The Truth Will Set Us Free
I don’t know if there is any truth to the rumor that Al Davis has asked Lane Kiffin to resign, as alleged in an ESPN report citing unnamed sources. According to this report, Mr. Davis has gone so far as to draft a resignation letter for Kiffin to sign, but Kiffin is instead daring Mr. Davis to fire him. The report alludes to serious friction between the two.
If there is no truth to the rumor, I would advise the Raiders to release a brief statement quoting Al Davis along the following lines:
“The rumors originating from the ESPN report are categorically false on all points. Lane Kiffin is integral to our long-term plan of building a championship team. Our fans should know the truth.”
In fact, the Raiders were recently inspired to make a similarly formal statement on behalf of Rob Ryan. If they can do it for their defensive coordinator, they can do it for their head coach. Who knows, a statement might be in the works this very second. It won’t be a second too soon.
John Herrera, a senior team executive, has already been quoted as saying, “It’s not an issue. Lane’s the coach.” Thank you, John, but I’d like to hear it from the man upstairs.
Kiffin himself was rather coy earlier this week when asked about his alleged differences with Ryan, pretending he'd never heard about the rumors. Wow, what surefire endorsement of Ryan.
If the ESPN report is not true, it would be mightily unfortunate that the Raiders have once again been irresponsibly maligned by a careless media outlet. It happens a lot, as I have documented on these pages for the past three years.
Nevertheless, this report has created a bit of a crisis, as evident in fan outcry here and elsewhere. And effective crisis communications has nothing to do with the origins of the crisis, but the quality of the communication.
Therefore if the report is not true, then it should be officially refuted and repudiated, point by point. If it is true, or if parts of it are true, well…Let’s not go there, shall we?
posted by Raider Take at 5:42 PM
104 Comments:
"Thank you, John, but I’d like to hear it from the man upstairs."
Take, you plannin' on dyin' on us?
j/k
Good post, bro.
---Jeff
funny how we always hear that al davis is the owner/GM/scout/water boy. he is the raiders. there will never be any GM. which means al alone owes us all an explanation.
call your ticket rep folks. they'll surely ask you for your name. even if you're not a season ticket holder. make your voice heard!
Continuing from the last Take, very good summary of the situation RT, and I'm with you 100%.
I was rather bold the last few hours but I must go do the "Family Thing". So in case I get feedback, I don't want anyone to think I'm ducking. I'll try to stop by, but if not see ya' later.
Psycho
This whole thing is very disheartening. I’ve been calling for a public statement from Al Davis since the season ended.
Wouldn’t it have been appropriate to thank the loyal fan base that stood behind a team which has won only, what, 19 games since 2002, and that provided, what, 6 of 8 home sell-outs this year (I could be wrong)? I didn’t attend any games this year, but I probably spent more than my share on merchandise.
Al needs to thank the Nation for its support, and assure all of us that better times are on the horizon, and that he supports his coach (who has given us all hope).
What hurts the most is that I’m beginning to feel contempt for a man I grew up idolizing. The man that once personified “commitment to excellence” and “just win, baby” seems to now represent a destructive force behind what could be nothing more than three weeks of meaningless media blitzkrieg.
The record needs to be set straight. The Nation needs, and deserves to know WTF.
NY,
Quick note. You can still respect the man for who he is and what he's done. And if it turns out to be true that Al's become a liability for this organization, you're also entitled to be pissed and have hard feelings over what the organization has become.
That's a hell of a ballancing act, at least in my case.
I only hope that in all of his obvious genious, somewhere in Al's old brain lies the realization that he should let it go for the greater good if necessary, whether that be in the future or if we're beyond that point already.
Psycho
Leapfrogging on RT, I have a post up on my blog. I must confess. I'm not the lucid writer in my current state of mind. CJ :>
I'm going to enjoy an ice cold Corona, come hell or high water.
OK. I'm still holding out for scenario #4, but lets say I'm wrong, and Al did send the letter to Kiff.
Is Al trying to get Kiff out because it's his only shot to get Ryan as HC now?
Oh well, I hope it's all BS, but ain't no use worrying about it. I agree though, at this point, there should be a statement.
Nice how the break this crap out on a Friday afternoon so everyone gets to stew over it all weekend (probably won't hear from Al until Monday I would guess)
so who here still thinks that al davis had given lane kiffin some control over this team????? hhhmmm? anyone? ahhh blandarocked? mmmhhhhmmm yeah thought so....LONG LIVES AL CASTRO!!!! and its dim witted al davis groupies!
I'm just getting on and can't believe what I am reading.
If true, and I hope not, either the baseless reporting must be stopped or we need to take the stance described by Calico Jack.
Is something going on - seems so. But even if RT gets his wish and a more definitive statement is made does the staff exist until the contracts are up? Can't be good. SOB as head coach? The last player elected coach was bugel. 5 coaches in 6 years? Think of that...
