The Raiders decided to use two of their six draft picks on LBs - which makes perfect sense when your team is one of the worst in the league against the rush (#29) - and so Oakland chose S.D. State's Miles Burris with its 2nd pick of the draft and Penn State's 6'2" 241lb OLB, Nathan Stupar, with its sixth pick. Nathan had 100 solo tackles in his four years playing for the Nittany Lions - a school famous for producing LBs and the alma mater of both the Raiders Center, Stefen Wisniewski and the Raiders' 3rd pick in the draft, DE Jack Crawford.

Continue reading this post »

ESPN is reporting that it's almost a done deal "barring snag" that Manning will be Denver's QB. The deal will be for 5 years. The Raiders must improve fast on D - vastly improve getting to the QB.

Last time the Raiders played Peyton - 2010 - his Jersey was clean throughout the entire game (until he bootlegged for a first down). Obviously, the bar has been raised to win the AFC West... So be it!

The deal particulars will follow; for now we know that "Elway and Manning first discussed the parameters of a five-year, $95 million contract during their March 9 meeting..."

C/Gs

61 Wisniewski, Stefen G/C 6-3 31522 2 Penn State - Winner

64 Satele, Samson C 6-3 30027 6 Hawaii - Winner

Brisiel, Mike G/C 6-5 30029 7 Colorado State - Winner

74 Campbell, Bruce G 6-6 31523 3 Maryland - Unproven

70 Hurd, Zach OL 6-7 32523 1 Connecticut - Marginal

65 Parsons, Alex OL 6-4 30024 1 USC - Marginal

Continue reading this post »

Rock Cartwright, a splendid STs player for the Raiders and one of Oakland's four Captains was, apparently, not extended a satisfactory contract offer by the Raiders. The Rock will walk ... across the Bay to the 49rs.

We are watching a young team ... something like 7th or 8th ... become younger by the day. The hoary Carlisle is gone and with him O'l John Henderson, Jason no-spring-chicken-Campbell and his former teammate (twice now) - Rock, the long in the tooth former STs leader.

There is a trend here, imo, to jettison most of the older players and bring in new young blood with the talent that Reggie sees and the spirit that Allen wants with his players.

Cutting Stanford Routt, the much maligned super athlete, chosen by Al Davis over Nnamdi Asmugha (the False Raider) and paid an unconscionable salary - $10 million - for pre-tackling WRs - who would otherwise have burned him, was a prudent decision by GM Reggie McKenzie.

I'd expected Reggie to first start shaping the roster by cutting the gross underachievers - the slothful players, e.g. McClain, or the undisciplined ones, e.g. Groves, and the timid ones, e.g. Murphy. But the realities of the cap and sound business practice are apparently of primary concern. Routt wasn't (by far) the worst starter - he simply was grossly overpaid.

Oakland's GM said he would hire our HC and let the man hire his staff; Reggie, for his part, will be deeply involved in player personnel and today he made the first corrective move and, I fully expect, this will be followed by several more ... and in short order.

What do think McKenzie's next move will be? Who goes next? Who will either refuse to restructure .... if even given that opportunity? Or, who is so undesirable that even a modest salary won't save him?

With GB.org giving Reggie McKenzie the green light to begin his career as Oakland Raiders' General Manager, speculation begins - "What will Reggie do right away?"

GM's, especially when they've spent their entire lives involved with football, have visions and strive to develop master plans. The Raiders present a major challenge / opportunity for McKenzie who has to know already how underachieving (considering Oakland's player talent) has been. This suggests changes at key leadership positions - both at coaching and with personnel - may well be where Oakland's GM initially focuses ... as clearly, it was a lack of leadership that cost Oakland several close games and making the playoffs.

If there were no obstacles and we could acquire any of the following defensive players right now, which one of the following do you think would make the biggest positive impact on the Raiders 26th rated defense and why?

Our next GM?

After two-weeks of watching the horror show of coaching and player indiscipline in various forms: missed tackles, missed blocks, bad angles, unconscionable sets and play selection, blown and unfinished routes, dropped passes, penalties, failure to pursue, false starts and so forth, one thing is certain: The Raiders need strong leadership and immediate intervention to save the remaining three games and the dignity of the Oakland Raider franchise.

