Oakland Raiders

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Time for the NFL's Rooney Rule to be rescended

By Patrick Patterson | January 7, 2009 | Thoughts from the Dark Side

Willie Brown and Rob Ryan are both assistant coaches for the Raiders. Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports.com

Once again, it is the offseason for the majority of the NFL. Since it is early in the offseason, the coaching carousel is spinning. Coaches have been fired, and teams are looking for replacements. The usual names are flying around as to who is going to go where. However, before a team can hire the coach they are targeting, they have to be sure to interview a "minority" candidate so they don't violate the "Rooney Rule" which results in a fine, lost draft pick, and a tongue lashing from Jesse Jackson.It was Al Davis and the Raiders that broke the "color barrier" by hiring Art Shell as their head coach in 1989. Since then, there has been a proliferation of black coaches, with some having great success like Tony Dungy with the Indianapolis Colts and others failing miserably. At this point in time, NFL owners want winners. They want the...

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: 49ers, Al Davis, Arizona Cardinals, Art Shell, Bears, Browns, Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Colts, Dan Rooney, Dough Williams, Herman Edwards, Indianapolis Colts, Jets, Jim Haslett, Kansas City Chiefs, Ken Wizenhunt, Lovie Smith, Mike Singletary, Mike Tomlin, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Raiders, Rams, Rooney Rule, Saints, San Francisco 49ers, St Louis Rams, Steelers, Tom Flores, Tony Dungy, Warren Moon

Playoffs?!? BSPN can't stop reporting about the Raiders

By Rob Calonge | January 5, 2009 | Thoughts from the Dark Side

Mortensen has better things to do than talk about playoffs. (ESPN stock photo)

This is the time of year where legends are made. It's the time where dreams are fulfilled and nightmares are created. This is when the true-grit of an NFL team becomes more important than their overall talent, where fans of any of those teams still playing get their fair share of inside information, and where almost every sports story is surrounding an angle on a playoff matchup...or not.

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: AFC, AFC West, Al Davis, Amy Trask, Art Shell, Bill Parcells, Chris Collinsworth, ESPN, Jerry Jones, Jerry Rice, John Madden, Kevin Gilbride, Matt Millen, NFL, Oakland Raider News, Oakland Raiders, Oakland Raiders News, Raider News, Raiders, Raiders News, Rich Gannon, Rod Woodson, Silver and Black, Terry Robiskie, Tim Brown, Tom Cable, Tom Walsh

NFL Rumor Mill: Gilbride, Parcells, Mike Smith

By Greg Trippiedi | January 5, 2009 | MVN Outsider

EaglesChick.com/Flickr.com

The Oakland Raiders have contacted Giants Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride regarding the teams' coaching opening. Former Raider coach Tom Cable could not save his job by winning two games at the end of the season over an 8 win and a 9 win team respectively. Four of the five Raider wins came over non-losing teams, which certainly did not go unnoticed by Al Davis. My question is this: is the Raiders firing their head coach no longer news worthy? Tom Cable's dismissal was basically unreported by the national media. Gilbride has done a good job, and makes a lot of sense for the team that the Raiders want to be. Bill Parcells will be staying with the Miami Dolphins, according to Wayne Huizenga. Reports from ESPN's Chris Mortensen, among others, referred to a clause in Parcells' deal with the Dolphins that he could opt out of his contract and receive...

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers

Oakland Raiders News: Al Davis rumored to be selling more shares

By Patrick Patterson | January 4, 2009 | Thoughts from the Dark Side

Amy Trask at the 2007 Raider Nation Celebration. Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports.com

Rumors have surfaced that Al Davis may be in negotiations to sell more share of the Oakland Raiders. In typical Al fashion, the virtual ink was hardly dry on the espn.com report before John Herrera could send off a response saying that no such thing was happening. According to Chris Mortenson, chief executive Amy Trask has been in negotiations with C. Dean Metropoulos on a transaction that involves his acquiring ten percent of the team. According to Al Davis, Chris Mortenson is a professional liar....

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Al Davis, Amy Trask, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jaguars, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Oakland Raiders News, Raiders, Raiders News

State of the Oakland Raiders offseason 2009

By Patrick Patterson | January 4, 2009 | Thoughts from the Dark Side

Will Aso be walking away from the shield? Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports.com

The Oakland Raiders finished their 2008 season on a high note, but that does nothing to answer all the questions that surround this once proud franchise. The reality of the season is that the Raiders finished with a 5-11 record, which set a record for the most consecutive seasons with eleven plus losses. As it stands, the Oakland Raiders are currently looking for a new head coach, after Tom Cable finished the season as the interim head coach following the firing of Lane Kiffin after week four. The two best players on the Oakland Raiders are both scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, the Raiders are saddled with large contracts associated with free agent mistakes from last offseason, and there are questions abound about the future of the organization.On the flip side, there seemed to be an emergence of some young talent towards the end of the 2008 season upon...

