. .The old goat knows even if its all he knows that fans will fill the stadium and watch whatever mediocre product its trout out before them, they have for that past 20 years! Just like all those people that say How bad the paparazzi is and what they do to stars ;Well if no one was buying the mags with the stars pictures in them they wouldn’t have the money to pay the people that take them!
January 31st, 2008 at 3:54 am
I’m not anti-Al. I just think this situation is weird.
Kiffin must’ve really angered Al for him to be acting so hell-bent. It would confirm suspicions that Davis was betrayed by Kiffin expressing interest in NCAA jobs. I still maintain that that’s wrong of Lane no matter how frustrated he may have been. No excuses.
Lane cant complain about level of control when he had people and himself paw over the contract that he signed which gave him control over only the offense.
There must be something really deep at heart here going on driving Davis’ rage. NCAA job-hunting would seem to be it. So, I agree with Al there, that’s just woeful of Lane to do that. I can understand why Davis is doing this — because he refuses maybe under any circumstance to let Kiffin walk away with any $2m payout.
Kiffin doesn’t want to resign obviously because he has no job left to go to, and would be without any money for that year while waiting for another job to open.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:59 am
32 NFL(WWE)HEAD-COACHING JOBS VS. 100′S of Head Coaches college jobs. When 1 of the 32 is looking at hundreds that tells you all you need to know!
January 31st, 2008 at 4:07 am
These must be the STATS that old senile Al is looking at since he cant comprehend much anymore!
Millard joined the team in 2005; Martindale came aboard in ‘04. Neither did anything to boost their résumés in 2007.
Giving direction to the seven guys up front for the Raider ‘D’, Millard and Martindale built a unit that gave up 145.9 rushing yards against each game (31st in the NFL), let in 10 100-plus yard rushers, and allowed a league-worst 4.8 yards per carry and 24 rushing TDs.
Perry, responsible for all the other players on the field (the defensive backs), headed up a unit that wasn’t too bad on paper, but not so good at second glance. The Raiders ranked eighth in yardage against the pass, but they were thrown at just 27.4 times per game. Only the Miami Dolphins were thrown at fewer times each game; not surprisingly, they ranked fourth against the pass.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:13 am
Why should he resign? He is due that money, would you walk away from millions?
People in defense of Al keep saying if you worked as a cashier at 7/11 and you start making changes that affect the whole organization your boss would put you in your place so why is it any different to assume that looking for other opportunities while employed doesn’t exist ? Loyalty left along time ago. People don’t retire with gold watches and pensions anymore, for one the enrons of the world proved that. Sorry that is the way it is. IF the fact that it appears Al is petty enough to do this, then it isn’t that hard to believe that Al is just taking the money and running.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:18 am
Native, it looks like those are loyal employees of Al Davis. Loyalty while a nice thought has no bearings in running anthing where expertise is needed. I am sure they are nice guys though.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:29 am
How pathetic Al, if you want to fire the guy just fire him and take your $4 million lump. You hired him and then refused to support him for whatever twisted reasons your little, egotistical, narcissistic mind could come up with, so pay the price and hire your next victim, I mean coach.
Raider Nation patiently, and eagerly, awaits your departure from the Raiders.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:36 am
“There must be something really deep at heart here going on driving Davis’ rage. NCAA job-hunting would seem to be it. So, I agree with Al there, that’s just woeful of Lane to do that. I can understand why Davis is doing this — because he refuses maybe under any circumstance to let Kiffin walk away with any $2m payout.”
I agree GG! I want Kiffin to stay but… once you sign, you gotta stick it out! Don’t be looking for another job! I hope the buyout rumor isn’t true!
January 31st, 2008 at 4:44 am
IT must be that Davis really loved Gruden
January 31st, 2008 at 4:45 am
The only reason Kiffin was out job hunting is because Al Davis makes it impossible to coach in Oakland…can’t you see that? If you want loyalty you have to make the environment less poisonous for the coach. If Al Davis allowed his coaches to do their job they wouldn’t want to jump ship.
Blame Kiffin if you want, but ultimately this is on Al Davis. Only he can render one of the most sought after jobs in the world undesirable.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:54 am
Hobs Gnarly…
It’s not the same as a 7/11 cashier situation.
I defy anyone to show me a HC who still in his contract years quit on the team and was considered to be excused or excusable.
Names like Saban and Petrino pop up and they’re pounded from pillar to post about their treachery.
No difference here except some vile anti-Al campaign.
Kiffin In?….
I agree, dude. Ideally none of this ever happened and we had a stable 3-5 years of Kiffin-Davis. But Kiffin did something bad to really enrage Davis.
Bottom-line tho, cannot support/excuse a quitter. Under any circumstance.
This isn’t just some weird Davis-loyalty issue, it’s basic human skills that you do not betray your comrades, pout, and flee under adversity.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:57 am
Dakota…
Wrong. It’s not excusable. None of you excuse Moss for quitting for the same reason. Except if your name is Jemelle Hill.
What’s happening here is everyone ‘fell in love’ with Kid Kiffin and don’t want to face the reality he’s a quitter and a pouting hypocrite, but would rather relentlessly bash the very man who has bled Silver and Black for 40 years. Where are your true loyalties? To Al or to some kid from ncaa who bled Silver/Black for about 8 months before he pouted and wanted to abandon us all?
January 31st, 2008 at 4:59 am
There was no news from players unless I missed it that Kiffin was distracted from getting his team ready to play while rumors floated. as I seen it he went about doing his job! It was more what he was doing with less then he looking at college jobs. Al sucks and is killing the team!
January 31st, 2008 at 5:02 am
GG well for 20+ years(+/- 3 for Grudens years) The Raiders have SUCKED!!!!!!! Everything has a Beginning Middle and END! Al is way way way over the end part but still wants to be in the middle!