As Owner and C.E.O., the responsibility lies with you, Mark and Amy, to intervene. Hue Jackson is in over his head and losing the lockerroom and the fans. Our Defensive Coordinator, Chuck Bresnahan could hardly do a worse job. When I watch our CBs giving the WRs 7 yards cushion instead of "playing like Raiders" with bump-n-run, when I see the LBs back off 15 yards on 3rd and 19, when I see us rush three defensive lineman in passing situations, I lose heart and my thoughts turn grimly to cynical hopelessness.

Please make your voices heard, intervene and take a leadership role now. A pro-temp GM (for example, John Madden) would impose order and put coaches and players on notice that everyone will be held accountable for their good and bad performances; this would send a strong message to what has become a social club of paid amateurs.

Thank you.

And God bless and help the Raiders.

Here's a hypothetical for you to ponder:

Would you rather beat GB and go on to sweep Detroit, KC, and SD to finish with an 11-5 record but miss the playoffs by the tie-breaker with Denver, or would you prefer to lose to GB and finish 8-8 or 9-7 but make the playoffs as a Wildcard?

As one who watched the Raiders Packers SB II and endured the 33-14 outcome (which turned, imo, on Bird's fumbled punt return in GB territory, I thirsted (and still thirst) for revenge against "Lombardi's team." The similarities between Bart Starr and Aaron Rogers, between Daryle Lamonica and Carson Palmer, between Michael Bush and Pete Banazak, and Marcel Reece and Hewert Dixon and others are striking.

"the Mad Bomber" Daryle Lamonica - Oakland Raiders (via DtchMastr)

... Just because I love him and hope Carson loves him too.

Okay Hue, where in hell was your psyche in Miami? Never mind. What we care about now is where it is this week and next Sunday in Green Bay. You told the press today you weren't going to try and "Sugar Coat" the meltdown Sunday. I seriously doubt you, or even Cicero, Obama, Jerry Spence or Odysseus, could cloak the horror we fans were subjected to with bullshit rhetoric.

At this point, I'm taking consolation in our past, i.e. the 1976 Raiders. That team was destroyed by New England 48 -17 and went on to win the Super Bowl. There is proof that having a horrendously horrid game in all areas does not a season make or necessarily destroy a team's confidence ... Oakland went on to win their next 13 games in a row!

So, I'm not dejected now and will patiently and hopefully wait for Sunday.

Be Strong Hue and hold onto your Faith. I know this team is as strong or as weak as you are. So please be your best self: confident, swaggering, tough, glib, and smart. Never doubt yourself again as you did in Miami and took the entire team with you into the abyss. If you're a man of faith (like Tebow apparently is) then be a man of faith and never again allow the demon of fear and doubt to gain access to your thoughts, paralyze and derange you.

I believe in you still Hue. You're a good man who just needs to believe more in what you yourself say.

The Jaguars have just fired their Head Coach, Jack Del Rio. Despite having and maintaining very solid Defenses in Jacksonville over the past eight seasons, Del Rio's offenses have struggled recently.

Despite it's 3-8 record, Jacksonville's Defense is the 4th toughest in the NFL. Compare that to the Raiders now ranked 27th.

The Raiders really need to move on Jack Del Rio as their DC. There's no question in my mind his leadership and defensive intelligence would take our Defense up several notches. Moreover, the simplicity of our system could be absorbed in short order. Our Defense needs strong leadership, Richard Seymour cannot do it by himself. A strong unifying voice is needed in what Hue Jackson has delegated away - the management of the D - which is in dire need of a strong leader.

Most importantly, Del Rio would command respect. Jack played LB for 11 years in the NFL and has a respectable coaching resume. No doubt, he would get the most out of our superior athletes and take our D to new heights.

Hue, Amy & Mark, I beg of you, please make this move and solidify our team while carving your names in Raider history for your wisdom and decisiveness.

If you were assured a certain victory over one of the following upcoming opponents: Chicago, Green Bay or Kansas City, which one would you take?

Chicago presenting a strong rush and strong rush defense (the Raiders two greatest challenges) and one of two final chances to win a big one at home. 