Read more | 3 Comments | Tags: Al Davis, Bill Parcells, Dolphins, JaMarcus Russell, James Lofton, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Kevin Gilbride, Lane Kiffin, Miami Dolphins, Mike Shanahan, NFL, Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Raiders, Raiders, Raiders News, Sebastian Janikowski, Shane Lechler, Tom Cable

Whatever you do Al, don't name Gilbride head coach

By Rob Calonge | January 3, 2009 | Thoughts from the Dark Side

Photo courtesy of alexa627/flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexa627/1132571015/

There must be some sort of gamesmanship going on behind the scenes in Oakland. Why else would there be reports that the Oakland Raiders have requested permission to speak with New York Giants offensive coordinator, Kevin Gilbride? Right? Oh brother! Hiring Gilbride would be akin to re-hiring Art Shell or having Norvell Turner being the head coach...oh wait, that's already happened. Maybe you can do worse than Gilbride as your head coach, but you can definitely do better Al. Let me remind you why.

Read more | 7 Comments | Tags: AFC West, Al Davis, Art Shell, Bill Cowher, Bill Parcells, Bobby Beathard, Chargers, Giants, Kevin Gilbride, Lane Kiffin, New York Giants, NFL, Norv Turner, Oakland Raider News, Oakland Raiders, Oakland Raiders News, Raider News, Raiders, Raiders News, Randy Moss, San Diego Chargers, silver and black, Stan Humphries, Tom Cable, Tony Dungy

Who's the next Oakland Raiders head coach

By Patrick Patterson | January 2, 2009 | Thoughts from the Dark Side

Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports.com

The question at the forefront of the minds of the Raider Nation since Lane Kiffin was fired in September is "Who is going to be the next head coach of the Oakland Raiders?" Tom Cable was the interim head coach for 12 games, and he won four of them including the last two, which means the season ended on a high note for the first time in years. Those final two games give him some credibility in the eyes of many in the Nation, but will that be enough for Al Davis to drop the interim label and name him as head coach for next season? Besides Cable, there have been a few other names mentioned, and here is a rundown of the candidates to be the enxt head coach of the Oakland Raiders....

Read more | 6 Comments | Tags: AFC, Al Davis, Buddy Ryan, Houston Oilers, James Lofton, Jim Fassell, Jon Gruden, Kevin Gilbride, Mike Shanahan, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Paul Hackett, Raider News, Raiders, Raiders News, Rob Ryan, Tom Cable

Happy New Year to the Raider Nation from TFDS

By Patrick Patterson | January 1, 2009 | Thoughts from the Dark Side

Some lovely Raiderettes to cheer on the New Year. Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports.com

Rob, LDizzle, and I would like to wish all of our readers a very happy and safe New Year! 2008 has been a very eventful year here at TFDS, and we would like to thank you all for your continued readership, comments, and support. It means a lot to all three of us for you to take the time out of your day to support our work. Its your readership that makes it worth all the time that we put in.2009 is going to be a year of continued growth and we look forward to sharing it with you guys. We will be busy covering the coaching search, free agency, the draft, mini-camps, training camp and right on into next season.Enjoy your New Year's celebrations, and may you and yours have a blessed and prosperous New Year....

Read more | Discuss | Tags: NFL, Oakland Raiders, Raider Nation, Raiders

NFL Rumor Mill: Gilbride, Parcells, Mike Smith

By Greg Trippiedi | January 5, 2009 | MVN Outsider

EaglesChick.com/Flickr.com

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers

Fantasy Football: Looking Ahead to 2009-Third-Year WRs

By Brad Berreman | December 30, 2008 | MVN Outsider

A common theory in fantasy football is that wide receivers tend to emerge in their third NFL season. Some recent examples include Cleveland's Braylon Edwards (2007) and Denver's Brandon Marshall (2008). With that in mind, here's a look at some notable WRs that will be in their third NFL season in 2009. 1. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions- Despite the disfunction in Detroit, Johnson had a terrific 2008 season. He had 78 receptions for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns. Imagine what he could do if he had consistent QB play. The potential upside is huge. 2. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs- Bowe followed up a solid rookie season with 86 catches for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008. If the Chiefs can find a competent QB of the future, he should continue to post nice numbers for years to come. 3. Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis Colts- Gonzalez had a somewhat...Read more

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Anthony Gonzalez, Arizona Cardinals, Calvin Johson, Detroit Lions, Dwayne Bowe, Fantasy, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Outsider, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders

NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Pennsylvania teams eventually rise to top

