Oakland Raiders need to end the drama or become a real Black Hole

Thoughts from the Dark Side

September 19, 2008

Oakland Raiders need to end the drama or become a real Black Hole

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Enough is enough! Now is the time for the Oakland Raiders to end their drama and get serious about football. The rumors are swirling around Lane Kiffin's job security. Kiffin has called out Rob Ryan and Al Davis, and Ryan fired back. Ultimately, the Raiders have come to more closely resemble a traveling circus than an NFL team. This needs to stop.

This is only the most recent flare up of the Raiders' drama, as there was a rumored Mexican Standoff in the offseason where Al Davis was supposedly telling Kiffin to quit, with Kiffin refusing and telling Davis to fire him. Rather than reaching a resolution that would benefit the team, the Raiders kept a dead silence about the matter until Kiffin ran the organized team activites and training camp.

The speculation ran rampant through the Senior Bowl with Kiffin's attire garnering more attention that Angelina Jolie on the red carpet for Oscar Night. Was he wearing his Oakland Raider underoos? No one will ever know. At the scouting combine in February, Kiffin kept his profile so low that one would have thought he was a B-2 Stealth Bomber. His only statement in regards to the multiple rumors about his job status was that he was not out dancing.

This instability has forced the Raiders to overpay to bring in free agents, and it has tested the patience of the Raider Nation. Losing is bad enough, but organizational chaos on an epic scale is too much. The environment is not conducive to winning. In fact, the stage looks to be set for yet another double digit loss season in what is becoming a long dark night for the Nation.

The rumors are flying that Kiffin is trying to get fired and that Al wants to fire him. Kiffin called out the owner and the defensive coordinator. Ryan, in no uncertain terms, essentially called Kiffin a liar for his assertions. This milieu worked for Ryan's father Buddy and Mike Ditka back when they coached the 1986 Bears, but that was a team loaded with talent and on field leadership. The Raiders have some talent, but don't have the on-field leadership that could overcome this disaster waiting to happen. Besides, Ditka and Ryan could not get along with each other, but the Halas family was not stoking the flames as Al Davis seems to be.

If Lane Kiffin is fired, Al Davis is sentencing the Raider Nation to even more years of futility. If it happens at the bye week, this becomes a lost season. It is a very rare occasion when a coaching change in midseason does anything but ruin any team chemistry. As it stands now, the Oakland Raiders' roster is a dangerous chemistry experiment with chronic malcontents DeAngelo Hall and Javon Walker. There are two options for Al Davis, either he can publicly support Kiffin, or the Raiders implosion will give a new meaning to the term "Black Hole."

Tags: NFL, Oakland Raiders, Raiders

Discussion

23 Comments on "Oakland Raiders need to end the drama or become a real Black Hole"

Posted by Oakland Raiders need to end the drama or become a real Black Hole - Oakland Raiders Forum, September 19, 2008 4:41 AM

[...] Oakland Raiders need to end the drama or become a real Black Hole Enough is enough! Now is the time for the Oakland Raiders to end their drama and get serious about football. The rumors are swirling around Lane Kiffin�s job security. Kiffin has called out Rob Ryan and Al Davis, and Ryan fired back. Ultimately, the Raiders have come to more closely resemble a traveling circus than an NFL team. This needs to stop. Thoughts from the Dark Side | MVN - an Oakland Raiders independent news, commentary, analysis, and m... [...]

Posted by KUSHMAN, September 19, 2008 7:23 AM

that about sums it up pat. good job man.. can't say much more than that at this point. the only hope is that al reads this... because it would show he cares about what his true fans think. something tells me that he doesnt' even know how to turn on a computer. i strongly believe he cares nothing about us at all.. his own pride is way more important ...which is the sadest thing of all... it's a horrible thing to say.. but since you know the man will never back down as owner/GM/headcoach ... the team will most likely not even play .500 ball. but i hope i am horribly wrong and things turn around, but its definetely not looking good.

Posted by KUSHMAN, September 19, 2008 7:25 AM

the team will most likely not even play .500 ball +until the man is in his grave ... i meant to say.

