Dear Mr. Davis, Ms. Trask, et. al:
I am writing to voice my extreme displeasure with the current direction of the Oakland Raiders football team and organization.
As long as I have been alive I have been an Oakland Raiders fan. I was even being dressed in Oakland Raiders apparel by my mom and dad, before I could even dress myself. The family loyalty to the Raiders organization and mystique runs incredibly deep in my family.
To see the manner in which the team performs and the organization itself acts has become a farce. People have always asked me, "You grew up in Toledo, why are you a Raiders fan?" First and foremost, it was because of my dad. Second, when I was old enough to know what the Raiders stood for, it was easy to be a fan. It was easy to support the team and the organization. It was something that ran deeper than just football. Being a Raiders fan was part of an identity. It was about being part of one of the best things in American professional sports.
I will say, without equivocation, that you have been one of the best owners in NFL history, and all of American professional sports. However, your legacy can no longer guarantee future success. New ages in American sport have required changes that the Raider organization has refused to make. This maverick attitude that has served the team and organization well in the past, has hurt the organization and team for the past decade or more. I implore that you begin to make organizational changes to give the team, players and fans the Raiders team that they deserve. I also implore that you bring the professionalism back to the Raiders organization.
Specifically,
- Hire a General Manager to manage day to day football operations and players/personnel; including, but not limited to, drafting, trades, coaching staff and coaching positions
- Remove John Herrera from his current position, as he has demonstrated the past couple seasons that he can no longer handle himself in a professional manner that is representative of a professional sports organization
- Allow the coaching staff to make decisions that are in the best interest of themselves, the players and the team; including, but not limited to, play calling, game planning, playing time, which players start and sit
- Return value to the organization by building a new stadium in the Bay Area to give the organization, team and fans a home that they can be proud of and that is comparable to the vast majority of other NFL stadiums and facilities
- Return accountability to the organization at all levels, including the players, and admit mistakes via immediate corrective action that shows a true commitment to excellence, winning and professionalism
- Supplement the coaching staff with proper positions (i.e. offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, etc. ) that have authority and autonomy to make the decisions necessary to win as many football games as possible
- If necessary, look into other investment, ownership or sale of ownership opportunities to allow the Raiders to continue on the legacy which you worked so hard to build
- Immediately discontinue all unprofessional behavior in regards to the media, media spokespeople, beat writers, network analysts and sports reporters
If the Raiders organization continues on the path which it has been on the past seven years, I will not be able to continue my support of the team through any monetary means whatsoever. I believe that others in the Raider Nation share my sentiments and I saw that fairly clearly this past Sunday as the Coliseum emptied out before the first half was over. I'm certain that next time, the majority of fans will not leave before half time because they will have avoided purchasing tickets altogether.
I hope that a dignified man, such as yourself, has the foresight and intelligence to see that without the undying support of the Raider fans, that the organization will never be the same and will continually operate at a less than optimum level financially. It is only in these realizations and changes that the Raiders will ever be able to return to the glory that you gave them and give the fans what is truly owed to them.
Best of luck the rest of the season.
Sincerely,
Raider Nation
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
$32 million/22.6
Let me ask you this......Whos' thrilled with the way things have gone this year? How many of we fans went into this season with a sense of optimism that was greater than years past?
I know I was one of the fans that had that sense of optimism. However, I was talking to my dad on the phone during he fourth quarter of today's game and the first thing he said, as I was explaining to him what was transpiring during the game was, "So, basically, it's the same situation as the past couple seasons?" (As far as my dad's concerned, he actually has things to do in his life and finding a way to sit around and watch the Raiders stumble over themselves is not high on his priority list.)
What the heck else is there to say? I am struggling to type anything for this entry because the effort by the entire team was so bad. Let's look at the passing games first......
Kyle Orton = 13/23; 157 yds; 56.5%; 1 TD; 0 INT; 92.1 rating
JaMarcus Russel = 12/21; 61 yds; 57.1%; 0 TD; 2 INT; 22.6 rating
61 yards? 22.6 rating?
You're getting paid $32 million in guaranteed money, man.
Really?
The Raiders averaged 1.8 yards per pass play.
Yikes.
But hold up a second, here.....I will not throw it all on Russell's shoulders (just the vast majority of it). The first INT was not his fault (DHB fell down). It's not his fault that McFadden can't hold onto the ball (2 fumbles, 1 lost), including one little fumble in the red zone that hurt.