I say we move as a Nation. Make the calls. Keep Kiffin in place until the wins start to come. Force AD to keep him.
I type this on my daughter's laptop while watching the Australian Open (my daughter plays) in my basement, completely surrounded by Raiders memorabilia; walls of autographed photos, Fathead helmet, autographed Brown, Biletnikoff and Gannon jerseys. I am sickened by the crawl that reports AD asked for Kiffin's resignation. WTF
I sure hope this is bullshit, but if it's not, I can no longer defend Al. The worst part is that I can't convince myself that it's not true. It's no longer possible to refute claims and defend Al without seeming like an enabler.
Sad times indeed. If it is true, well be ready for more of the same until this old ass Al kicks the bucket...
Not to be an "Al apologist", but why does he need to respond to these quotes? If Lane resigns, or is fired, then screw him - no more benefit of the doubt. But why does he need to respond to a media story? The team released a statement - leave it at that until something further happens. No team gets as much of this crap as the Raiders do - are any other owners expected to speak to media stories? Al is the Raiders, I get that, but knowing how much he discounts the media, should we be surprised that he is not the one speaking to this? I might worry about this if the Raiders had not released a statement, but I have better things to do . . . . I'll be watching the game tomorrow. We'll see how well the North team does, how the coaches interact with the players, etc. If it appears to be a cohesive group I'll believe that, rather than speculating on what Shefter thinks.
You lookin' for denials? Here's one from Amy Trask, from a Nancy Gay article...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/25/SPJPUM98P.DTL
While coaches on Kiffin's staff are expressing concern about their futures in light of Davis' latest power play, Raiders CEO Amy Trask denied that Kiffin has been stripped of his authority.
"His authority remains unchanged," Trask said last week when asked if Kiffin had lost any personnel control of the team and whether there was a rift between the owner and coach. "That's simply not true. He has all the authority he had when he was hired. The authority he has or had under his original contract remains unchanged."
---Jeff
Sad thing is its believable. Al just throwing another tantrum and trying to bully his most recent hire.
If he didn't want Kiffin why not just fire him and move on? Who would leave a possible 4 million and an unfinished job on the table? How could Kiffin walk away from his first job in that manner? It would be a poor reflection on him.
The central conflict seems to be Al's reluctance to release Ryan who's defense has yet to produce even a marginal product on the field. He's had his opportunity and failed. Perhaps he was placed in a position to fail by forcing him to play a 4-3 but he's failed none the less. You would think Kiffin would be given the leeway to hire someone he trusts can get the job done. His father is after all one of the brightest DC minds in the league. Do you think with that type of consultation we might be able to find someone who can coach up the existing talent we have? Draft and acquire free agents that can improve that side of the ball? Is it not worth a shot considering the numbers posted by our present defense?
We seem to be crossing our fingers at this point, hoping beyond hope that this has been what? A misunderstanding? ESPN has gone public with a deliberate falsification? WTF? I hate to hawk back but Gruden turned this ship around in a small amount of time. He became the face of the Raiders and off he went. The line of unremarkable coaches that followed him read the party line, didn't kick or scream, and had their hats handed to them on the field. Now we have another young gun who's taken the wheel, showed promise, and been given quite a bit of media time and exposure. The new young face of the Raiders again overshadows the sith lord himself and he looks to show him the door. We might try and ignore the very same scenario presenting itself but we already know what a Denny Green hiring spells for OUR Raiders.
"I hate to hawk back but Gruden turned this ship around in a small amount of time. He became the face of the Raiders and off he went. The line of unremarkable coaches that followed him read the party line, didn't kick or scream, and had their hats handed to them on the field."
No offense, anon, but the unremarkable coaches were fired pretty damned quickly too.
You have a point?
Look, ESPN hasn't substantiated ANYTHING. Until they do, consider me an unbeliever. We have official announcements from both Trask and Herrera. They've put their names on the line. ESPN is hiding behind anonymity.
If one person is saying something out in the open and the other is whispering from the shadows, which are you more likely to trust?
BTW, are you gonna' post your handle, or are you gonna' stay anonymous?
Just czechin'.
---Jeff
maybe art shell is coming back !!!
with jerry porter as offensive coordinator.
SoB will keep running his swiss cheese D,
and Al will be riding a segway up and down the sidelines next year.
step right up ladies and gentlemen..
the CIRCUS is in town.
...oh, and i forgot...
alvis whitted is still available !!!!!
i can't believe our great luck !!
Not much I can add RT... well said.
Al needs to step up and stop this shit or tell us all he is making a change, and why.
Nothing else matters.
with all the raider gear everyone owns, here's a call for more: "FREE LANE KIFFIN" t-shirts. "IN LANE WE TRUST" or some other saying.
C'mon, Raider Take. You haven't had any new shirts up for a while.
I love the image of Al Davis on a segway on the sidelines. He'd get stuck in the mud or the snow and would spin around in circles. Mix in some Benny Hill or circus music. Hilarious.