Posted by Raider Scott, September 19, 2008 8:39 AM

Patrick, I have been trying to express these same opinions you wrote above for about a year and I'm not sure anyone has really agreed with me. When you allow your organization to be trashed by the media and allow the media to set the tone for the state of the union of your team the results are disastrous. I am not going to hang the bust moniker on any of our new guys but clearly we had to pay way more than any other team would to get these guys. Strong organizations get free agents to take pay cuts, while we get malcontents and whiners for top dollar. I have no insight to the psyche of our players, but any sane person has to agree that the instability and the rampant rumors created by this 3-ring circus is not the text book recipe for how to make a young team gel. I get ridiculed at work by friends who know I am a die hard Raider fan. They constantly attack our team as a disaster. You don’t think the younger guys and even some of our veterans catch crap from their buddies? The sad thing is even if these guys tried to defend their own team, they couldn’t possibly have a solid argument to refute the claims because no one knows what is going on. I appreciate you and Rob brining these thoughts to the forefront and not sugar coating the fact that our team is rotting from the inside out………and it rests solely with the man at the top.

Posted by SDRaidah, September 19, 2008 9:24 AM

I am getting soo tired of this whole issue and getting really tired of Al. He is not looking out for the team but trying have everything the AL way. Kiffin's brutal honest assessments of the team have Al livid. Al would rather he put up some Al created smoke screen and protect the image of the decrepit old owner at all costs. Kiffin like Gruden has not grabbed the towel to wipe old Al's shoes or kissed Pope Al's ring. This whole situation is getting ridiculous and the Raider fan base is getting very tired of the charades. Please Al ride into the sunset and let us talk about how you built such great teams, and your Hall of Fame career. Instead of further tarnishing what is left of your legacy.

Posted by SDRaidah, September 19, 2008 9:25 AM

Micheal Sivers Yahoo article is a must read- http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-thegameface091908&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Posted by SDRaidah, September 19, 2008 9:28 AM

Michael Silver's article in Yahoo is a must read. For some reason I cannot post the link.

Posted by RaiderDoc, September 19, 2008 10:57 AM

Patrick - The title certainly says it all. It is getting depressing. Scratch that, it IS depressing.

SDRaidah - Thanks, that was a good summary of our pain. Another interesting article you may or may not agree with is on cbssportsline by Gregg Doyle. Never read anything by him before, but I've kind of been feeling some of the same stuff. He isn't necessarily doing it the right way 100% of the time, but it is a bit of a breath of fresh air to have someone speak the truth. And even if you don't think it's the truth, it's nice to have someone speak out. I almost wish Kiffin would just come out and lay all the facts on the line. I'm guessing only reason he hasn't is that would void his contract.

Quite honestly, I'm impressed Kiffin has done as well as he has under the circumstances. Until he gets shipped to one of our rivals we may never know how good a coach he could have been. Interesting that Al saw himself in Kiffin... perhaps it was because he is just as stubborn. I like that, and respect it. That is the way it should be. I hope the team plays hard for Kiffin and fights for the wins... making it harder and harder for Al to justify what he wants to do. Go Kiffin! Go RAIDERS!!!

Posted by Rob Calonge, September 19, 2008 11:19 AM

SDRaidah - Sorry about that. I've been stuck in meetings all day. We do have your comment, but due to our spam-fighting tool, it holds comments with links in moderation at times. I moderated one of the two comments that you had since they were both the same. You should now see the link you posted.

#10

Posted by Raider Scott, September 19, 2008 1:27 PM

Raiders great Tim Brown says he thinks the Kiffin-Davis split is based on conflicting personalities, not dueling philosophies.

"It can't be about the young kid and what he's doing as far as coaching," said Brown, who retired in 2005 as the team's all-time leading receiver. "Something happened behind closed doors that they didn't click. It's Al's ball, and he can play with whoever he wants to play with. And if he chooses not to play with Lane anymore, that's just the way it's going to be."

#11

Posted by GavRaider, September 19, 2008 2:55 PM

A MAJOR problem with firing Kiffin mid-season is that it will be only after Al Davis dies that anyone with experience will ever want to take the job of headcoach, puppet, for this franchise.