January 31st, 2008 at 5:04 am
Where is it that Kiffin quit on the team????????????
Oh but that’s rite Kiffin was the one who didn’t want to pay JRuss and teach him a lesson. GB and JAX have way more talent and the D sucks so what did you expect???
January 31st, 2008 at 5:08 am
Sorry GG,
You keep on toeing the company line. Al Davis needs sheep like you to keep his little empire going. He has you fooled, but anyone with half a brain is capable of looking at the big picture over the past 24 years and seeing the true root of the problem; Al Davis. Davis prefers patsy coaches like Shell, White, Bugle, and Turner and he fires coaches that have a little self-respect, like Shanahan, Gruden and Kiffin.
My loyalties are to the Raiders, not Al Davis (please don ‘t come back with the third grade argument that Al Davis IS the Raiders).
There are only two ways that can make someone take Al Davis’ side on this issue and they are; 1. you are employed in the Raider PR department, or 2. you have a low IQ.
Into which category do you fall?
January 31st, 2008 at 5:09 am
Of course it’s not the same as 7/11, I merely pointed out the fact that some people claim that Kiffin trying to fire Ryan was akin to a peon trying to make changes at the top. Kiff grew up around coaches, in the NFL in particular. You don’t think he assumed that a HC has the authority to make changes to his staff?
Everyone has an eye to a better opportunity, it’s called watching out for yourself, it has nothing to do with quitting because in the end he didn’ and we can only speculate if he had been offered the job at Ark what he would have done. The main issue here is the Raiders and the constant destabilization the organization is taking at the hands of the owner, what is he trying to do? You can at the end of the day say hey, kiff did something bad but what is your excuse to the other 3 coaches Davis has fired in the past five years? No team can win with that and I don’t think Davis is trying to.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:12 am
Dakota I don’t think that was necessary, there is always two sides to an issue, but that was just rude to gg
January 31st, 2008 at 5:14 am
Poor GG. Maybe he really does work for the Raiders.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:16 am
This damn blog is consuming me. I spent the whole day yesterday on it and am doing it again. Every few minutes checking back to see what new or news.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:16 am
I suspect more than a few of them do
January 31st, 2008 at 5:17 am
i’m still all for the raiders, but i’m becoming anti-al… not sure that you can have it both ways, but i’m all for a change of management and a change of philosophy - one more aligned to the other 95% teams in this league, where coaches are hired to coach - end of story.. hate this micro-management / power-tripping style of management. Al - you belong in the HOF - don’t tarnish your legacy further by continuing these antics… they are embarrassing.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:17 am
I think maddenraider was an ex employee. that man (i think) has bitter issues with al
January 31st, 2008 at 5:18 am
Like I said Al burned his NFL legacy long ago, he is now burning down his legacy in Raider Nation.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:22 am
Hey Hobs, I am giving them (Al Davis sheep) the bennefit of the doubt, maybe they really do work for the Raiders. But, I think it is a well know fact that IQs in this nation are dropping…
January 31st, 2008 at 5:25 am
Hobs Gnarly, thanks for getting my back there. Very nice of you. And I apologize if I sounded harsh when I said that thing about the 7/11.
And Dakota, that’s just silly what you wrote, lol.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:25 am
it’s dropping and not just the Raider Nation. No questioning authority anymore, move along folks nothing to see here mentality
January 31st, 2008 at 5:26 am
GG not a problem, we are passionate people in the nation, have to be to put up with the goings on
January 31st, 2008 at 5:29 am
Baaaaa. Al can do no wrong. Baaaaa. Ignore the facts. Baaaaa. Greatness of the Raiders. Baaaaaaaaa. Commitment to excellence. Baaaaaa. Just win baby. Baaaaa.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:29 am
It’s silly because there ARE other opinions and perceptions out there than the “hate al” stance.
Kiffin quit on the team by looking for NCAA jobs.
That’s already been well established, by sources out there. But for some reason, the media has taken to the “anti-al” drum, which way too many seem to be marching to unfairly.
Everyone acknowledges Al made mistakes and makes mistakes. That he has character flaws, etc. But he’s the heart and soul of this franchise and I can still be respectful and appreciative of all he’s done for the Raiders (good AND bad) without being a sheep or employee.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:30 am
i gotta go. hopefully when I check in next it’s not total chaos and bad news. You know Kiff made mistakes and he is learning. Pete Carrol though enough of him to let Chow go, he’s an up and comer. Al has to realize he can’t force loyalty by acting the way he is reporting to. Just like the players don’t have loyalty anymore, they are swayed by the highest bidders. Treat someone right and value them and they will give you all the loyalty in the world, something Al has done for people in the past, just not his head coaches.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:33 am
Al bashing seems to be the new sport these days…
who can say the most clever thing to convey the singular thought that Al Davis is not your favorite owner…
and the history of the team seems to change as well…
al davis not producing a winner for 24 years i saw earlier…
the writer of that may not even be 24 years old…
Al Davis is the majority owner of the franchise… not the general manager, not the head coach, not some management official…
the owner.
his team.
his business.
his company.
and i, personally, do not believe he is doing anything less than making every effort to turn the Raiders back into the winners they once were…
and that time was 5 years ago… not 24…
January 31st, 2008 at 5:33 am
GG he is close to losing all that within the nation itself, he has to wake up.
I said last night, Al’s people did him a great disservice. they let Kiffin get ahead of this story and paid for it, all the loyalty in the world can’t make up for people not on top of things. This story broke for Kiffin because of his fast action, Al was not on top of it, nor were his people.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:35 am
Pete, it’s obvious that Gruden was more responsible for the winning five years ago then Al was.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:35 am
Gruden and Bruce Allen
January 31st, 2008 at 5:35 am
The thing is, we ALL want the Raiders to be good and to win playoffs and Superbowls.
The Kiffin sheep and the Al sheep.
