Ick’s Corner

The Oakland Raiders are rich with history. Some of the most loyal fans ever to support a team. The Black Hole has to be one of the most intimidating places to play in the league. Back in the day, it was because of the team on the field, now a days its because of the fans.

Here are some quick stats on the franchise..

Oakland Raiders (1960 – 1969) Wins 77 /Loses 58 / 6 Head Coaches

Oakland Raiders (1970 – 1981) Wins 111/ Loses 52 / 2 Head Coaches

Los Angeles Raiders (1982 -1994 ) Wins 118/ Loses 82 / 3 Head Coaches

Oakland Raiders (1995 – Present) Wins 87/ Loses 127 /  7 Head Coaches

Superbowl wins ( 1976, 1980, 1983)

As we can see, back in the 70’s and 80’s the team was a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. You can also see over the last 18 years the franchise has become somewhat of a joke. Not only because of performance on the field, but because of the off field antics of one Al Davis.  Only Al Davis can turn firing a head coach into a T.O. / Ocho Cinco style circus. In my opinion the best thing that every happened to Lane Kiffin was being fired earlier this week. I’m still trying to understand how an owner can have an office 90 feet away from the head coaches office, and find it necessary to Fed EX the head coach a letter, asking him to resign? Davis didn’t have someone in the organization walk the letter down to Kiffin’s office, he paid the $10 bucks to Fed EX him a letter. I wonder if Kiffin had to sign for the letter, so Davis would know he got it? * Shakes head*

Another thing about this whole situation that just doesn’t make sense is if you have a head coach, you allowed him to sign a contract for 2 years at about $3 Million dollars, why would you not allow him to meet with the rest of the coaching staff? Especially when the team is supposed to putting together a game plan for that weeks opponent? Just on the off chance you have not seen the Al Davis press confrence held the same day as he *called* Kiffin to inform him he was no longer the Raiders head coach, here is part of the press conference.

Al Davis flat out calls Kiffin a professinal liar, and claims he didn’t hire who he thought he was hiring. Al Davis also says that he will not pay Kiffin one more cent, and the rest of his contract will not be honored. Gee that sounds familiar. When Davis fired Mike Shanahan, Shanahan was not paid either. Davis still owes Shanahan around $250,000. Apparently Al Davis also likes Lane Kiffin more then he liked Mike Shanahan

Now if this circus firing couldn’t get any worse, here comes Warren Sapp to throw in his thoughts on the Raiders. Warren cliams that he tells everyone that calls him about signing with the Raiders to *Stay away from the franchise* I wonder what Al Davis will think after he reads some of Sapp’s comments to ESPN..

“Al Davis knows football — it’s just ’60s and ’70s football. That’s what it is. He’s thinking that Cliff Branch is outside and [Jim] Plunkett is dropping back and you can throw it 80 yards down the field — deep ball, deep ball, deep ball.”

You know its awful interesting that Warren Sapp would tell people to stay away from Oakland, considering he backed out of a deal to sign with the Cinncinati Bengals after leaving Tampa Bay to join the Raiders. I guess Sapp had $36.6 Million reasons to like the Raiders.

“The bad news is I won’t be back with the Bucs,” said the one-time NFL defensive player of the year. “The good news is I’m a Raider.”

In 2007, Davis sold a minority stake in the Raiders for $150 million^, and said that he would not retire until he wins two more Super Bowls. Well Al, you better either be a man of god, or expect to live another 15 years. At the rate you are running this team into the ground, its going to be awhile before the Raiders return to the days of being a contender. You can go out and sign all the big name free agents you want. You can go out and sign the NFL’s trash like Ashley Leslie, and Javon Walker and say you got JaMarcus Russell some help, but all your doing is just spinning your wheels, and wasting the ink in your pen, while you write out all those checks.