Arkansas Raider:
I think the point is that under the current conditions (rumors, turmoil, instability) it is next to impossible for the Raiders to ever be successful.
The constant turnover of coaches is not a healthy situation. The fact that we have been going through coaches like water tells me 3 things:
1) Al is bad at picking a good Head Coach.
(see Callahan, Turner, Shell)
2) Al makes the Head Coach's environment unbearable.
(see Gruden, Kiffin)
3) Al is more concerned with showing the Head Coach who is the boss than doing what is best for the organization.
Look. Normally I would be with you in terms of having the burden fall on ESPN's shoulder to prove their stories to be accurate. However, in this particular case, the burden clearly falls on Al Davis to
unequivocally, denounce/refute the rumors. His lack of response leaves doubt in everyone's minds.
If the rumors are untrue, it is Al's responsibility to set the record straight and stand behind his head coach.
This isn't the type of incident to just brush under the table. It is Al's team, Al's franchise, Al's Head Coach. If he wants the Raiders to be successful and profitiable, the buck stops with him. John Herrera and Amy Trask might be executives and both have made statements but in this case it just isn't enough. John & Amy don't sign the checks. John & Amy don't own the team. John & Amy didn't hire Kiffin.
The one thing that I can't seem to resolve in my mind is the following. Put yourself in Al's shoes for a minute. If the ESPN rumors were categorically false and you were Al Davis, what would you do? I know that the 1st thing that I would do is make a declarative statement to the effect that "Lance Kiffin is our Head Coach and we stand behind Lane Kiffin 100% and the efforts he is making to bring the Raiders back to glory". I would also firmly hold the news media group (ESPN) feet to the fire and hold them accountable for spreading false, detrimental rumors to my business.
At the very least, this incident shows Al's lack of regard to his loyal customers (the fans). It is also very shortsighted when you consider how damaging this is to the Raiders bottom line: Wins & profitability.
Am I blowing this out of proportion? I don't think so. If you don't think this unhealthy work envirnoment and uncertainty doesn't impact our ability to win in 2008, you are delusional. If you were Lance Briggs or Bernard Berrian, would you seriously consider the Oakland Raiders as your new home? Do you really think that potential free agents will look upon the Raiders as a desirable new team to work for when you have such instability and HC turnover? If you are an active player like JaMarcus Russell, how would you view the current situation? Any way you slice it, the stories, rumors, and turmoil over the past 3 weeks is a very unhealthy environment.
Even with the Coronas, Calico is still shooting straight and true. At a loss for words, but I'll still ramble (I find it somewhat therapeutic). EVEN if every bit of the media reports are baseless and unsubstantiated it only proves to me that as an organization we are less than capable of dealing with a necessary evil of a major league franchise: the press. Living in NY where every move of the Jets and Giants are scrutinized ad nauseum, both teams manage to stay away from vicious rumors detailing major dissent amongst the management. What united us as fans and restored hope for the next few years was the hiring of an upstart coach who would be given enough autonomy to restore our proud tradition. The problem is that the media's irresponsible speculation explains our record of the last few years more so than any "official" statement from our management.
A MESSAGE TO AL DAVIS,
THIS IS THE ENEMY:
1 DENVER
2 KC
3 CHARGERS
4 EVERY OTHER TEAM IN NFL.
THIS IS NOT THE ENEMY:
1 YOUR HEAD COACH.
TAKE THIS INFO AND RUN WITH IT AL, AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN. GOOD LUCK.
Sigh...this is getting out of control, with everything anti-Raider coming from the media. I would be delighted to hear from Al Davis debunking this crap personally. If these statements/accusations are false, let it be known. Season ticket holders deserve to have some peace of mind heading into 2008. We all know that we are part of a secret society, but it would help to have something from the top.
Kiffin's statement of not commenting on anything over the last three weeks is rather curious. Al Davis saying nothing, is unfortunate.
I have shelled out enough time, money, blood, sweat, and tears over the last 30 years on the team I love. I am getting to the point of not reading anything regarding the Raiders until the draft, because I am just getting fed up with the crap that is being reported.
The frustration comes from not really trusting reports from either side. Who are the "sources"? Why doesn't Kiffin simply say it is all bullshit, and you reporters need to find something else to chase after?
It would be great to have an off season without all this BS. I can only imagine what is going through the minds of the current player roster, if there is a inkling of truth to any of these stories.
I'm just tired of the soap opera that spins out of control after week 17 in the NFL.
Bill Callahan was right, we are the "dumbest team in America." Only, let's not confine that statement to just the players (past or present).
In her statement to the media, Amy Trask isn’t denying the “resignation letter” story; she’s denying the story that Kiffin has been stripped of his (contractual) authority regarding player and coaching personnel decisions. IMO -- and as presented by the media -- she is merely protecting the Raiders against a possible breach of contract.
