If nothing else, the ongoing soap opera unfolding before our eyes in Oakland has produced some rather humorous comments from former Raiders, and led to a lot of people piling on owner Al Davis, which apparently, is very easy to do. The latest person to jump on the pile? Former pro bowl quarterback Rich Gannon, who didn't exactly sugarcoat what he thought of the current climate in Oakland.ProFootballTalk offers some of Gannon's criticisms during his appearance on Sirius NFL Radio.
"And they have problems, there's no question. It's an organization that is going through a very difficult period. It's an organization, in my opinion, that is dysfunctional. They have a lot of issuesGannon continued by saying, "it's not a tough place to work, it's an impossible place to work," and then spent some time talking about how much success former coaches such as Jon Gruden and Mike Shanahan had after they were forced out of the Raiders' Head Coaching position.
And then there's the latest in the revolving door of head coaches, Tom Cable.
"This guy, Tom Cable, the poor guy, does that he think he is more equipped and better prepared than his predecessors? In other words, if Gruden couldn't make it there and Bill Callahan couldn't make it there and then if Norv Turner couldn't make it there and then Art Shell couldn't make it there and then Lane Kiffin couldn't make it there, why does he think, all of a sudden, he's going to make it there? I don't understand."In other words, good luck, Tom! You're going to need it. Honestly, there's really nothing new here that we haven't heard before: bad place to work, dysfunctional, Al is crazy, etc. etc. etc.
To me, the Raiders sound like a real life version of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant from The Simpsons. Think about it. You've got Al Davis playing the role of C. Montgomery Burns, the ageless billionaire running the ship into the ground who would probably sell his own mother if the price was right.
John Herrera, Davis' right-hand man/yes-man, plays the role of the loyal assistant Waylon Smithers, while Davis' legal counsel, Jeff Birren, fits in as the blue-haired attorney who always shows up to make sure Monty doesn't get the plant shut down. Tom Cable, I suppose, is the new Homer Simpson, plugging along in sector 7-G, putting in his time, trying his best to avoid the inevitable meltdown.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
10-01-2008 @ 10:24PM
Tim said...
Al Davis should retire! He has lost touch with football and what it takes to build a winner! He should see a doctor after the display he put on describing why he fired the coach. Who really wants to work for this person. The NFL should require Davis to have a mental exam!!!!
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10-01-2008 @ 9:33PM
Dave said...
Rich Gannon should remember that if Al and the Raiders hadn't given him a chance he would have concluded what was a very boring career as a Chiefs backup. The Raiders gave him a chance, he was a great QB for them, and now has a sweet gig talking on TV. If it weren't for the Raiders, he'd be selling insurance or something. Nice way to show your appreciation Rich!
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10-01-2008 @ 10:24PM
rick said...
Calm down, Dave. Are you a Davis family member or what? Al Davis is a psycho nut case. In his younger days, he was cutting edge cool. No he's a screeching, angry and demented windbag.
In my view, only the wacko from Dallas is worse. Al is in good company with Jerry.
10-01-2008 @ 10:27PM
Joe campbell said...
I bleed black and silver. I have beena raider fan from my childhood days in Brooklyn New York When George Blander was the kicker and back up QB to the mad bomber Daryl Lamonica. No body is a more loyal fan loyal. During the the 1980 wild card year I was burned in the hospital burned over 78% of my body> I lived each week to see The Raiders do what nobody had done before win from the wild card. If Rich Gannon has something to say let it be said. You cannot fix a problem until it is identified. Maybe if more of the players told Al the truth he might see the light and let his coach coach and he might just sit back and enjoy his team. Al built a team. He was a good coach and commissioner. It is time he must realize he stepped down as coach and to give his coach the power and control to bring the black and silver back to it's true glory!!
10-02-2008 @ 12:09PM
John said...
Actually Dave, he'd be an attorney with a thriving legal career. You may or may not be aware of it, but coming out of college when the Patriots asked him to line up at DB, he so FO. He was going to play QB in the NFL or go back to school to finish his legal degree.
It's been well documented that Rich came into town and cleaned house as much as or even more than Gruden had. In fact, Gruden hasn't been much as an NFL coach without Rich Gannon. Who made who? I'd say Rich's sinew, that which kept him in the NFL, that so held on when there were so many doubters about him is why Rich was given a shot by the Raiders, thus giving us a brief but happy reign, and himself a place in the media today.
10-02-2008 @ 10:12PM
Jim Plunkett said...
Couldn"t agree more. No one was harder-working or more intense than Rich Gannon, but he owes a lot to the Raider organization and Al Davis so screw him and his comments.
10-02-2008 @ 10:25PM
Mike said...
I always thought Gannon's great success came from the fact that he was a Bi-Polar savant. It sure wasn't because of that noodle-arm of his. I've just lost total respect for that backstabbing Gannon. There used to be a saying in Oakland. 'Once a Raider, always a Raider". I guess Gannon is a member of the Pepsi generation, not the Raider Nation.
Shame on him.
Gannon once said (of his Super Bowl meltdown) "That one game may define my career as a QB to critics, but it doesn't define me as a man". I suppose his numerous petulant tantrums on the sidelines with that vein sticking out of his neck on national tv would be a better way to define him as a man? That, of course, & this interview where he trashes his old boss who gave him a chance to revive his underachieving career.
