The San Jose Mercury News' Tim Kawakami must be having all sorts of fun with the Raiders' current predicament. In case you missed it, Kawakami had a contentious exchange with Davis lackey John Herrera following a Sept. press conference from then-head coach Lane Kiffin (who must also be having all sorts of fun right about now).
After the team's latest debaclement -- a 17-6 loss to the Panthers that included four Jake Delhomme interceptions -- Kawakami wonders why the Raiders chose to trot Sebastian Janikowski out for a end-of-game 58-yard field goal since, you know, they're only worth three points.
Could Mr. Big Somebody [Al Davis] have ordered that ridiculous, meaningless Janikowski 58-yard FG attempt, down by 11, simply to try to make sure the Raiders... you know... COVERED THE 9.5-point betting spread?In the end, Kawakami concludes that Davis had another, less sinister motive for going for three: to put some points on the scoreboard. Sure, bookmaking concerns aside, a loss is a loss, whether it's by eight or 80, but, well, this is humiliating, even by Oakland standards: Kiffin averaged 17 points a game last season, and 19.5 points a game through the first four games of 2008. Cable, in the five games since, has seen the Raiders put up 35 points. Total. That's 7 points a game, thank you very much. But it gets more depressing:
No. Can't be anything that craven. Play vs. the spread when you've already lost? Terrible, terrible. Bad form. The NFL frowns on anything that smacks of Las Vegas influence, you know.
Yes, it is EVEN WORSE than the Art Shell/Tom Walsh 2006 Raiders offense, which was the ugliest of all-time but managed 168 total points, or 10.5 per game.I'm starting to think Al Davis might not be very good at running an NFL franchise. World history, on the other hand, is an entirely different story.
And even with that 78-point Kiffin head start, the Cable Raiders, presuming they maintain their 7-a-game rate through the final 7 games, would score 49 more–or 162 total. That's LESS than the Shell/Tom Walsh Raiders. Which was the worst looking offense ever. ... Wow. That's the bottom. The rock and the bottom. That leads to desperate things like sending SeaBass out there for a meaningless 58-yarder.
Sad and desperate.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
11-10-2008 @ 3:22PM
Brian said...
Dumb ass... the were down by 11 when Janikowski attempted that FG. They needed two scores... a FG and a TD + the two pt. conversion no matter what order they came in.
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11-10-2008 @ 4:15PM
754Boy said...
Thank you so much for pointing that out Brian. Thats exactly what I would have done, at LEAST try and get the 3 points.
11-10-2008 @ 4:30PM
RaiderG said...
Thank you Brian, at least it is nice to know someone out there realizes that the Raiders needed 2 scores, and as bad as their offense was, they needed 2 scores and Seabasses long attempt was a quicker way to get one of the scores. Raiders are suffering, and it has been awhile, but I still believe the commentment to win is still there. RAIDERLOVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11-10-2008 @ 5:33PM
fred said...
Brian,
Right...bunch of crooks...!
11-10-2008 @ 4:52PM
Mike said...
Your both are right of course,but for this team,with their record and in trying to give confidence to your team and send a positive signal that you want to compete, then they should have gone for the first down.
Please don't insult any rational persons intelligence with that "smacks" of Vegas statment, we know it's entertainment first and football second ,and the points matter to the industry as a whole!
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11-10-2008 @ 4:43PM
Mr X said...
Dont call out this guy. The only person we should be calling out owner himself AL Davis. He should give up the team. The raiders wont have another winning season with that piece of crap on the sidelines.
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11-10-2008 @ 4:50PM
Dr Blue said...
Wow... That guy must have had a few to drink... LOL
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11-10-2008 @ 5:33PM
Stang said...
There should be an investigation into the entire Raiders orginization
regarding gambling. It was an obvious attempt to cover the spread.
I'm just glad he missed it.............
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11-10-2008 @ 5:33PM
Del Jake said...
Anyone who still roots for this team under Al's guidence
must be a glutton for punishment. They have not had a decent
season since leaving Los Angeles almost a generation ago.
THEY JUST SUCK....thanks to Mr. Davis.
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11-10-2008 @ 5:33PM
Paulie said...
Is Al Davis preparing for a turn as the Crypt Keeper on Tales From The Darkside?
Holy moly.....looks like rigor mortis already set in
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11-10-2008 @ 5:34PM
ERIC said...
If your a Raider fan like me, you would agree that sometimes the only relief to a painful game is to see the booming leg of Sea Bass. I want them to attempt a 70 yard field goal. Sea Bass has the leg and If they wanted to pick up 1 of the 2 scores that they needed with a field goal so be it, makes sense right
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11-10-2008 @ 8:03PM
braiders said...
thank you i am happy with any points hoping that will create a spark bring back some offense to go with the D and git this thing rolling
11-10-2008 @ 5:34PM
Rollando said...
Perhaps owner Al Davis is showing early signs of Alzheimer. If not that, then maybe other form(s) of mental dementia.
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11-10-2008 @ 5:50PM
Toni said...
My dads a raiders fan and im a panther fan so i watch the whole game, everybody is mad at the comments made but be real my panthers had there worse offensive game this year, with 4 int's, and people mad at the reporter and journalist. Be mad at the coach and the owner for not taking advantage of 4 easy tournovers. Good luck ever getting better with Al in control. All that talent and no leadership.
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11-11-2008 @ 9:03AM
Bill said...
Sure it may have been to cover the spread. Having said that, it might be nice to know what my kicker's range is.
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11-10-2008 @ 6:03PM
Tom Moore said...
This reporter and the Raiders....a perfect match.
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11-10-2008 @ 6:09PM
West Coast Dell said...
Maybe Al has Sea Bass as his Fantasy Kicker!
Hey, in my league, field goals of 55-59 are worth an extra 12 bonus points.
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11-10-2008 @ 6:14PM
John said...
What the hell is a "debaclement?"
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11-10-2008 @ 6:24PM
JC said...
Lets FIRE Al Davis and get SCOTT DAVIS (Raider DE 1988-1993, Plainfield High School Graduate, University of Illinois standout) to buy the team! I hear Scott Davis is a Real Estate Mogul in Illinois. SCOTT! SCOTT! SCOTT! Just get rid of Al Davis - its bad for Raider Nation. Team needs a new role model. Hang up your cleats Al!
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11-10-2008 @ 6:46PM
deon said...
I have been a Raider fan since birth and it hurts every year since Gruden was traded to the Bucs the RAIDERS haven't done anything we are the laughing stock of the league me and my homies can get together and have more offensive production than these guys, did AL Davis try to cover the point spread maybe,but at the same time Janakowski with that fieldgoal became the teams alltime leading scorer,the team is bad because of its owner who has destroyed the team. The question should be is someone paying Al Davis to jack up his own team ,or is he ill and know one wants to say anything because his decision making is very suspect.
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