But you know what? There is only one Raiders with or without Lane.
Al’s legacy means he’s forever a part of this team. They’ll have AD stamped on the sleeve of the jersey when he’s passed away, they wont have LK.
Keep that in mind.
Kiffin can stay for 10 years and take us to Superbowls, great.
But that hasn’t happened yet, and may never happen. So no point trying to pretend Kiffin is already a Raider Hall of Famer.
Above all, we’re Raider fans, so all this anti-Al nonsense is very reminiscent of Raider Hating.
Have you seen those Raider Hating websites and youtube videos? That’s what this pro-Kiffin thing is doing.
You’re all turning your backs on Al, and in many ways, the Raiders in the process.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:37 am
GG, believe me, I know there are a lot of Al supporters out there…silliness is the only way to deal with that fact. I’ve tried rationalizing with them, but they put their wool covered hands to their ears and ignore me…but I feel obligated to try and spread the truth.
Ask yourself; Why is Kiffin looking into other jobs? The answer to the Raiders’ problems can be found with the answer to that question.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:38 am
Whose to say that in 30 years Al is just a colorful past of the Raiders? The way he is going, much of nation is waiting for that
January 31st, 2008 at 5:38 am
Hey, Hobs Gnarly, I’ll look out for your posts on this site or wherever (make yourself known to me). Stay well till I chat with you again.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:39 am
No, no gg don’t question anyones Raider committment.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:41 am
Dakota,
I think you’ll find that most Al supporters are not blind to his flaws or the problems in the Raiders. It’s really unfair to tar us all with the same brush as sheep etc.
Try looking at it from our/their perspective. Because what you’ll find is that WE/THEY do look at things from both perspectives.
We’re more diplomatic than those who hate Al.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:41 am
Okay GG have a good one
Dakota- I mean Darren see ya
January 31st, 2008 at 5:47 am
My Miami Dolphin thing is starting to work! This morning I checked the Dolphin sports sections first. I am starting to get excited about the rebuilding by the Tuna. I am starting to learn who is playing where, who is getting a little old, and who will probably be drafted. With the Miami channels on the satellite I will be getting all the games. When I would start to get excited about something like the draft, my mind would always finally admit that there was a dark presence. A goofy, senile, old f&^%#er would probably screw it up somehow. He won’t change; old people just get more and more stubborn. I am writing only for the benefit of those who feel like I did, that you are trapped, with nowhere to go. With the technology you can go along with something exciting like the Tuna rebuilding the phish. Finally something exciting again.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:47 am
Davis is completely unfamiliar with modern management philosophies and techniques. I am a die-hard Oakland fan on the East Coast and am considering withdrawing considerably. It’s just not worth the emotional investment.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:48 am
GG,
Being diplomatic is admirable. Good for you.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:51 am
The United Nations are diplomatic too, and they may be the only organization in the world that is more dysfunctional than the Raiders.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:52 am
MacDONALD let it go A LOT OF OWNERS IN THE LEAGUE make THEIR HEAD COACHES HIRE ASST. COACHES THAT THE OWNER or GM WANTS ON THE STAFF andc the HEAD COACH DOESN’T. AND WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT AL is the GM and OWNER, just like SNYDER in WASHINGTON, JONES in DALLAS, YORK in SF
January 31st, 2008 at 5:53 am
i think Kiffin was handicapped when he took this job…
i think he handicapped himself…
i think he is nothing more than a resume padding opportunist…
i think he saw this HC position as nothing more than a billboard onto which he can post his resume…
4-12… and from what i saw Davis allowed the kid to overhaul the offense, coaching staff included…
4-12… and the kid thinks he should be able to run things his way with all of his, let’s see, 0 years HC experience…
4-12… now the kid has 90% of the Raiders fans ready to throw the owner under the bus…
4-12… i think the kid needs a little more OJT before we hand over the keys to the kingdom…
there’s a difference between commanding an army and running a country…
January 31st, 2008 at 5:54 am
Thanks, Dakota.
I ain’t trying to preach, but more like express dismay at the fans taking the attitude they’re taking…which is like what a Charger fan would say of our Al, our team.
Look at what Belchos said about being ready to jump to the Dolphins. Imo, go. All the people who jumped on the Raider wagon years ago when we were successful, are showing themselves up as quitters now in our time of crisis.
The Browns have been a shambles for 50 years, yet their fanbase is strong and loyal, tough to adversity. If fans want to jump off the Raiders, be my guest. And I know we’ll see you again down the track jumping back on the Raiders wagon when we’re good again.
I just dont think that’s cool, is all.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:02 am
Sorry, I thought I left. GG, the Browns organization left them for many years and only recently returned to them. Just food for thought.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:02 am
CorpRaiderNYC said the following thing…
“I am a die-hard Oakland fan on the East Coast and am considering withdrawing considerably. It’s just not worth the emotional investment.”
Notice the contradiction, the falseness? DIE-HARD yet ready to withdraw. Lol. Go be a Giants fan after they win the Superbowl.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:02 am
Bashing Al Davis on this issue does not necessarily mean that you think Kiffin is the end all be all answer to the Raiders’ problems. Kiffin simply symbolizes Al Davis’ propensity to crush our hopes. Kiffin gave a lot of us hope for the future by putting a competitive team on the field for the first time in a long time. We grasped on to that ray of hope because it was the first ray of hope in 4 years. Now Al Davis is throwing him out on his butt and we have to sit back and watch as we go through another impotent coaching search. It is bizarre and sickening.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:06 am
Anyone watch the ‘07 Jim Rome interview w/Kirk Morrison? Morrison was asked what he thought about the Kiffin/college rumors. I was annoyed at that question cause it seemed to validate the rumors & I didn’t want it to be true. Nope, I don’t think Kiff was distracted. But those rumors sent a bad message to the team. Another rook Kiffin mistake.