Rich Gannon has just said more about himself than he did about Al & the franchise.
10-04-2008 @ 10:59AM
Robert said...
Right on. Before the Raiders, Gannon was basically a backup and was married to Bill Brown's daughter (Brown was a running back for the Vikings)
10-01-2008 @ 10:35PM
georgechicago8 said...
i agree with dave. people forget where they come from i'm sure if he would have been offered the job he would have jumped on it.maybe he's mad he didn't.
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10-02-2008 @ 10:39AM
ken ouellette said...
Al Davis needs to retire. He is a disgrace to the NFL. He signed Kiffin to a contract and now doesn't want to honor it. The league needs to step in and force Al to honor it, as well as repay Shanahan what he is owed also.
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10-02-2008 @ 10:39AM
jxc8 said...
I am a longtime Raider fan and I must say Al Davis is senile. To air that dirty laundry in public was very hard for me to take. As Kiffin said it was embarrassing, not just for him but for me as well. I am not a Kiffin backer, I say this as I love the Raiders, I just dont think Al should have done that. He is trying to destroy this kid, plain and simple. Al may look old and feeble but he can be quite vicious when he has been crossed, that whole press conference was about smearing the Kiffin name and 2.6 million dollars. Al is playing the victim here and plain and simple he is not!
Did Kiffin do a bad job and deserve firing, yes and no! Obviously, a change had to be made for the sake of the team. The media attention was distracting the team or could do so, it was the right time to fire Kiffin. But no way in hell will I agree with what Al Davis did in public, its damn embarrassing and nothing will ever change that fact. Al Davis, step down and take your petty vendettas with you.
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10-02-2008 @ 10:26PM
Mike said...
Well, Kiffin did like to "dish it out" with his snide, backhanded remarks to the media. Should we count? He was constantly on Walker & Henderson. He never seemed to be on board with Jam. He constantly made derisive comments about Kelly & Sands' & Warren's conditioning.
He was constantly blaming Al for the "lack of roster depth", seemingly oblivious to $200M the old man spent in the off season. He whined about Ryan, & ran from any blame about the D. How can anyone defend him?
What have I forgotten? I wonder how many player agents called him & told him to stfu? NOW, the shoe is on the other foot, & he's suddenly "sick to his stomach"? Now he knows what it's like to be Javon Walker.
He had no problem throwing the organization under the bus, but he can't stand to take it? As I was watching the Press conference, I just felt like Al had made his mind up: "If that stupid kid loves to shoot his mouth off to reporters, let's see how HE likes it". That's how I see it.
10-03-2008 @ 6:43PM
RAIDER for Life Alex said...
Its about time Al Fire a guy with NO head coaching exper, not to mention It seemed like he was TRYING to get fired every week by handing away wins in a gift wrap..... Lets keep Rob Ryan because he is doing a great job, his D just has a problem staying on the field 59 out of 60 min's..... Bring in Mike Marts who make sorry players like Bulger, Osalovin, and Kitna, tear up the stats year in and year out....two words MIKE MARTZ..........
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10-02-2008 @ 12:28PM
Raymond said...
I love my team, I love my sport...But, I only want a team (team owner that is) that wants to be here!!!!!
If Al Davis wants to leave and go back to LA. he needs to leave our team name and colors for the next owner...
He should leave Oakland, because he is make us look like a bunch of whiners instead of winners....
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10-02-2008 @ 1:11PM
jraintdead said...
John said...
In fact, Gruden hasn't been much as an NFL coach without Rich Gannon.
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Are you forgetting the Super Bowl win Gruden has as coach of the 'Bucs?
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10-02-2008 @ 1:30PM
DQ said...
To bad that was another coaches team... what have they done since that team was broken up?
10-02-2008 @ 2:42PM
adam said...
well, they've made it to the playoffs! what have the raiders done since then. and this is coming from a raider fan. i have been pissed off at al since the day he traded away our best coach in years, and our 4th super bowl with him!!
10-04-2008 @ 11:00AM
Robert said...
It is well documented that Gruden won with Tony Dungy's players; even Gruden noted this.
10-02-2008 @ 1:25PM
pojonz said...
Mr.Davis was right to fire Lame Shitfin.He was quick to publicly point out everyones mistakes but his own.His and Ryans 4th qtr,play calling is the reason were 1-3 instead of 3 -1.not Mr. Davis.we have a good team.the most disappointing player is Dangilo Hall.He talks a good game but hasnt played a good game yet.Micheal Huff,Ronald Curry & Jovan Walker also needs to step up there game.Walker gets a little slack because of injury. We need him to be at least 80 percent of what we think he is.We are an attacking team.Thats what we have to do to win.Attack on offense & defense all game long.We are the Raiders.We dont care who you are or what you think.On the field we do what we want & you cant stop us.Thats the mentallity Mr.Davis has and wants from his coaches and players.
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10-02-2008 @ 10:25PM
DQ said...
I've been a Raiders fan my whole life haveing an old brother raised in the bay area and I don't get as much Raider news as I'd like being from Detroit where our team is... let's be nice and say sub-par but we have been going through similar drama all going back to an owner who many beleive is out of touch and needs to walk away... the biggest difference is Davis has built winning teams in the past... Ford has built a really nice staduim... so before you condem Al think about that. Just Win Baby!
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