Meanwhile, nothing is being done to protect the Raiders integrity and credibility to prospect free agents and draftees, as Calico Jack points out. Add to that the frustration of the current staff and player personnel, because they are no better informed than we are right now.
So, while the Giants and Patsies are going to the Super Bowl, the Raiders are in the Toilet Bowl...
(and Al Davis is about to flush).
Thanks Al for all your support!
What pisses me off is all these Fing news articles start with:
"ESPN reported on Friday..." and that's it. then they go into how Fed up the Raiders are.
I only found one article with ?herera?'s statement that it is false, and ludicrous, and the writers are making shit up.
I truely think if we had the internet in 1984, there's no way that the Bears could have succeeded because the media would have just trashed them non stop for the Ryan-Ditka relationship.
I bet Madden knows what's up. But he would never roll on Al!
Isn't he supposedly one of the potential heirs to the throne?
Regarding whether or not Al Davis "needs" to say something...No, he doesn't need to say anything. That's not my point.
My point is that he "should" say something. Why? Because fans don't "need" to renew their season tickets. Because fans don't "need" to follow the team. Because fans don't "need" to care. Everyone has a choice, including Mr. Davis.
I am in NO WAY agitating for fans to abandon ship. Also, if this story is a fabrication, then our wrath should be directed at ESPN like never before.
However, there is a reason why so many fans, so suddenly, reacted so forcefully to this report, and the reason is rooted in the unnerving ongoing uncertainty regarding the direction and identity of the team, and the vacuum of communication between the organization and its fans, which may be part of the "Raider Way," but which is also becoming increasingly bad business.
I have been taken to task by many for suggesting that the organization improve its communication and clarify its direction. None of my business, I was told. Okay. But the gap between "none of my business" and "bad business" is rapidly closing.
Even if the ESPN report is false, it unfortunately speaks to a larger truth, which is evident in the fan reaction last night and today.
I agree with Raider Take and Calico Jack on this one. Regardless of the validity of these rumors, it is time for Mr. Davis to come out and make a statement. Personally, I'm sick and tired of Al. I can't argue his past greatness, but those times are long gone. I'm tired of him crying and blaming one coach or another for a bad draft pick or the trade of Moss.
I want to hear some of the Al supporters answer Calico's question...
"Do you really think that potential free agents will look upon the Raiders as a desirable new team to work for when you have such instability and HC turnover?"
I'll answer it. No!!! Now we all know that money talks and if the price is right we will get some FA, but do we want players that will come here just to collect a check or players that will come here to be part of the Raiders Greatness.
So Al, if your listening, this Raiderfan is begging that you come out kick some media ass and squash these rumors. Until then I hate to admit that I beleive they may be true.
I suspect that both Ryan and Kiffin wants out of Al's domain. Al refuses to fire either because then he will have [recently retired] Shell, Kiffin, Ryan and the new coach on the payroll....Similar to the situation of paying for 4 QBs last season [and playing only 3] and the many backs [Fargas, Rhodes, Jordan, et al].
The strange situation is that Al through his spokesman came to deny rumors of Ryan's dismissal, no similar statements have come forth for Kiffin [other than the lame "no issue" comments from Herrera].
Al prefers all these guys quitting, so they won't be remain on the payroll when they depart.
LMAO!!!!
Why should Al Davis take Raider Nation and other Raider fans into consideration for his behavior [or lack of good public relations]?? In spite of all the turmoil currently and in past years, fans continue to attend games, buy Raiders' merchandise, publicly defend actions by Al Davis, etc. Why should Al change his conduct as advocated by Raider fans?? He's somewhat dumb for his behavior but not yet a moron!!
I think what we have here is maybe best described as "Raider fatigue."
Al best get himself to a microphone and end this now... but alas, he prolly won't. Whether it will hurt our chances of picking up quality free agents... I think that will come down to Kiffin. I think he is pissed at Al about SOMETHING, I'm guessing this all came about because he was too loose in the lips about SOB. As we have seen, Al doesn't like people that go to the media before going to HIM... and if there really was a letter asking for his resignation, it might have been Al's convoluted way of telling him either do things the Raider way (keep all things IN HOUSE) or get out of the house. I'm guessing that both Al and Kiffin realized its best they meet half-way and go on about the business of football.
This doesn't do anything to salve the Raider fans that are expecting such dysfunction to implode. Maybe Kiffin is just stubborn enough to stick it out and finish the job he accepted... which is an endearing quality to work in this system.
Hopefully all will work out in the end... and Kiffin can turn this franchise around next year... remember... Al and Raider fans are very similar... the only thing that is acceptable is WINNING. 8-8 is the only thing that will save his job for a third year. That seems to be the tipping point with Al.
When the Raiders went 4-12 or whatever under norvall my wife said, "Well it can't get any worse." Then they hired Shell...
Kiffin not part of free agent evaluations or draft day strategy? This seems too much info for someone to make up...
Too many reports to summarize. Just go to Raider News and read for yoursleves.
