Al Davis Holds Bizarre Press Conference to Denounce Ex-Coach Lane Kiffin

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis held a bizarre, rambling press conference in which he explained why he had fired head coach Lane Kiffin today.

Davis said Kiffin is a liar, that he engages in propaganda to make the Raiders look bad, that Kiffin was responsible for many of the Raiders' bad personnel moves, and that Kiffin cannot be trusted. Other than that, it sounds like they have a great relationship.

An interesting side note came when Davis ripped ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen, accusing him of being a professional peddler of falsehoods. Davis clearly thinks Kiffin is the source of negative reporting that Mortensen has done on the Raiders.

Davis also said he would have fired Kiffin for his dishonesty no matter what the Raiders' record was, that he gave Kiffin all the authority a head coach needs, that Kiffin wanted to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and that Kiffin never wanted to draft quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

Kiffin will have his say soon, I'm sure, but for now, Davis wants the world to think that Kiffin is a liar, and that's why he was fired.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

9-30-2008 @ 6:54PM

giant fan since 57 said...

Al Davis has lost his mind.....

9-30-2008 @ 7:09PM

da DUCK said...

Only Thing Bizarre Here is the OWNer.

Kiffin is a Good Young Coach Who Will Succeed in the NFL
. . . . . elsewhere.

I know how the Cub's and Raiders' Fans Feel and Bleed. Been There.

9-30-2008 @ 7:26PM

Tim said...

Don't forget with all of Kiffin's authority Kiffin wasn't allowed to make a player inactive for a game that Davis wanted on the field. Davis considered that a power move against him. How dare the head coach decide who he wants on the field.

9-30-2008 @ 7:29PM

t said...

Al Davis is obviously suffering from dementia and is complete denial of his illness. It's pretty sad, really. I hope he retires soon and learns to enjoy his life instead of constantly interfering with his team in vain hope of making one last victorious SB run before he passes.

He's been a big influence in the league, but he's been out of his mind for a few years now.

What a shame to see a whole team victimized by a mentally ill owner....

9-30-2008 @ 7:31PM

What a sad, sad sick old man Davis is.

9-30-2008 @ 7:46PM

John Angelini said...

Kiffin's a class act coach that didn't know the feeble and eccentric Davis was an inbred nut case. Kiffin meant well and struggled to implement a class act program with not so great talent. All he needed was time and Al Davis to be confined to a straight jacket and muzzle.

Kiffin is young and will emerge as a great coach in the near future given the right opportunity.

michael a smith said...

im a browns fan thinking of romeo,but this firing in oakland makes me mad because al davis never gave him a chance to set what players he wanted,al davis is nothing but a big communist pig,especially when he said he wouldnt honor his contract.the nfl should step in and order al davis pay off the cotract or face a big hefty fine and suspension. i wish the nfl would buy him out

9-30-2008 @ 7:50PM

gd said...

Its sad to say, its hard to say but Davis needs to be committed for Dementia, I'm sure all those on the sugar teat will disagree but the man needs help, bad, now.

9-30-2008 @ 7:53PM

BTP said...

Actually, he didn't sound nearly as bat-S crazy as I expected him to. He pointed out specific issues and instances to show that he thought Kiffin was being underhanded. He seemed steadfast in his statements, and did not seem shifty in the slightest.

Couple that with the very shady interview Kiffin conducted with Wingo on ESPN and I wonder if the crazy old coot is in the right. Lane answered questions in a manner that was not confident, and looked to the side as if trying to conjure up answers. All in all, I walked away with a little more respect for Davis than I used to have.

10-05-2008 @ 5:28AM

Snoopy said...

Respect for Al Davis huh?!?!?!

I'm a Raider Fan, 30 years. Nevertheless I suggest you read what Warren Sapp said about the Raiders and you too will come to only one conclusion.

AL-bert DAVIS is insane.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3622637

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3623117

SADLY, Case Closed.

9-30-2008 @ 8:48PM

Jill Brenneman said...

Al Davis is abysmal. Whether Kiffin was up to the job will never be known. First, Al hires after a bunch of failures, Bill Callahan, Art Shell, Norv Turner, although Norv may win a super bowl with San Diego this year so the failure may be AL again, either way Kiffin didn't get a fair amount of time. Kiffin didn't lose the team and was undermined at an astonishing level. Al Davis needs to fire himself.

We talk about this tonight on talk radio xxbn www.xxbn.net 930 Eastern

9-30-2008 @ 9:50PM

GreatR said...

Al, if you gave him all the authority he needed to be successful, why can't he have his own Defensive Coordinator? What Head Coach isn't allowed to either lead the draft team or be a major contributor? (I know the answers and as I imagine you short term memory isn't any better than your organizational managment.skills.....the answer to all questions is "Al makes all the decisions and if they go bad he blames it on one of his employees." You are the best thing that every happened to my team (the Chargers)...now we have two easy wins every year......

10-01-2008 @ 7:16AM

Elsquare said...

Al Davis has neverbeen a sportsman. He owns a majority interest in a professional sports franchise; but,he still lacks gentlemanly forbearance, style, grace, dignity and class. He does, however, make Tony Kornheiser look quite presentabale. About the only thing Al has going for him is he makes Tony Kornheiser loo quite presentable.

10-01-2008 @ 3:20AM

marco said...

Al is seriously undermining my desire to be associated with this franchise as a fan. Its a hard realisation to come to after 18 years.

10-01-2008 @ 1:14AM

don said...

In his prime, Al Davis was as clever and ruthless an owner that the national Football league has ever seen.

Today he is but a caricature of the man he once was. It seems that those who took no prisoners on their climb to the top always expose themselves as buffoons in their later years as their minds distort reality and fade slowly into dymentia...

10-01-2008 @ 3:10AM

skinsfans3 said...

I have great repsect for the Oakland Raiders and Raider Nation, but they'll always be watching the Super Bowl on television as long as Al Davis owns them. Sadly, the phrase " Black Hole " seems totally appropriate.

10-01-2008 @ 12:27PM

Bronc1313 said...

This sounds like another of Al Davis' great coaching moves like when he fired a young coach by the name of Mike Shannahan who eventually went on to win back to back Super Bowls good luck Lane I hope you get picked up somewhere in the AFC West so you can stick to Al twice a year. The man is clearly insane and I hope he gets in his hoverround and decides to coach the pathetic Raiders.

10-01-2008 @ 1:27PM

louieb said...

Al Davis is a sad old man who should just retire.........

10-01-2008 @ 2:50PM

Jim Graz said...

Tell Mr.Davis Im for hire ill do the job for about 350,000 a year and i can make his team a winner LOL i can see Al davis getting some joe off the street to be coach.. Or maybe it will be like the movie little big leauge when davis passes on his 15yr grandson will inherit the team and make him self coach !!! LOL