Dear Al Davis:
You are one of the legends of the NFL. Under your watch, the Oakland Raiders were one of the most dominant teams from the mid-1970s to early ’80s. You have done many, many things correctly as owner and general manager of the Raiders, from cultivating the most iconic fan base in all of sports, to bringing the team back to Oakland after everyone realized what a pit Los Angeles is, to not messing with the jersey and logo, sticking with a brand and look that works.
(Watch his new movie, “Zombie Owners From Outer Space”)
The problem is that all of your good decisions are now at least 5 years old, and after an extended period of hilariously incompetent management, the Oakland Raiders are arguably the worst franchise in the NFL.
The success has gone. Oakland has been bad enough to draft in the top 7 in each of the last five seasons (they traded the #7 pick in 2005 for Randy Moss, and lord, did that ever go perfectly), and they have so little to show for it that they’ll probably end up right back in that top tier of the draft board. Robert Gallery, supposedly the “safest” pick in the 2004 draft, has more position changes (two) than Pro Bowl appearances (zero) in his career. Fabian Washington, for whom you traded up twice in 2005, has already been shipped off to Baltimore. Michael Huff just got benched for some guy named Hiram, and that offense that features Jamarcus Russell and Darren McFadden, just racked up 77 yards in an entire game (the Raiders, shockingly, lost).
Then there’s the issue of DeAngelo Hall. Hall was released halfway through his first season with the team, ensuring that you got absolutely nothing to show for his time other than $8 million fewer dollars and two fewer draft picks. Even trading him for, like, Koy Detmer would have been more beneficial than an outright release.
And oh good Lord the coaching carousel. What an epic disaster. Do you realize how traumatic it is for a team to get a new coach and start from scratch two or three times a year? Winning is impossible like that.
I beg of you, Al Davis, one single request: Stop. Stop. Stop. You are making things so much worse than they need to be in Oakland. Your management style has gone from cutthroat to retarded. This is like finding a hole at the bottom of a boat, and trying to fix it by shooting at it. Stop shooting.
I know you want to be like Jerry Jones and have your fingerprints all over a successful franchise, but seriously, the Oakland Raiders are horrible. They will continue to be horrible unless you hire a real general manager and stop making all the decisions yourself. They need consistency, not hysterical, hair-trigger overreaction.
Oh, and fix your teeth or something, because you seriously scare the living hell out of me.
2:20 pm on November 7th, 2008
Don't forget highest payroll in the NFL. Ahh, insult to injury.
2:54 pm on November 7th, 2008
No, let Al remain as leader of the Raiders. No NFL owner has offered up so much unintentional comedy.
2:55 pm on November 7th, 2008
Actually they are number 15 in payroll at $104,318,942…the Redskins have the highest payroll at $121,936,484….but they could pay me and you and some of our buddies $50 a game and we would have as many wins as them if not more.
3:00 pm on November 7th, 2008
Thank you, Al Davis, for making Dan Snyder seem sane in comparison,
3:06 pm on November 7th, 2008
If I didn't know better, I'd think you're trying to say that Al Davis is a bad owner.
3:09 pm on November 7th, 2008
As a Raider fan, thanks for running a proud franchise into the ground
3:15 pm on November 7th, 2008
You didn't even have to mention the Lane Kiffin press conference or Dennis Herrera threatening a reporter when he asked Kiffin what he thought about Herrera handing out ESPN reports about Kiffin's coaching mistakes. As a Bay Area resident, our teams are terrible this year but at least with the 49ers you get the feeling that they are trying.
5:46 pm on November 7th, 2008
He's a legend all right - a legendary lunatic!
6:14 pm on November 7th, 2008
P.S. Get a haircut, you hippie!
6:39 pm on November 7th, 2008
Los Angeles is a pit, but Oakland isn't? You obviously don't get around much.
6:48 pm on November 7th, 2008
I'm surprised Al Davis doesn't try to re-hire John Madden as coach.
8:02 pm on November 7th, 2008
Shame on you for criticizing Al Davis. Why, he's done a marvelous job!
/Chiefs fan
8:54 pm on November 7th, 2008
The Oakland Raiders are arguably the worst franchise in the NFL. WHAT ??? How could you even BEGIN to compare them with the Lions??? You better take a good look at the accomplishments the RAIDERS have and then check out the LIONS ,,You will feel much better like after taking ALKA SELTZER and Ibuprofen for a hangover.
The article has no merit at all when you compare the RAIDERS to the LIONS. OK SURE things have been bad as of late but at least you can look back on better times. I am 47 and the guess how many big games the lions have won in my life?? ONE PLAYOFF win. ONE SINCE Millie MILLEN came to town we have been struggling to reach FUTILITY ! Thats how bad the LIONS are and now we are starting a QB that your team cut! HOW MUCH WORSE CAN IT GET?? MY GOSH WE LOST TO THE FRIGGIN BEARS ! QUIT YOUR BELLY-ACHIN I DONT WANNA HEAR IT!
10:36 pm on November 7th, 2008
Al,
I was at your funeral, and as a Chiefs fan, I must say, you looked better than you have for several years.
powercat
9:24 pm on November 9th, 2008
I couldn't agree more! I live in the midwest, and am a die hard Raider fan, which is not easy in chief country. Please hire a general manager to run the team, and stop making decisions. It is time for the Black and Silver to rise again, but you are holding them back. QUIT firing our young coaches and/or running them off(Gruden), and please stop hiring guys that have no clue what they are doing. For goodness sake, if we are going to be futile , at least do it through young players, and quit rolling the dice on other teams rejects.
3:22 pm on December 31st, 2008
The Raiders will be back!!! You can't be at the top all the time, & this just happens to be our bad time. No matter who coaches this team, they will shake off the losing attitude & have a huge turn around in '09. We're coming for you Chargers…