I keep going back to Kiffin not wanting SOB and SOB knowing that.
Would SOB not say - listen Mr. Davis, Lane has a different plan for the team and I am not a part of it. No hard feelings. I'll move on. After all I can get a job in two minutes. SOB has a 750K contract that should be easily absorbed by a business worth
100's of millions.
He did not man up just like his D.
I know there is more to this but I hate SOB right now.
buddy did not get along with ditka and things worked out ok. Listen to me. I am pathetic.
PLease tell me I'm dreaming.
Honestly, Al Davis should fire all his coaches, scouts, and player and personnel executives, and just hire an administraive & clerical staff (at a fraction of the cost) to fill these respective positions. This way Al can have what he truly covets, a staff of puppets to agree with him and perform his every whim.
And I'm no longer basing my rants on current events. I'm now digging deep inside my disgust and disdain for the past two decades of losing and dysfunction (the Gruden era aside). When will it stop? Please don't answer that, because I already know when.
Like Calico Jack, I feel as though I put all my eggs in the "Lane Kiffin Basket" and will no longer be able to fight my own discontentment with the Raiders' losing ways if Lane Kiffin is allowed to leave, or be fired outright.
folks, we won't know anything for sure until kiffin gets back from coaching the senior bowl on monday.
its not JUST espn that is reporting this chaos. every major paper and radio/tv are reporting the same thing. yesterday knbr was ripping al davis and the raider organization to shreds! i wasn't able to hear the razor show because i was at work but damon bruce and the fans that called ripped into al like there was no tomorrow. and deservedly so! then again, i believe they have a little bit of chaos of their own in santa clara! but at least damon mentioned the chaos in whiner land and did mention bay area sports being so bad (namely the raiders, whiners, a's and giants) so at least there was some balance.
what coach can operate under these conditions now? what coach would WANT to operate with what was described in that letter? and as calico and others have said, what free agents will join this chaotic mess?
back to monday. as jason jones said, we could have a new head coach by monday - lofton. any way you slice it, this is really, really bad!
This is what we’ve now descended to:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/26/SPGLUMPBT.DTL
Is this “news you can’t use,” or the pathetic and unbelievable truth? Personally, I can’t tell anymore.
ok, lets say lofton DOES get the job as a wide receiver coach. ahem!
why would kiffin make this hire knowing that he beat out this guy for the head coaching job? with all this crap happening right now, how can kiffin operate knowing that his eventual replacement lurks in the shadows? remember folks, lofton was a raider head coaching finalist the previous 2 years. assuming of course al makes the hire since he stripped kiffin of those responsibilities - like he truly ever had them to begin with.
how can the team look at kiffin now knowing he's got a foot out the door?
so many questions. so much frustration and anger. the fans need to SPEAK UP and let the front office and especially old guy know their displeasure with him and his mickey mouse operation.
all those words i had of al are now coming into focus. the truth hurts in a major way baby. i truly hate to see this happen to our young and promising coach and future but if he goes, this franchise will never prosper unless al goes away.
hi all, i apologize up front. us raider fans are being treated like dirt by the team we love.the excuse of timeing and business and this that is bullshit at this point. us fans and as a matter of fact the players also, (if they have'nt yet been informed),need to know what the 08 coaching status is. the instability has not been worthy of my loyalty,(fan since 1970),.
i'm willing to participate if anyone has a good plan for some kind of action,(protest),whatever if it will send the proper message. hands in the air
If any of this is true we are all being played as the biggest jackasses on the planet. I pray this is all BS but I gotta sinking feeling right now. Losing the faith baby.
RaiderMike
http://www.sacbee.com/static/
weblogs/raiders/
From Jason Jones. You should all read at least the last 3 entries by him. If he is right, and his "source" is accurate, we're FN screwed! This is coming from a man who I respect, so I'm not feeling too good about the situation right about now.
Psycho
"It's all absolutely ridiculous, beyond belief," Herrera said. "Those stories are fraudulent. Everything is inaccurate. It's unconscionable. (The writers) should be held accountable. We're (angry) around here."
http://www.mercurynews.com/raiders/ci_8085444?nclick_check=1
so what happens when this story like the previous ones are debunked and don't come to fruition? what will you all say then? the media has you just where they want you. fired up about something that may not even be true. how many times do you buy this stuff? just because sooo many other media outlets are "reporting" it doesn't make it true. they are mearly running with this crap.
if Al were to jump in front of a mic and call these "reporters" out AGAIN, how long or how many more ridiculous stories will it take before you demand that he do it AGAIN? to make US all feel better. come on, they have been doing this for ever, you'd think we'd be used to it by now. maybe a bit of alarmism around here?
Charles Davis at the Senior Bowl about an hour ago asked Kiffin about the media reports.
Kiffin again said he will not comment on what has happened the past few weeks. He said this weekend is all about the college players.
Well, maybe he'll comment after the game then? If not we're in trouble, since that excuse would no longer hold up.