I can hear the fans now....."It's not Russell's fault. The defense can't stop the run. They can't defend the pass. Stanford Routt is no good."
Well, I will agree that Routt is sturggling mightily. However, it's not the defense's fault. The past three years, Al has drafted for offense in the first round. Russell, McFadden, Heyward-Bey. He's thought about defense second and as something that can be filled in via free agency (Gibril Wilson, DeAngelo Hall). Al's longed to have an offense that drives fear into opponents since the 2003 Super Bowl year. His (and we all know they are HIS) picks in the first round scream offensive desperation. He is not satisfied with the low-key success of Robert Gallery or the late-breaking success of Michael Huff. Fairly, it should be the offense that is scrutinized.
Our offense wouldn't scare your local high school team. I've seen all the comparisons to Petyon Manning in his first year and I don't by a second of that nonsense. If you're throwing out those comparisons, ask yourselves this......
Does JaMarcus Russell really appear to be anywhere near the same type of player that Peyton Manning is?
Seriously.
That is one area where statistics are definitely misleading.
Cut the junk.
Opposing defenses are not scared of our offense. Period. They've figured it out.
No matter how many solid backs you have, when you're the defense and you expect a running play and get a running play it's pretty darn easy to stop it. When you're the opposing defense and you expect a running play and the Raiders pass you still don't have to worry, so you might as well still stack eight or nine in the box and blast the QB or the RB on the screen that's thrown.
Cable, Tollner and Russell all need to get better. Obviously. Russell may progress. Russell may regress. But, either way, due to the fact that he's only on the field for about 20 minutes (23:45 against the Broncos), he just ends up a player who only is able to get anything done in practice. If you want a practice player playing under center in games, you might as well give Gradkowski a chance.
If not, well, the whole of the organization might as well just jump on the first Air Asia plane out of the Bay Area.
I know I was one of the fans that had that sense of optimism. However, I was talking to my dad on the phone during he fourth quarter of today's game and the first thing he said, as I was explaining to him what was transpiring during the game was, "So, basically, it's the same situation as the past couple seasons?" (As far as my dad's concerned, he actually has things to do in his life and finding a way to sit around and watch the Raiders stumble over themselves is not high on his priority list.)
What the heck else is there to say? I am struggling to type anything for this entry because the effort by the entire team was so bad. Let's look at the passing games first......
Kyle Orton = 13/23; 157 yds; 56.5%; 1 TD; 0 INT; 92.1 rating
JaMarcus Russel = 12/21; 61 yds; 57.1%; 0 TD; 2 INT; 22.6 rating
61 yards? 22.6 rating?
You're getting paid $32 million in guaranteed money, man.
Really?
The Raiders averaged 1.8 yards per pass play.
Yikes.
But hold up a second, here.....I will not throw it all on Russell's shoulders (just the vast majority of it). The first INT was not his fault (DHB fell down). It's not his fault that McFadden can't hold onto the ball (2 fumbles, 1 lost), including one little fumble in the red zone that hurt.
I can hear the fans now....."It's not Russell's fault. The defense can't stop the run. They can't defend the pass. Stanford Routt is no good."
Well, I will agree that Routt is sturggling mightily. However, it's not the defense's fault. The past three years, Al has drafted for offense in the first round. Russell, McFadden, Heyward-Bey. He's thought about defense second and as something that can be filled in via free agency (Gibril Wilson, DeAngelo Hall). Al's longed to have an offense that drives fear into opponents since the 2003 Super Bowl year. His (and we all know they are HIS) picks in the first round scream offensive desperation. He is not satisfied with the low-key success of Robert Gallery or the late-breaking success of Michael Huff. Fairly, it should be the offense that is scrutinized.
Our offense wouldn't scare your local high school team. I've seen all the comparisons to Petyon Manning in his first year and I don't by a second of that nonsense. If you're throwing out those comparisons, ask yourselves this......
Does JaMarcus Russell really appear to be anywhere near the same type of player that Peyton Manning is?
Seriously.
That is one area where statistics are definitely misleading.
Cut the junk.
Opposing defenses are not scared of our offense. Period. They've figured it out.
