Raiders Ban Rich Gannon From TV Production Meetings

Rich Gannon was the MVP of the 2002 NFL season, leading Oakland to an AFC championship and Super Bowl berth. That's where things began to unravel between Gannon and the Raiders, though.

Gannon threw five interceptions in a Super Bowl XXXVII loss to Tampa Bay, then suffered serious injuries in 2003 and 2004. And now the Raiders don't even want him in the same building -- according to the San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland team officials have banned Gannon from participating in pregame television production meetings with his CBS crew, a direct violation of NFL policy.

"Rich Gannon is not welcome here," Raiders executive John Herrera told the Chronicle. "We told CBS we did not want him in our building, we did not want him to be part of our production meeting, and that's where it sits."

Herrera went on to argue that Gannon has repeatedly bashed the Raiders since becoming a TV analyst, quoting Gannon as saying that Oakland should just "blow up the building and start over" -- a statement that apparently sent Herrera and the rest of the Raiders franchise over the edge.

"We think in a post 9/11 world, that's not a very proper thing to say," Herrera told the Chronicle. "It's uncalled for. He seems to be a guy who can't get over the fact that he played the worst Super Bowl game in the history of the game and he wants to blame everybody but himself.

"I guess it's our fault he threw five interceptions."

Yeah, I can't imagine any reason Gannon would be jaded toward the Raiders ...

When the Chronicle asked LeslieAnne Wade, CBS' senior vice president of communications, about the situation, she backed Gannon: ""Rich Gannon is an objective and analytical broadcaster and he will be broadcasting the game as assigned by CBS."

NFL rules dictate that all teams must make the head coach and players available to the crew broadcasting a game for production meetings. The Raiders' decision to lock Gannon out will almost certainly lead to a fine from the league.

Sunday's Denver at Oakland game is blacked out in a 75-mile radius around the Oakland Coliseum because the Raiders failed to achieve a sellout.

(Update, Sept. 26: Because of the NFL's television rules, the Raiders decided to allow Gannon into the required meetings. "We have relented," Herrera said.)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)

9-25-2009 @ 10:14PM

Trajan said...

Rich Gannon was banned from the Raider TV production meetings because (AL DAVIS and his rediculous cronies) can't handle Gannon's truthful critique of the Raiders, especially that of JeMarcus Russell. Gannon is a competitor and a winner, and it will take the mindset of someone like him to bring the Raiders back, not the twisted mindset of the current regime, which has reduced this once proud franchise to a household JOKE!!! Just look at the Raider's latest draft. Heyward-Bey was an average receiver at best, with very suspect hands, yet was drated 7th overall because of one thing: Speed. Unfortunately, speed doesn't guarantee success in the NFL, just ask Rod Woodson, and the definition of insanity states that when you do something over and over again expecting a different result from what is actually happening, you fall into the category of insanity. Al Davis is obsessed with speed, and this obsession year in and year out has ruined draft after draft, hurting the Raiders, and proving that the old man, by definition, is INSANE!!! Good for you Gannon. Keep telling the truth and maybe one day the Raiders will be back to respectability.

9-25-2009 @ 11:10PM

ChrisH said...

Why would you use Rod Woodson as an example that "speed doesn't guarantee success in the NFL". Rod Woodson was incredibly fast, but he also made the 75th Anniversary Team, and the Hall of Fame, and was great in addition to being fast. Perhaps picking an example of someone who was fast, but without football skills, would be better.

9-26-2009 @ 8:11AM

WWLeake said...

Learn to spell. The R word is spelled with an i not a e.

9-26-2009 @ 1:52PM

frrrfddd said...

AMEN Brother Al need's to let someone els run the team and just be a fan and watch the games from his owner's box and get rid of all his yes men

9-26-2009 @ 9:02PM

Hugh said...

About 2/3 of the NFL's revenue comes from TV. We're talking tens of billions of dollars here so if TV wants him there, he's there. Even Al Davis (as crazy as he is) couldn't win that one and he knows it.

9-27-2009 @ 12:29AM

kingdarientha1st said...

do you mean ask Rod Woodson as in he has the answer or as in he is an example?because uh....he is not at all any kind of example...dudes in the hall of fame my man..BUT...if you are in fact telling us to ask him because he knows then ...I guess I hear you on that

nicholaspsyr said...

I agree with all of what you have said, but there are 100s of better examples at wide receiver or running back than Rod Woodson. You may think he should have been better but he was an elite pro bowl corner for a number of years. better examples are James Jett, Currie, no hands Jerry Porter or Rocket Ismail whose speed was good as return man but never a playmaker on offense like expected. John Lee Higgins appears to be the same type of player. Some of the speedy little running backs of recent years have been questionable including current high draft pick Darren McFadden. Maybe they will finnaly draft a offensive linemen.

9-27-2009 @ 9:46AM

thatguystreets said...

The only problem that the Raiders have is AL DAVIS. That's why Jon Gruddan left.

9-27-2009 @ 1:50PM

mickey said...

A lot of gangs like to flash the Raiders logo around to advertise the misfits that they are. I guess misery loves company, losers stick together.

9-25-2009 @ 10:30PM

amcled1 said...

All of the criticism towards Al Davis may be justified for some. But, that doesn't change the fact that Rich Gannon forgot what Davis said a long time ago and that is.."Just win baby"! lol

9-26-2009 @ 12:46AM

jdbreeze1 said...

Well Al seems to have forgotten that as well.

9-27-2009 @ 12:44AM

"just win baby"? Al Davis does not want to Win unless its using his old run short, pass deep, play hard style that does not work in this day an age. He is a pathetic shell of a man who still thinks he can coach. whenever he gets a young creative coach in recent years, he micomanages them out of league. the way he handles the last few coachs should show his family, friends and other Oakland management to somehow get him to retire. At least George Steinbrenner knew enough to get out of Joe Torres way for 7 or 8 yrs.

9-25-2009 @ 11:15PM

BlackJack said...

Rich Gannon is a complete idiot I remember that dumb azz,when Jerry Rice was at the end of his career and was adding to his consecutive game streak of at least one catch per game and that clown didn't throw a catchable a pass his way all day the idiot said "Well if I know Jerry he will just start another streak" duh double duh damn can you get ant stupid-er!!!

9-26-2009 @ 4:13AM

red79225 said...

lol before you talk about someone being stupid take care of your own stupidity..like you're stupid typing lol...

9-25-2009 @ 11:44PM

Kevin said...

Time to vote Da Raiders off the island

9-26-2009 @ 12:10AM

Albert S. said...

Not the Raiders, just Alhseimers Davis . Wait a minute never mind he has been off the PLANET for a few years now.

9-26-2009 @ 9:51PM

snoopysco said...

I would have to agree. Not the raiders, but Al Davis. He's a control freak and really doesn't give a rats azz if the raiders are successful or not, so long as things go his way and he has a sap ass head coach to take the blame when it isn't his fault. The raiders will be a better team when Al is no longer around.