Although I hope that is his true reason for refusing to even take the time to say "none of the rumors are true", I seriously doubt it at this point.
I'm already getting mentally prepared for the Al Davis press conference next week or the week after. And yes, he will "need" to do this one if he's announcing his new HC and trying to justify the changes made.
Psycho
FrkyRaider- It's much larger than just the muckraking media and panic driven fans. How many Raiders players are out there wondering who their coach will be in 2008 (Lance, errr Lane, or Dennis)? How many free agents are saying to themselves, no way? How many college draftees are praying the Raiders don't pick them? Pretty F'N sad.
Public relations is a big part of this business. Clearly, the Raiders can give themselves an "F" in PR, because they easily rate worse off the field than on it.
Mope- Here's a comment posted from the (Rowdy Ronny Ratt Fink) link I posted earlier in which the poster wants to mobilize the troops:
He said: "(send your email contact to) ALMUSTGO@yahoo.com and I will send a mass email out to all once it is organized. Get your Impeach Al shirts, posters and banners ready. It will be on a Saturday coming soon. Tell all your Raider friends...."
No idea if it’s credible. I sent an email directly to the Raiders from their "contact" link on Raiders.com, saying WTF?
Here's the Raiders' email address:
feedback@raiders.com
It wouldn't hurt them to read some of our opinions on Monday morning.
Remember faida fanatics, you heard it first from me ....the AMAZING KARNAK, that "miss Kiffy" would be a lame duck hc this season , until the "genius" works out a deal to pay him less than he is obligated to pay as of right now! I have new respect for the girl/boy cry baby coach now that he told big al (MR.) davis to butt out or pay the consiquenses! He will now be known as "Mr. Kiffen" as he has shown the BALLS to tell big al to EAT SHIZZLE!!!!! You faida fanatics will pay again for a cellar dwellar and enjoy the "nation" just like the leader the "nation SUCKS...Here comes 0-16, I can feel it in my bones, just cry baby just cry.
Go Giants!
For whoever missed the Senior Bowl half-time. Adam Schefter pointed out a fact that you can verify with your own eyes. Lane Kiffin is not wearing any Raiders gear, and has not during the practices. He's been wearing black Under Armor clothes, and seems to be cutting ties with anything Raider.
Psycho
One thing I find amusing is the notes that Kiffin is not wearing Raider gear at the game today, while all the other Raiders coaches are, and how that must mean he is out the door. What they fail to mention is that neither head coach is wearing team gear! Both Kiffin and Nolan are in UnderArmour jackets and pants, and Nolan has been wearing a beanie as well. Just another example of how they stretch the truth to slant the story . . .
I noticed that too after the report. But I also saw Nolan wear plenty of 49er gear throughout the week, and they're saying Kiffin has been doing this during practice.
I agree, not really a big deal really. But it's one more thing to add to the growing list of reasons to believe Kiff will not be here long. My blood is beginning to boil over already.
Psycho
PS - Sedric Ellis has looked great today . . . if we Dorsey is gone, and we go into next year with Fargas / Rhodes / Bush, then he might be the best choice.
I'm sensing if Kiffin is gone the Raider fans will start voting with their feet... sure be something to see Al in his owners box looking over his glasses at a new coach and a half-empty stadium. I know one season ticket owner not renewing... and I only know three of them.
I heard that Kiffin had done the same during the week as well. But again, how much of that is a slant? If the gear was provided by the company as a sponsor, what's the big deal? How petty would that be anyways? "I'll show him - I won't wear any Raiders gear any more" - that's just silly . . .
Gary,
If I had season tickets, I think picking up the phone would've crossed my mind. I'd still wait and verify, but I'd be tempted to just do it now. Just boycott, baby.
Strike!!! Strike!!!
What do we WANT!?!?! WINS....WINS....
How do GET IT!?!?!
NEW GM......NEW GM......
Too soon?
Psycho
Stickum,
Silly? Perhaps... But Jerry McDonald agrees:
http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/
2008/01/26/where-lane-and-al-went-
wrong/
Psycho
Post-game question to Kiffin:
Q: "Will you be coaching the Raiders next fall?"
A: "I hope so" {already turning to walk away}
I hope so?!? That didn't seem too assuring!
Whoever want's to keep polishing this turd, be my guest. I'm convinced that Kiff is gone. Best of luck to him, I'm sure he'll do great somewhere else.
Psycho
Raider Nation is speachless.....
I don't know what's worse. Watching Shell go 2-14 with a high school playbook, or watch Kiffin go 4-12 only to see our hope get flushed down the toilet. I understand...
Psycho
Psycho.. I don't think I see anyone trying to polish this turd... I don't think I have ever seen Raider fans unite about anything before... this sucks ass and there is no other way to spin it.
That said, I'm not sure that Kiffin is gone... I think they both will be smart enough to work something out here.
It's still a PR nightmare, at best.