No matter how many solid backs you have, when you're the defense and you expect a running play and get a running play it's pretty darn easy to stop it. When you're the opposing defense and you expect a running play and the Raiders pass you still don't have to worry, so you might as well still stack eight or nine in the box and blast the QB or the RB on the screen that's thrown.
Cable, Tollner and Russell all need to get better. Obviously. Russell may progress. Russell may regress. But, either way, due to the fact that he's only on the field for about 20 minutes (23:45 against the Broncos), he just ends up a player who only is able to get anything done in practice. If you want a practice player playing under center in games, you might as well give Gradkowski a chance.
If not, well, the whole of the organization might as well just jump on the first Air Asia plane out of the Bay Area.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
This just in....Raider Nation breathes a collective sigh of relief
Well, it's all over, ladies and gentlemen. Nothing more to see here.
The Richard Seymour circus has now folded up the tents and left town. Specifically, it has packed up in Boston and is headed out to the Bay Area.
Seymour has spoken publicly for the first time since the trade and has said that he is excited to be headed to the Raiders, has been in constant contact with the Raiders (specifically Al and Cable) and the delay in reporting was due to being blindsided by the news and having to take care of family issues that were more important than football.
You can check out the entire story here, quotes from Seymour included.
As much as it was a rollercoaster, wondering will he or won't he, what's he holding out for, who's telling the truth and who's not, etc., I give the man credit (given the fact he's not lying, of course). Given the way a lot of professional athletes handle themselves nowadays, I say, "Good for him." Family should be first. Bravo, Richard. And let's keep this in mind too, this is all in the face of the fact that Seymour's agent is the same one that is representing Michael Crabtree and contributing to that fiasco on the other side of the Bay.
Now that Seymour has come out and stated his position and will report, it's time to move on. We have the Chargers coming into our house on Monday night, national television and Seymour on board. Considering the way San Diego has handled us the past it's time that we begin standing up and coaching, playing and cheering like only Raider Nation can. The pieces are falling into place and a huge piece has now shown up and is on board. It's time that we show the NFL that the joke is over and the Silver and Black is back.
The Richard Seymour circus has now folded up the tents and left town. Specifically, it has packed up in Boston and is headed out to the Bay Area.
Seymour has spoken publicly for the first time since the trade and has said that he is excited to be headed to the Raiders, has been in constant contact with the Raiders (specifically Al and Cable) and the delay in reporting was due to being blindsided by the news and having to take care of family issues that were more important than football.
You can check out the entire story here, quotes from Seymour included.
As much as it was a rollercoaster, wondering will he or won't he, what's he holding out for, who's telling the truth and who's not, etc., I give the man credit (given the fact he's not lying, of course). Given the way a lot of professional athletes handle themselves nowadays, I say, "Good for him." Family should be first. Bravo, Richard. And let's keep this in mind too, this is all in the face of the fact that Seymour's agent is the same one that is representing Michael Crabtree and contributing to that fiasco on the other side of the Bay.
Now that Seymour has come out and stated his position and will report, it's time to move on. We have the Chargers coming into our house on Monday night, national television and Seymour on board. Considering the way San Diego has handled us the past it's time that we begin standing up and coaching, playing and cheering like only Raider Nation can. The pieces are falling into place and a huge piece has now shown up and is on board. It's time that we show the NFL that the joke is over and the Silver and Black is back.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Who loves the Raiders? Obviously not Richard Seymour.
Well, this whole thing was going to be about the silly Richard Seymour situation, but I'm going to take this a different direction. But, I have to get this in here......The Raiders sent him the "five day" letter. Now, it sounds like one of two things is happening.
a.) As Adam Schefter is reporting, Seymour is on his way to Oakland and will arrive today. He'll be in uniform and play Monday night, if he passes his physical.
b.) The Boston Globe is reporting that the NFLPA is going to file a grievance on Seymour's behalf stating that "five day letters" don't apply to traded players and the trade should be nullified.
I hope it's option 'a,' but who knows. I think we'd all be hoping for option 'a,' if for no other reason than to get this thing put to bed and so we can stop hearing about it and have the situation continue to give the national media and NFL fans more ammo to call the Raiders a joke. Second, I don't want to have to hear Mike Greenberg beat the dead horse for the entire broadcast on Monday night. Third, let's all be honest, the run defense needed help. Bad. And, if this is how Al and the coaching staff (well, mostly Al) see fit to address the issue, then I'm in support. If Seymour plays up to past form, he should be a great asset to the defensive front four. I'm most interested to see how the fans react to him, when (if) he's introduced as the starting defensive end on Monday night.