I would love to see Kiff get an ext & more control of the team. Let him be for the next 3 years w/no meddling from Al. Let’s see what The Kid can do.
Btw, Denny Green’s son was on ESPN radio Tuesday night. I think he works for ESPN or NFL network. They interviewed him about Superbowl media day & at the end asked him about the Raiders job. It didn’t sound like Al offered Denny the job.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:07 am
What ever drug the raider organazation is currently on, please tell them to share !
January 31st, 2008 at 6:08 am
If Dennis Green becomes our coach there may be a lot of Raider fans jumping off cliffs world-wide.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:11 am
Al Davis is an embarrassment to himself and the Raiders. I am ashamed to call myself a Raider fan these days and will not spend another dime on merchandise or game tickets until Al is gone. This is just the most ridiculous thing I have seen in all of professional sports.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:14 am
I would rather have Jim Fassel, Marty Shottenheimer, Dan Reeves or even Brian Billick over Dennis Green. I would rather have Bill Callahan or Norv Turner over Dennis Green. I would rather have Mike Tice over Dennis Green.
ANYONE BUT DENNIS GREEN!
Let McFadden coach.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:19 am
Dakota…
First up, Kiffin may seem a ray of light, but he also showed how bad a HC he is all year with the full control of staff, personnel and play-calling he had on offense. He really did perform atrociously and I wont run all the examples here. Sure, he may learn and be good, but I’d be prepared to bet my cojones that you’d all turn on him next year if he continued to perform miserably. The thing is, Davis was WILLING to keep him around long-term if he didn’t go and sneak around and betray Davis and the team.
As for Dennis Green, he is a great guy and a great coach. His record speaks for itself. He has far more football and life experience not to be sneezed at. Doesnt mean he could be successful here, but he’s not at all “jumping the cliff” worthy.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:25 am
Does Mr. Green go by “Dennis” or “Denny”?. He sucked in Arizona. I like that coach at Stanford, Jim Harbaugh. He seems like a rah, rah loyal guy. That was a sweet upset against USC. Please Al,keep Kiffin!
January 31st, 2008 at 6:28 am
GG,
I have criticized Kiffin for some of those things as well (playing McClown over DC or AW, and not kicking the FG against SD in the last game of the year) , but you have to remember what he walked into when he came to the Raiders. He took control of quite possibly the worst offense in NFL history and he made major strides towards fixing those problems in his first year. If you can’t see that Al Davis really was your wool pulled over your eyes.
By the way, keep your “cojones”, of course we would turn on Kiffin if we didn’t make progress next year. That is the nature of sports.
I guess I just know a lot of Viqueens fans here in South Dakota, and they collectively think Dennis Green is a poor coach…
January 31st, 2008 at 6:34 am
The Lofton hiring is further proof that all hope is lost. Davis is a buffoon who belongs in an assisted living facility. It’s like George Costanza’s father is running the Raiders. Incidentally, I’ve always thought that Lofton, of all people, is symbolic of the Raiders’ failings over the last 25 years. He was one of the best receivers in the league while in Green Bay and was a key player on one of the best offenses ever in Buffalo. But in between, while with the Raiders, he hardly did a thing. Amazing stat: In 1988, he started 16 games for the Raiders and scored 0 touchdowns. (I’m blaming the Raiders’ general ineptness, not Lofton. Schroeder and Beuerlein split time at QB that year.)
January 31st, 2008 at 6:36 am
Yeah,I also wanted see AW play couple games this past season. Not sure why Kiffin was so stubborn on that. It didn’t make any sense to me.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:41 am
Jim Harbaugh would be my pick for a real possible long-term HC for the Raiders. Someone that Al tried to get out of Kiffin. Obviously, it would be better to have Harbaugh, a young guy here to work for 10 years, rather than a Green or similar older coach, here just for 2 or 3 years before moving on. But Green is a damn fine coach and guy. You can’t isolate the one year in Arizona as a definitive judgment of Green. Obviously, the players play a large part in making a coach great or mediocre, but Green is good regardless. He’d probably have it tough here like in Arizona, but he’s a good coach and he’d get the most out of Russell, and the rest of the players. And he’d make great post-game press conferences.
The same can obviously said of Kiffin too, about cant judge him on one year, and the players make the coach etc. But there’s no reason either to be so hung-up on Kiffin if he is a lame duck coach now. Which he is. Either way, he tried to leave mid-season 07, and chances are he’ll leave 08. Whatever happened happened already. Time to move on now.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:44 am
DAVIS IS COO-KOO FOR COCOA PUFFS…….
January 31st, 2008 at 6:53 am
The conspiracy is on and Al interviews and hires Lofton after a secret meeting. Evil Al says, “James 3rd time is a charm… C’mon over to the Dark Side. I’ll hire you as a receivers coach. That will really P off Kiff. I will torture him daily into submission and when he can’t take any more he will resign. When he resigns you will be appointed as the head coach. I will give you no control and I will be your puppet master. You will be my next fall guy just like Art. I will fire you after one year, but you will you will cash in on the remaining years of your contract. Think of it as a early retirement package”.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:55 am
I gotta go, but I’ll check back in later….read, reply.
My parting message is — play nice!
January 31st, 2008 at 6:56 am
Hey, Al!
I know people call you paranoid, unstable, and that you’re sabotaging your young coach’s chances of success by leaving him in the closet on personnel decisions — but isn’t that what the BLACK HOLE is all about.
You’re just keeping with tradition and I’m all for it.
Don’t change a thing. This all sounds cruel but when you return to L.A. to prove to the NFL that you didn’t fail in Hollywood, your fan base in San Diego will have a nearby home to plunder. And this is a favor to us and our respectable fans.
Anyway, keep up the good work up there!