I repeat my comment:..... i have been an adamant raider fan for 25 years, grew up in bay area, unfortunately, this season (and this off-season already looking) like another massive disappointment; how long can us fans be expected to suffer tumult and mediocracy - to win you need consistency at coaching level, that's just plain fact, and the only consistency we have in recent years is Al's inability to allow consistency with our head coaches (and undercutting them at every turn) - i just don't know how long us fans can hold on, with blind faith, despite mediocracy and endless losing seasons, blithely following the follies of this egotistical, ill, old man.
11:26 AM
i think herm edwards is as good as gone in kc.
i'll bet if kiffin is pushed out, he winds up there, and he will beat al's butt til al's dying day.
and you know something, i rooted for al against shanahan. i rooted for al against shottenheimer, but right now, i probably would root for kiffin against al.
it seems strange to say, but that's just the way i feel right now.
i hope it never comes to this, but things look bad.
Holy freaking crap, see what it has come to?!?!
I cannot really disagree with raider00 in my current frame of mind. WTF just happened?
I'm sure RT is either pondering, or drafting the next Take to be posted soon. Probably outlining what a freakin' pathetic state we're in, with seemingly no end in sight pending a major managerial change up front. Here is a haiku you can kick it off with RT;
We had found our man
Complete and utter bullshit
our only hope.....gone
Psycho
You know, I'm still waiting and seeing...I agree it doesn't look good.
I've been questioning a lot of things lately, as you know. Such as:
1) I have argued that we should remain concerned about lingering organizational dysfunction that is likely beyond Kiffin's control.
2) To those who have suggested that Kiffin has true authority to make key decisions regarding staff and personnel, I have asked for firm evidence of such.
3) I have been unwilling to accept the 2007 season as an acceptable measure of progress.
4) I have pressed for an end to the growing excuses and wishful thinking that have resulted in lowered standards in some fans regarding what we should expect from the organization, specifically in regard to its executive operations, on-field performance and fan relations.
Those of you who frequent these pages know that these are the positions I've taken since the end of the season.
But as for this report and all the subsequent reports, I must wait and see, because if they are true, then things are worse than I ever imagined, which would be hard to fathom. I've seen the media exaggerate on many occasions regarding the Raiders, so I can't buy everything they're us feeding just yet.
My positions were established before these reports broke. I can assure you that this is not the way I'd like to be proven right.
The 6:04 post was mine. (Psycho)
I was so pissed I forgot my name apparently. All this silence from you the Nation pretty much says it all.
Gary,
I'm with you buddy, and I stand by the sides of everyone 'here'. There is only one thing to do as a group of fans; band together and call for change. Except I disagree that they'll "work something out here". The old man will not back down, no matter what. His gift & his curse...
Personally I'm contacting every fan I know to boycott the upcoming season and send a message. If empty seats do not drive the point home, well, I don't know what the hell else we can do except follow through with some of the private responses to my pleas of "change" which I do not want to repeat on the record. And I would never do these things because I have a family to think about, and it's not THAT serious. This is some BS though, I'll admit.
I still demand a press conference, but my expectations of it are no longer "high".
Psycho
RT,
I'm with you buddy. Except I'm a little beyond the "wait and see" thing. I'm still hesitant to jump to conclusions or whatever but recent events have pretty much convinced me that it's true; Kiffin is done as a Raider. Just my opinion. I'd love to wait & see but the outcome is clear IMO. I'm not going to kid myself anymore only to be let down. Complete & utter bullshit....
Psycho
I have been a long time Raider fan but this organization has deteriorated into a laughingstock. We start to make progress and it has to be about Al, not about the increased sold out games, the heightened player morale, or the energetic new coach. If my kid became a drug addict I would love him, support him, and try to get him help but I would not give him money to self-destruct with. In the same way i will not give another penny to the Raiders until I see some evidence of health in the way of a TEAM. Al is in no way appearing to be a TEAM player. No team no money from me.
_not a blind follower of anyone
Well said, anon.
Here is the latest from J.Jones which he promised today. Not much, but here it is.
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblog
s/raiders/
Psycho
I'm out, g'night. -Psycho
Is this statement true?????
"Davis is on record as saying he doesn’t believe in team chemistry."
OK. So here's scenario #5.
Al is trying to get Kiff to step down to O-cooordinator or something OTHER than HC, so he can make SOB HC???
Steve Corkran reports:
"An NFL Network reporter said Davis and Kiffin's representatives are working on a settlement that would free Kiffin from a contract that runs through the 2009 season. One person in the Raiders front office said that's a possibility but far from an imminent solution.
In other news, the Raiders requested permission from the Washington Redskins to interview offensive coordinator Al Saunders. That became a moot point when the Redskins fired Saunders on Saturday."
I guess Al Davis will show Lane Kiffin and all of the Raider Nation who's boss, and possibly destroy his life's work in the progress.
How many more chances at success does the 80-year-old man think he has? Apparently, he is immortal.