Wonder what this may now mean for William Joseph? I'm sure he's enjoyed being cut to make room for Seymour when the trade was made, then added back on the roster when Seymour failed to show up and now wondering what's going to become of his status with the Raiders.
On a secondary note. I got a phone call the other day and during that telephonic discussion, I heard something that was utterly shocking. I couldn't help but ask in a loud, shrill manner (kind of like Goose in Top Gun), "What?!?!?!"
The suspense killing you, yet? Didn't think so.
And, actually, I'm glad it's not killing you. Why do I say that you ask? It's because I can't let the cate out of the bag, so I don't anyone being harmed due to the suspense. Such is the way of the world. You get to be in a spot of privilege and it unfortunately comes with responsibility. As much as it pains me to do it, I have to exercise that responsibility. I apologize for the tease. But, it does have to do with the Raiders and it is something that I'd never ever thought I'd hear. Ever.
A couple notes going into the game Monday night......
-Darren McFadden will get the start at RB
- Jonathan Holland got converted from WR to DB yesterday and will stay at the DB position for the indefinite future with the practice squad
- Nick Miller (my boy) did not practice yesterday (shin splints) and is questionable for Monday night. If he's down, Johnnie Lee Higgins will be the man on kick returns. We also have the option of just using JLH on punts and then using Louis Rankin on kick returns
- We'll be starting two rookies at the WR spots. Murphy and Heyward-Bey will get the start, with Walker coming in off the bench
- Keep an eye on JaMarcus Russell. Monday will be the first game of what is supposed to be his "breakout" year. Monday could very well set the tone for what's to come the rest of the season
a.) As Adam Schefter is reporting, Seymour is on his way to Oakland and will arrive today. He'll be in uniform and play Monday night, if he passes his physical.
b.) The Boston Globe is reporting that the NFLPA is going to file a grievance on Seymour's behalf stating that "five day letters" don't apply to traded players and the trade should be nullified.
I hope it's option 'a,' but who knows. I think we'd all be hoping for option 'a,' if for no other reason than to get this thing put to bed and so we can stop hearing about it and have the situation continue to give the national media and NFL fans more ammo to call the Raiders a joke. Second, I don't want to have to hear Mike Greenberg beat the dead horse for the entire broadcast on Monday night. Third, let's all be honest, the run defense needed help. Bad. And, if this is how Al and the coaching staff (well, mostly Al) see fit to address the issue, then I'm in support. If Seymour plays up to past form, he should be a great asset to the defensive front four. I'm most interested to see how the fans react to him, when (if) he's introduced as the starting defensive end on Monday night.
Wonder what this may now mean for William Joseph? I'm sure he's enjoyed being cut to make room for Seymour when the trade was made, then added back on the roster when Seymour failed to show up and now wondering what's going to become of his status with the Raiders.
On a secondary note. I got a phone call the other day and during that telephonic discussion, I heard something that was utterly shocking. I couldn't help but ask in a loud, shrill manner (kind of like Goose in Top Gun), "What?!?!?!"
The suspense killing you, yet? Didn't think so.
And, actually, I'm glad it's not killing you. Why do I say that you ask? It's because I can't let the cate out of the bag, so I don't anyone being harmed due to the suspense. Such is the way of the world. You get to be in a spot of privilege and it unfortunately comes with responsibility. As much as it pains me to do it, I have to exercise that responsibility. I apologize for the tease. But, it does have to do with the Raiders and it is something that I'd never ever thought I'd hear. Ever.
A couple notes going into the game Monday night......
-Darren McFadden will get the start at RB
- Jonathan Holland got converted from WR to DB yesterday and will stay at the DB position for the indefinite future with the practice squad
- Nick Miller (my boy) did not practice yesterday (shin splints) and is questionable for Monday night. If he's down, Johnnie Lee Higgins will be the man on kick returns. We also have the option of just using JLH on punts and then using Louis Rankin on kick returns
- We'll be starting two rookies at the WR spots. Murphy and Heyward-Bey will get the start, with Walker coming in off the bench
- Keep an eye on JaMarcus Russell. Monday will be the first game of what is supposed to be his "breakout" year. Monday could very well set the tone for what's to come the rest of the season
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