By Greg Trippiedi | December 18, 2008 | MVN Outsider

1. Tennessee Titans (12-2) The Titans hold the top spot at least one more week through the loss, but they will have to beat Pittsburgh at home without Albert Haynesworth and Kyle VandenBosch to hold it any further. Good luck guys.2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1)The Eagles jump up to number two this week behind the strength of a third consecutive win, and the Steelers knocking off the Ravens, who beat the Eagles back when this was a team in turmoil. 3. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) Do the Steelers have the greatest defense of all time? Only a championship would validate this. The offense apparently isn't going to assist them until the final two minutes of every game.4. Baltimore Ravens (9-5) The Ravens aren't going to fall too far, falling victim to the "Tuck Rule curse". They should have taken care of business in Pittsburgh, and then it wouldn't have come down to...Read more

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, power poll, Tennessee Titans

Race for the top draft pick

By Patrick Patterson | December 4, 2008 | MVN Outsider

There is great excitement all over the NFL as the playoff races come into clearer focus. However, for the teams at the bottom of the NFL, there is another race going on. They are treading the thin line between playing for pride and knowing that each loss gives them a better chance at a blue chip player in the 2009 draft. Here is how the top 5 should shake up.1. Detroit Lions: Right about now the Lions would lose to a division II NCAA team. There is no doubt that they will be the team on the clock the moment the season ends. Projected finish 1-15. (0-16 just isn't possible, is it?)2. Seattle Seahawks: This draft position actually hinges on their game with the St Louis Rams. This is not how a great coach like Mike Holmgren should go out, but with his retirement already a done deal it will...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, NFL, NFL Draft, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks

A Debt of Gratitude

By Nicolas A. Lewis | November 22, 2008 | MVN Outsider

That is exactly what Lane Kiffin has right now. He was kindly (or not so much) shown the door by Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis earlier this season among lots of the usual questions about how bad the Raiders are, how much was Kiffin's responsibility, and so on. However, now that's all over and done with, Kiffin should probably send Al a fruitcake or some other Christmas present as a way of thanking Davis for sending him on his way. Sounds crazy, right? Thanking a guy for saying "go home, and don't take your money with you, either." Except in firing Kiffin, and doing it during football season to boot, Davis has now provided Kiffin with a head-start and quite possibly his hand-picked choice of one of the many NCAA football coaching jobs that are going to be available at the end of the season. At this very moment, there...Read more

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: ACC, Al Davis, Big East, Clemson TIgers, Greg Robinson, Lane Kiffin, NCAA Football, Oakland Raiders, Pac 10, SEC, Syracuse Orangemen, Tennessee Vols, Utah State Aggies, Washington Huskies

NFL Power Rankings, Week Twelve

By Andrew Strickert | November 18, 2008 | MVN Outsider

1. New York Giants (9-1) The G-men ran all over the Ravens last week in a very impressive performance, which helps to make them early favorites in postseason play. 2. Tennessee Titans (10-0) Just like Ol' Man River, Kerry Collins and the Titans keep rolling on. Their average margin of victory is eleven points per game. 3. Carolina Panthers (8-2) The Panthers are very quietly having a great season. They should continue to be a force as the schedule continues heading into the postseason. 4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) The Steelers defense is playing tough. If Ben Roethlisberger and Willie Parker get healthy, watch out. 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3) Can Jon Gruden take the Bucs to the promised land again? They're playing better than their talent says they should. 6. Washington Redskins (7-3) They've dropped a few spots after losing to the Cowboys but they still have the hosses to...Read more

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins

How can the Raiders be fixed?

By Greg Trippiedi | November 17, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Dismayed with the complete lack of quality play on the field, the longtime Owner of the Oakland-Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders has announced that he will investigate options for bringing in a person to function as a managing partner with regards to the talent on the field.Al Davis would never call this position a "General Manager" but that's essentially what this position would be. Davis will hire one of the few people he trusts to make the Raiders relevant again. What if I was hired by Davis in this capacity? Could I possibly last more than a year, or perhaps even restore the "Commitment to Excellence"?Obviously, major change would be needed, and it would have to start from day one.Step one: Salvaging the 2008 seasonLane Kiffin didn't think he could win with this current roster. Certainly, you can't get more "insider" than head coach of the team, so who am I to...Read more

Read more | 12 Comments | Tags: Al Davis, Karl Dorrell, NFL, Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Raiders

Quote the Ravens Nevermore

By Nicolas A. Lewis | November 16, 2008 | MVN Outsider

That is my request to all of the talking heads that cover the NFL. Just shut the hell up about Baltimore and how awesome Joe Flacco has been as a rookie. There's been so much praise thrown his way, it's amazing it hasn't gone to his head yet. Granted, this was going to be the usual year for Baltimore no matter who their quarterback was. Neither Kyle Boller nor Troy Smith had been exactly stunning coming into this season. Smith was the better of the two, and he's kind of a poor man's Vince Young - which isn't much, given where Vince Young is right now. I have a hard time agreeing with the praise that gets heaped on a player, especially when that player's primary job description is "don't screw it up." Yes, when your defense is as good as Baltimore's, all you really need is an offense that...Read more

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Joe Flacco, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans

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