Why would anybody work for this man for ANY other reason than money. And that, my friends, is the "greatness of the Raiders."
Well... if Kiffin is gone, I guess we just as well draft McFadden and hope he is the new Bo. It doesn't take much coaching to hand the ball off to an elite RB... especially if we lose Cable and Knapp.
What an unmitigated mess.
I am bordering on despondent. Let's not fool ourselves. We know the direction this thing is going.
The Steve Corkran story does it for me.
I asked myself the same question when I first heard chucky was going. That question was, "Why?" I now know the answer. Maybe this buy-out can include 4 more draft choices to waste like the chucky deal.
It is one thing to be proud but another to be ruthlessly destructive. This pyrrhic victory is the only win the old man will be getting for a long time.
This is pathetic.
Does he not see what he is doing? Doesn't anyone else in "the building" have the balls to tell him this is a mistake?
This kid busted his ass for a team filled with underachieving losers hand picked by you know who. This is a shame for Kiffin and a kick in the teeth, after just starting to stumble up off the ground, for a blindly loyal Nation.
Loyal no more here my friends.
It has been 40 years and I have never dared to contact the team. Tomorrow I will make my first call.
I will also no longer plan my life and vacations around attending road games and my annual trip to Oakland is off. (sorry RT)
Someone else posted that Kiffin will leave and go to another team and beat the old man everytime. I will take that bet because AD's luck has run out.
You know Lofton comes in and gets the job as, whatever, because he was an ex-player. But his previous ties to the team give him the best chance of "understanding the organization" see:yes man.
I remember the last time AD flirted with saunders. Things seemed serious for a few days but then I am sure the control thing came up and sauuders fled to the chefs I believe?
I would be very excited to get an nfl retread with a proven losing record to be part of the coaching staff - wouldn't you!
Might as well be Col. Sanders.
The best case scenario would be SOB as HC. At that point I would take all my Raider stuff down and put it in storage.
It's been great here with you guys but after defending this mess for so long I just can't do it anymore.
from steve corkran cc times:
" In other news, the Raiders requested permission from the Washington Redskins to interview offensive coordinator Al Saunders. That became a moot point when the Redskins fired Saunders on Saturday.
It remains unclear whether Saunders will be receptive to Oakland's overture. However, he has interviewed with Davis in the past."
let's see.... lofton comes in monday, interviewing another coach? if this isn't looking for another head coach i don't know what is!
its still not to late to make your voice heard people!!!!! get on the phone. for you locals, get to alameda and voice your strong objections and anger!
tell al or his cronies we've had ENOUGH of this CRAP!!!!!
let's do it!!!!!
Memdf: Colonel Sanders ... finger lickin' good! This mess has been an awakening for me. It has been a kick in the butt and the teeth. It makes me think twice about my level of committment.
If this Saunders story is true, then I think the writing's on the wall.
It was nice knowing you Kiff.
Maybe you can take over an AFC West team and own the Raiders for the next decade or two.
So I've been thinking about the "Why?” The report like someone said was given on a Friday. Was this on purpose to let the media take it and run with it during the weekend?
What if this entire allegation was on purpose? Part of the Al's unique outlook on the game of football. What if he is thinking on a different level than what seems to be apparent? We all know that this man is unique and developed the "Raider Way" when it comes to football.
Thus, maybe the Raider organization did this to see what Al could get for Kiffin? Or to see how much the fans like Kiffin. Or, yet, another reason non-apparent to anyone right now.
And look at all the coincidences. The weekend this story comes out is the weekend the Raiders coach the senior bowl. Maybe it was just a publicity stunt by the NFL network or ESPN. Also Kiffin was not wearing any apparel at the senior bowl. Along with Lofton and Saunders coming next week. Could the "unidentified sources” conspire this story for a particular reason, other than the explicit reasoning of Kiffin losing his job.
Who knows, the Raiders always do something different. Heck maybe ESPN did it just to run something instead of the same old January topic of the Super Bowl.
Al probably hates Patriots, maybe he did it just to grab some of the spotlight from them and direct the audience towards himself and the Raider organization.
With this said, I hope I'm not being over optimistic by trying to think outside the box. I just hope that out of all thousands of other reasons, Al didn't do this with the purpose of actually firing Kiffin. Everyone knows that the potential this kid has, and the possible greatness with the Raider Nation.
If Kiffin leaves, I'm out until Al gets the fuck out of the way.
I will not throw any more $ towards season tickets or even single game tickets. I
won't even watch them on tv.
I'll actually root for another 3 year AFC West losing streak just to see Al lose his mind completely. Fucking stupid mother fucker!
Even with the 4-12 '07 run I felt like we were finally turning it around.
Fuck Al! Can't wait to see the last 10,000 diehards showing up to watch our S&B get smoked week in and week out.
Thank God JaMarcus got his $32 million garanteed, smart agent.
So fucking pathetic. I'll be rooting for Kiff wherever he lands.
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!
Ian
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