L.T.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:57 am
MaddenRaider…
I humbly and publically apologize for doubting your wisdom.
I will no longer mess with you about speculation because it appears as though you are right.
My Bad Dude.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:58 am
publicly… LOL! Up all night for a test…
January 31st, 2008 at 6:58 am
just got to work and read this article. Again with not naming sources. For all we know Kiffin told Davis if we can get him hire him and this third party is not a big deal. Until i see letters, official Raider press releases or names to go with these so called insiders I am not believing any of it.
Ive always and will continue to be in till death and beyond FOREVER A RAIDER
January 31st, 2008 at 7:04 am
GG Says:
January 31st, 2008 at 6:02 am
CorpRaiderNYC said the following thing…
“I am a die-hard Oakland fan on the East Coast and am considering withdrawing considerably. It’s just not worth the emotional investment.”
Notice the contradiction, the falseness? DIE-HARD yet ready to withdraw. Lol. Go be a Giants fan after they win the Superbowl.
——–
GG -
I think you are mistaken by the definition of die-hard. To be die-hard simply means to strongly resist change or to be strongly devoted to something - NOT ABSOLUTLEY! Therefore, the basis of your contradiction claim is in question. I have “strongly” resisted the urge to temper my emotions and expectations of the Raiders over the last 4+ pathetic seasons.
This past season had me feeling as positive as ever since the super-bowl season. However, once all of the turmoil began in the off-season, it strengthened my opinion that until the Raiders organization can operate on a plane parallel to that of the other “model” organizations, it’s just not worth my emotional investment.
I don’t know about everyone else on this board, but my free time outside of work is very limited so I tend to value it more. If I’m not getting the appropriate return on my time/emotion spent, then I’m going to consider spending my time elsewhere (this does not mean on other teams) until it is worth spending on the Raiders again.
That’s all.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:13 am
you people are wack jobs,THERES NO DRAMA HERE EXEPT WHAT THE PROSTITUTES <ER<I MEAN THE RUMOR MONGER’S IN THE MEDIA ARE DRUMMING UP.let me explain this,ryan and kiffin are both under contract,ryan for 08 and kiffin through 09.now on to the lofton hiring,anyone who didnt see this hire going through is a complete moron,kiffin interviews lofton for about 5 hrs. al isnt around,after the interview al ask lane what he thinks{not that he cares in the least what anybody thinks,he’s already made up his mind and kiffin know’s this} so after his cocoa and noon nap al wakes up and grabs the first phone he finds and calls loftons agent and tells him lofton can quit looking for a job,he has one with the raiders if he wants it,then al finds the first flunkee office boy he sees{who wants to remain annonymous of course}and tells him to get ahold of kiffin and tell him that loftons been added to the coaching staff,oh after you talk to kiffin make sure you get ahold of the rumor mongers and tell them that it was davis who hired lofton and not kiffin{and by the way remain annonymous}.now like i said before kiffin and ryan are under contract,we already know kiffin aint goin to leave the 4 million al owes him on the table and quit,we all know now that al aint goin to fire ryan,so they’re stuck with each other for 08 anyway.after 08 it will get real good,lofton will have been there a year,the 4 mil. i mentioned earlier will have shrunk to about 2.3 mil and ryan’s contract will be up,so as far fireworks go this offseason nothing compared to what next offseason will bring,so raidernation stay tuned it’s gonna get better,if thats possible.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:16 am
hobs gnarly nails a point above regarding loyalty, and how it’s an earned commodity. loyalty and respect are the same concept, you earn them, and it’s a two way street. big al expects loyalty while he stands there and pees on your leg. here’s what i don’t get about the davis and rob ryan appologists. neither one has proven in the past few seasons that their methods produce results. in competitive businesses, there’s accountability. which is not to say that they didn’t work in the past, but it’s a “what have you done for me lately?” business.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:16 am
I know this comment is asking for a firestorm of criticism but here goes. First, I like Lane Kiffin. Ithink he is the right guy to lead the Raiders at this time and dies have the team going in the right direction.I think Al Davis is making a huge mistake if all the rumors are true as to the Kiffin/Davis “rift”. Having established my fellings, I would offer this: KIffin is not completely innocent. Davis made him the youngest HC in NFL history, gave him more control than any HC since Gruden. Expecting Kiffin to lead the rebuilding process, which he has. But,then Lane’s hand picked personnel guy Mark Jackson botches the Russell negotiations.As the season goes on Kiffin can’t seem to make a decision on a starting QB,(McCown or Culpepper it doesn’t matter your preference) resulting in the offensive team approaching almost every contest unsure who their leader was.Not good for anybody.Not conducive to winning.Players couldn’t have been thrilled so you know Al wasn’t. Make a decision on a QB and stick with it. Russell never sees any playing time until near the end of the season. And after it is well established that the team had no chance of making the playoffs,Kiffin still doesn’t take a look at Russell and get him some experience instead preferring to play Mccown. Al definitely wasn’t happy about that.The Raiders still aren’t winning and Russell still doesn’t get the playing time he needs, yet Davis doesn’t override Kiffin.I don’t think Al believed Oakland would make the playoffs, but would try to start developing Russell.So,In Nov. in the midst of the QB situation,we get rumors that Lane Kiffin is interested in the coaching vacancy at Arkansas.And would like to return coaching at the college level.Nobody seems to know how much truth there was to the rumors to this day. So, obviously, Al Davis is disturbed and would be looking for some rock solid assurance from Kiffin that these rumors were totally false.We know this after the Gruden/Notre Dame issue. It never came. Kiffin never dismissed the rumors to ANYONE’S satisfaction, let alone the notoriously paranoid Al Davis’.And that was the cardinal sin.He needed to KILL that rumor and he did not.Al respects loyalty above all else.So, I am not defending Davis and the way he is handling the situation, it is completely out of line. But Kiffin screwed up. He had to have some idea of what Al Davis is like. And that the issues I mentioned would do nothing but piss Al Davis off. And they did.If you know how Al is, don’t go out of your way to engage in things that will turn him against you, while doing nothing to help your team or further your career.The things I mentioned helped no one. Russell still needs experience,they didn’t produce wins, and Lane didn’t get offered the AR job (if he was really interested)Al is paranoid,he needs a GM,and is past his prime but Kiffin knew these things when he took the job and could’ve avoided a lot of this very easily.Al deserves a lot of blame, but I guarantee the Arkanas thing has been the major factor.True or not, Al believed there was some truth.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:19 am
Figure this loften thing out..Loften “hated” it here when he played as a Faider. Now he is a loser as an assistant. So you keep bringing in these losers to become a head coach ?? Thus is the further ways of the Faiders becoming fader………….