#12

Posted by The Fifth Horseman, September 19, 2008 5:01 PM

hahahahahaha finally you RAYDUH fans are coming to the realization of what other fans and teams and personnel around the league have known for years. The Raiders will be NOTHING until Al Davis is gone. You will always be losers with that POS Davis in control of that team. Davis will never be alive for another winning season. He is crapping on his own legacy just to prove that his way is the right way. He would rather lose the Davis way then win using someone else's own methods. The man is the biggest joke in football and it has been nothing but pure enjoyment to watch his precious little RAYDUH team crumble before the eyes of the football world. Have fun with your double digit losses for a sixth straight season (a new NFL record).

#13

Posted by Ralph Castro, September 19, 2008 5:12 PM

You guys a petition has been made to keep kiffen and if this can help keep kiffen well ill take it right now there has been over 2700 posts but i know the nation is bigger than that so as i sit here in my silver and black shirt i am her to tell rob, pat, L dizzle, Raider scott and the rest from tfds and The Raider Nation to click on my name and sign that petition

#14

Posted by eks, September 19, 2008 5:35 PM

Hey also, if davis does fire kiff, or at least we suspect he will for sure, then why not just boycott games? why go to the games and put money in Al's pocket if your disgusted with him? I say everyone who goes to the games do not by a ticket. What a statement that would be right? Insteat have a protest outside of the stadium while the game is going on and show your disgust to al davis and co. Sign Ralphs petition, I like this idea as well.

#15

Posted by eks, September 19, 2008 5:38 PM

hey fifth horseman, your on the wrong site. Let Raiders fans handle there own mess. You go back to donkey land and enjoy your sudden success because I don't think it will last long.

#16

Posted by eks, September 19, 2008 5:39 PM

If Davis goes, who will inherit the team? What kind of man is his son? WIll it be Al all over again?

#17

Posted by RaiderDoc, September 19, 2008 5:58 PM

Castro - Not likely to help, but can't really hurt at this point. Post it everywhere you can. It would be nice for the Nation to be heard.

#18

Posted by Ralph Castro, September 19, 2008 6:15 PM

we just signed ben troupe

#19

Posted by AMY TRASK, September 19, 2008 6:53 PM

Who are those old people I always see standing away from Al in his luxury box and why are they always motionless and they never look at Al and they never seem to be talking? It reminds me of Saddam Husseins control technique, he who doesnt praise me will be murdered. I would love to see somebody put their hand on Als shoulder when the Raiders get scored on. Al would not know what the fuck to do !!

#20

Posted by Your Niner Reality Check, September 20, 2008 1:25 PM

My question is, "Why the big towel over Al's lap'??

Lol...Does he drool? Vomiting eminent? Covering up the noticeable Depends he has on?

Staring blankly, with his mouth half open, while everyone avoids eye contact with him makes him look like a rather slow, lost little man.

Hell, for all we know, those notorious phone calls from "The booth to the field" might just be Al trying to order a pizza.

THAT'S IT...the towel over the lap is his "bib".

Did anyone have the gumption to let him know that Lame is not "The Pizza Guy, and that no pizza was on the way?

It's almost child abuse....almost.

#21

Posted by dennis dye, September 20, 2008 3:12 PM

I go back to the days of Otto,Blanda,Upshaw,and Lamonica.I`ve seen this once great organization become nothing more than other team`s victoms.Just when a new and stronger heartbeat was detected,along comes inner diversions to put a pillow over it`s face.The Raiders don`t get beat by other teams,they make themselv`s loose.I`m really tired of this crap.I see a real and genuine spark from Kiffin and if he`s allowed to do his job the way he needs to,this sleeping giant will rais to it`s feet.

#22

Posted by Raider Scott, September 20, 2008 3:21 PM

Ralph, I'll check out the petition and sign it. Al needs to remember on thing, we are the Raiders not him. He may be the owner but he answers to the people who pay his salary. Without our support, the team crumbles. We need people in the stands to hold up signs on TV and show support for Kiff. That is the only way to start making it known that the Nation wants to keep its coach.

#23

Posted by pat T, September 20, 2008 6:51 PM

Thanks for the reply on the other link Mike ;-)