Just Sell Baby, and so it is !!
January 31st, 2008 at 7:23 am
This source could be a janitor for all we know and the third source outside the Raider org. could be Loftens agent and the media says “third source” to start this all over again becaouse it was dieing down.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:26 am
Does it surprise anyone? He is the laughing stock of all professional sports and he is never going to change. He continues to deflate the financial value of the team at an exponential rate. Nothing is going to change this short of the Raider Nation taking up pitchforks.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:28 am
Alvin Davis says “you must be loyal to me”, “but I will not be loyal to you”
Just Sell Baby……..And so it is !!
January 31st, 2008 at 7:58 am
The Greatness of the Raidas is in its PAST…
January 31st, 2008 at 7:58 am
W0-Hooo! Sam Williams Resigned.
http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/21134.html
Sam Williams is on the “James Jett Scholorship Program”
Past recipients include:
Tyler Brayon
Stuart Schweigert
Ricky Dudley
Barry Sims
Anthony Dorsett
Marquez Pope
January 31st, 2008 at 8:07 am
I’ll say this… as disturbed as all the info/rumor/whatever is… as a Manager myself… with a gm above me… in a family run business… it’s my job to do with what is given to me… as long as I’m properly compensated…and have freedoms to at the very least expand on our working ideals… honestly people…what more do you “want” vs “need”. At this as at every point in our fanatic existence… what difference does it make? If you’re truly giving up support…then abandon it as a whole… it’s one thing to not like something/someone… it’s yet another thing to do so in a manner in which you try to enforce your own dislike on others… I’m not happy with the info … but I’m still the fan.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:13 am
So I wake up this morning, and not only is the nightmare still continuing, it’s gotten worse.
Whether you’re an “Al-Davis-is-god-anybody-who-says-otherwise-is-not-a-fan,” or an “Al-Davis-is-senile-and-reads-the-crap-in-his-depends-like-tea-leaves-and-makes-decisions-that-way,” one thing is for sure:
This organization is in trouble. And it’s embarrasing. There are more than two sides to this story. This story seems to have 4 or even 6 sides.
It makes me sad.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:13 am
There’s only one way to end this nonsense and that is for the fans to stop buying tickets! Money talks! Boycott the team until Davis retires and keeps away.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:17 am
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RE: Raiders Announce Hiring of George Tenent
The Oakland Raiders are pleased to announce the hiring of former CIA Director George Tenent as the new Human Resource Director for the Oakland Raiders.
Alameda, California, January 31, 2008—The Oakland Raiders are pleased
to announce the hiring of George Tenet as Human Resource Director. In his new role, Tenet will be supporting the organization by utilizing the newest and most well established human resource techniques know to the field. He will provide the Oakland Raiders with the ability to streamline the hiring and firing of the Raiders’ coaching staff.
Prior to joining the Raiders, Tenet completed his on the job training in human resource management in his capacity of Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Tenet has at his disposal a plethora of techniques learned in the CIA to help deal with personnel issues within the Raiders’ organization. In his past work Tenet has successfully employed waterboarding, sensory deprivation, starvation and thirst, humiliation, forced standing, sleep deprivation, sweatboxes and other cutting edge human resource techniques that he shall easily implement in his new position with the Raiders.
“I am proud to announce that the Raider family has a new member, George Tenet. George embodies all of the characteristics I look for when bringing in a new member to our organization; Loyalty, devotion, faithfulness, fidelity, sycophancy and a commitment to excellence. I will enjoy observing George implement many of his techniques on some of the less loyal members of our coaching staff in the upcoming days and weeks. I am sure his methods will produce results soon so that we can move on towards bringing back the greatness of the Raiders.” says Al Davis, President, and Managing General Partner of the Oakland Raiders.
For more information please contact:
Amy Trask, CEO
The Oakland Raiders
1220 Harbor BayParkway
Alameda, CA94502
510.864.5000
ikissthering@raiders.com
January 31st, 2008 at 8:19 am
The moderator obviously works for the Raiders.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:19 am
You don’t buy tickets and the games get blacked out. No TV! No Raiders
January 31st, 2008 at 8:26 am
There are 31 other teams, if you were a Raider fan of any experience you know Al Davis’ MO. Take off and root for another team.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:27 am
Can a orginization be more inept and disfunctional than the one run by al davis, i hope the league steps in and saves us from mr burns.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:27 am
Time for the old fool to sell. Raider sayings for the 21st century:
Committment to Excrement
Just lose, baby!
January 31st, 2008 at 8:28 am
DO NOT RESIGN, Lane. Stand your ground like a man. Davis looks just like the incompetent owner that he has become. And no one with any integrity wants any part of him and his mess for he lacks character, as has been clearly shown. Skip the Raiders.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:28 am
Maybe we should have a rally in front of HQ in Alameda, demanding an end to all of this retardedness. Just like with the govt, it probably won’t affect much change, but it might make us feel better.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:31 am
Killing us softly….Slowly….Painfully
January 31st, 2008 at 8:32 am
Obviously, moderation is more strict these days on this blog, so I will play fair.
I really have no respect for Al these days. I firmly believe that a large measure of his success in the past with the Raiders was because of other people he hired. I think the success that other people enjoyed under his name sort of relegated him to the background. I think Al being irrelevant in the public’s eye scares him more than losing. IMO, that is why he apparently seems so indifferent to the apparent dysfunction with the _entire_ organization right now. He simply can’t stand to have someone other than himself appear to be the reason for the team’s success. Crippling ego is the root of it all.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:35 am
RaiderTW….I agree it isn’t like if you are a Raider fan that AD and his ways are a surprise in any way.
Of course we are all tired of the drama but hey if any want to root for another team…go for it.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:36 am
Ask yourself why would Mr. Davis have Coach Kiffin cnduct the interview for Lofton and then maliciously exclude him from the hiring process?
Kiffin obviously knew that Lofton WOULD be hired, he just wasn’t part of the negotiating process in terms of an offer.
But of course Jerry wants everybody to think that Lofton was hired against to spite Kiffin instead of Kiffin giving Lofton his endorsement and letting the process go from there.
Did Kiffin say he didn’t want Lofton or that he disagreed with the hire. What is wrong with Kiffin not actually knowing if Lofton excepted the offer until later. As long as HE wants him aboard that’s all that matters. If HE DOESN”T want Lofton THEN I have a problem with it.
So we’ll find out later if Lofton was really dropped on Kiffin as Jerry suggest.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:37 am
I just got moderated…sorry for the RIP part, but I am just sick and tired of the Raiders being the only JV team in the NFL. There are so many in the Raiders management that would not find another job in the NFL. Al hires them to say “yes Mr. Davis”. This once proud and productive franchise is clearly the worst in sports. It is bad when even a Donkey fan tells me he feels bad for us fans that remain loyal to this team.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:39 am
Good post 128. I AM IN. I WILL NEVER BE OUT. i will continue to watch them on tv. I will fly out to my 1 or more games a year and have a great time every time. See you in the fall.
FOREVER A RAIDER!
January 31st, 2008 at 8:43 am
We have to get with a Radio Station to start a campaign to have them start airing a time and date to rally outside of Faiders Headquarters to tell Alvin The Chipmunk Davis to sell or step down……….
Is there such a station in Oakland that will do this, and not have Al Davis pull their game passes ??
Just Sell Baby…………And so it is !!
January 31st, 2008 at 8:43 am
I always wondered if any Staff from the Raiders ever took a peak at some of the message boards online.
If anyone from that dysfunctional group has seen the Raider Nation’s respone to this latest debacle, they must not be happy.
My guess is though, they really don’t care - Al, Trask and the rest could care less about the fans.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:43 am
Florida Pete,
regarding post # 89
Florida Pete Says:
January 31st, 2008 at 5:53 am
i think Kiffin was handicapped when he took this job…
i think he handicapped himself…
i think he is nothing more than a resume padding opportunist…
i think he saw this HC position as nothing more than a billboard onto which he can post his resume…
4-12… and from what i saw Davis allowed the kid to overhaul the offense, coaching staff included…
4-12… and the kid thinks he should be able to run things his way with all of his, let’s see, 0 years HC experience…
4-12… now the kid has 90% of the Raiders fans ready to throw the owner under the bus…
4-12… i think the kid needs a little more OJT before we hand over the keys to the kingdom…
there’s a difference between commanding an army and running a country…
You said it in this post
4-12 and 90% of Raider fans are ready to throw Davis under the bus…
If you didn’t know the score of any of the games……and you were to watch the product on the field….
Kiffin’s Raider’s actually look like an NFL Team.
Al Davis’ Raiders are a joke
We didn’t just wake up one day and Al Davis suddenly became a joke…this has been happening shortly after the Tom Flores years. A slow and steady decengt into madness…take out the Gruden years and Kiffins 1st year….we have been an embarrassment!!!
plain and simple.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:44 am
Ironic isn’t it? Al Davis insists on the highest standards of loyalty when it comes to the people in the organization, but shows he has not an ounce of loyalty to people doing his work at the very moment he perceives things not going his way.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:44 am
BHP, you’re a voice of reason, as usual.
But I also have to ask myself why Jerry would want us to think that. There is some serious disfunction going on if people from within the organization are contacting journalists to plant these stories. Jerry’s deduction is perfectly reasonable based on the information he was given.
I believe your post from the other day, the one you were nervous about making. But someone’s talking out of class.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:46 am
When the 2008 season starts, and if Lane is in the sideline, will Al, the Raiders and Coliseum security keep people from displaying “KEEP KIFFIN COACHING” banners around the stadium?
FANS need to speak up!!!!!!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 8:47 am
BHP….I would think that since Kiffin interviewed Lofton he made a recommendation to AD one way or another and if he wanted Lofton on his staff he HAD to have an idea it was going to happen.If Kiffin didn’t want Lofton it could be a different story but we really don’t know as Jerry’s source as far as I see in the story didn’t say Kiffin didn’t want Lofton.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:48 am
Hmm, another “unamed” source. You’re getting as bad as the other mediots Jerry.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:49 am
A sanitized version…Al Davis is a joke and has run off more fans and quality coaches than his fair share. Including the Gruden years since the 1983 superbowl win, the Oakland Davis’ are 189 W’s - 210 L’s. Get that Al Davis lovers…25 years of being 21 games UNDER 500. How pathetic do you have to be. The 1 consistent is Mr. Burns.
When will the blind nation awaken and rise up through mass protest to the NFL?
January 31st, 2008 at 8:54 am
“Caint ya just die, Al?”
January 31st, 2008 at 8:57 am
Jerry’s job is to keep you guy’s hitting this board and make money for his company and himself.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:59 am
“Loyalty is huge with Davis.”
You guys are shitting on Davis, but it was Lane in the rumor mill first! It appears Davis is treating him like a snitch, Kiffen drew first blood, Davis is just not forgiving him.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:59 am
DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE JERRY MACS SOURCE IS BOGUS!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:00 am
There’s a theory that Kiffin’s people are spreading false stories just so the media slings mud at Al.
Eg, Kiffin did interview Lofton, Kiffin did hire Lofton, for WR coach, then tells a person or two to tell a story as this “out of loop” story.
Not saying I buy it, but it makes sense in context of the underlying contradiction here that Kiffin could interview someone and be “surprised” (jerry’s words) that Lofton is on his staff.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:01 am
And as a lot have already said, just ANOTHER un-known source.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:01 am
Someone said there’s a sucker born every minute I say it’s 100x more than that. You guy’shate Mr. Davis and he and everyone else know it and they use it to their advantage. So what if it hurts the Org. as long as they get what they want. You can turn Jerry’s comments into a lot of things.
But yoou guy’s are a horde of angry fans and they use you. I would to if I had their agenda.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:02 am
Much love to all who have Al’s back! I ride with the Raider family.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:06 am
Jeez, this is getting asinine. I wish I could just go to sleep and ignore all the BS coming out of Alameda until draft day…
January 31st, 2008 at 9:08 am
In other words, about Kiffin people spreading these stories….the point is to try to build up a perception/case that Al is breaching lane’s contract, stripping him of his duties, etc.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:10 am
I’m surprised some of you in the Bay Area haven’t started picketing for Al’s resignation at the Alameda HQ.
Crazy Old Al needs to go!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:11 am
Blackholepriest Says:
January 31st, 2008 at 9:01 am
Someone said there’s a sucker born every minute I say it’s 100x more than that. You guy’shate Mr. Davis and he and everyone else know it and they use it to their advantage. So what if it hurts the Org. as long as they get what they want. You can turn Jerry’s comments into a lot of things.
But yoou guy’s are a horde of angry fans and they use you. I would to if I had their agenda.
—————-
BHP -
Cash is king. The events that have transpired over the last several weeks, and years for that matter, have significantly damaged the reputaiton of the Oakland Raiders, which in turn decreases the value of the organization (believe it or not, there is such thing as reputaional risk - of which it appears the Raiders are not accutely aware).
Any capitalist (and I assure you every owner is the NFL is one) had one goal above all others - make money at a sufficient rate.
Your comment suggests that Al Davis has an agenda supreme to making money. I don’t know that I agree with that.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:11 am
BHP…
What is their agenda? I thought it was winning football games. How does this fit into that?
If it doesn’t fit, then their agenda is off.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:13 am
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, pull your heads out of the sand. The writing is on the wall; Kiffin’s time in Oakland is coming to an end, quit kidding yourselves. If there is just a grain of truth to these reports there is no way this relationship lasts.
If both parties are stubborn enough, we might be dealing with this crap for the next year or two! It would not surprise me in the least if that happens.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:15 am
Thats why I didn’t get into it Priest. This could be another case of ‘much ado about nothing.’
Word was the interview went great. So we must assume by that that Kiffin prob wanted Lofton. Kiffin prob made it known that he wanted Lofton. An offer was extended, Lofton accepted then Kiffin found out. Kiffin wasn’t involved with the JR negotiations. I don’t think its his job.
I’m just not sure if there’s a real issue here.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:19 am
Can Mark Cuban buy the Raiders?
January 31st, 2008 at 9:24 am
Did anyone see the huge headline from Nancy gay? It says that Al Davis was directly involved with the Moss trade! Now thats journalisim! Her next story is about how the sky is blue and how water is wet!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:25 am
The agenda that I spoke of was the media’s.
Listen I’m not at all saying Mr. Davis is altruistic I’m just saying that neither is Jerry.
You guy’s assume that he is always giving it to yu straight and I’m saying I question everything he writes because I KNOW it’s slanted.
Why would Kiffin interview Lofton so that he could be hired against his will? That makes not only Big Al look stupid but Kiffin as well.
But of course Jerry said it so it must be true.
Sure everyne is trying to make a buck. But I know that Mr.Davis wants to win. Does Jerry want him to look good in any situation. I don’t think so, it’s more profitable for the media if he’s put in a bad light. Why I don’t know but it seems to work for them, so they go out of their way to mkae it so.
If Big Al hired Lofton against Kiffin then I totally disagree with that, but I don’t think that happened AT ALL.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:26 am
The source is known to Jerry. It’s not like this practice is limited to the NFL. It happens in politics and other businesses all the time. And when it does happen in those situations, whether or not the sources are right or wrong, eventually if an organization is run tightly, it stops happening.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:28 am
Terrapin there IS NO ISSUE but Jerry made ne up.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:28 am
How much more heart and soul can Al rip out of one of the most loyal fan bases in all of sport? Aside from deaths of loved ones what’s going on in Oakland is the bottom. I’m packing my bags and getting ready to check out of the nation. Sorry guys but I had enough
January 31st, 2008 at 9:29 am
CorpRaiderNYC Says
Cash is king. The events that have transpired over the last several weeks, and years for that matter, have significantly damaged the reputaiton of the Oakland Raiders, which in turn decreases the value of the organization (believe it or not, there is such thing as reputaional risk
—-How has New England damaged the rep of the NFL if they win a SB? Cheaters always prosper? In my eyes this damages the NFL emmensly when SF Denver & NE can cheat so blatantly & the media comes down on the Raiders every day.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:32 am
Remember the good ole’ days? Will it be Russell? Quinn? or Johnson?
I don’t want to say Al is wrong for getting who he wants on the staff but, to not inform the Head Coach of the hire, is no way to run a TEAM.
Al the maverick, Does it his own way. Thanks for another losing season Al.