Green Bay, who by defeating startle the sports world, handing them their lone defeat at Lambeau.

Kansas City, needed pay back and prevention from having our noses rubbed in being sweped.

Of the following, who do you think will most impact - either positively or negatively - the game Sunday:

Known as Death Ro when he's playing well and as Renaldo when he's not.  Rolando McClain - the 2nd year Raider MLB and on field director often seems lost and in need of direction himself. 

Matt Forte' the dynamic all purpose RB, now the league's #3 in rushing yards, averages 5 yards/carry. The Raiders lead the league in giving up plays of greater than 10 yards and are the 25th rated Defense vs. the Rush.

Michael Bush, the Raiders insurance policy, ace-in-the-hole, go-to-guy, human locomotive with soft hands and motor that will not quit until the last referee blows his whistle and drops dead.

Oakland's HC and DC. Last week these two jokers decided to guard a 24-7 halftime lead. They strategized  to outlast the Viks in a game of attrition, went into an insane and premature prevent defense and, for the first time in history, a prevent offense. This gross mismanagement evaporated our lead and the Raiders would be 5-5 now if not for the individual efforts of Huff, Kelly, Giordano and other Raider renegades who just said, "No" to the madness. 

Warren Sapp might have said something correct given enough time and given enough statements (even a broken Cuckoo clock is correct at the certain point in time). Sapp says, "the Raiders cannot stand success."  The statement, elaborated, suggests that the Raiders tend toward complacency, celebrate wins excessively and react to loses too gracefully, don't play the entire 60-minutes, give up leads by carelessness and not finishing, consider halftime leads as sufficient to call it a day, etc.

Well, the man may have an argument using Week 9 as an example. With the division up for grabs, Oakland heads for the lockeroom at halftime leading Denver 17 - 7 just as the final score of Miami's upset victory over KC (31 - 3) is announced at "The O"; cheers grow louder as that good news is followed by the halftime score of G.B. leading San Diego 28 - 17. Oakland begins the 3rd Quarter sluggish and dull and Denver takes over the game - scoring on its first drive and then scoring again and again and again and again (5 times) while Oakland manages only one score the entire 2nd half and loses what seems a sure victory.

The feast-famine dynamic of the Raiders is a fact but Sapp's assertion of the cause of that dynamic is not a fact that is absolutely provable.        

All of us have our own idea of why the feast-famine dynamic has settled in the East-Bay. My own theory (which is no more or less a fact than Sapp's) is that the "Just Win, Baby" mentality that was glorified on a daily basis throughout virtually the entire history of the Raiders is the root cause of our dysfunction. That philosophy glorifies "just getting by" and reminds me of a friend who had straight A's through school but rarely, and certainly not intentionally, ever had a grade over 91% (just enough to get the A was what Ed was most proud of ... no wasted effort). To me the just win philosophy cannot be maintained alongside the Raider standard, "Commitment to Excellence" ... unless one is to adopt Ed's definition of excellence which I believe is a subjective, even a perverse, usage of the word "excellence." 

At any rate, my point is this: regardless of the cause of the Raiders dysfunctional (feast-famine) dynamic, it does seem they do better when confronted by challenge. I trust them to win games against stronger opponents while being anxious when they face weaker ones AND I believe the Raiders need some challenge in their own division to make them play better. Now, K.C. is basically out of it and given San Diego's schedule, and what they've looked like thus far, the Chargers are also though. That leaves only the upstart and ascending Broncos now 4-5 to challenge us for the division and they have the lighter schedule.

If you've dismissed what's been written here thus far, ask yourself this, "If Denver wins Thursday and goes to 5 - 5, will that have any affect on the way the Raiders' (5 - 4) play Sunday?"

Coming off the double-divisional-loss, I retreated to contemplate - in silence and stillness - about the Raiders' situation. I discovered, what to many will only be obvious, that Oakland's successes and failures can be accounted for with remarkable ease. The Raiders have won every* game played against an inferior rushing attack - one rated 17th or worse) regardless of the opponent's passing ranking.  Just as significantly, the Raiders have lost every game played against  a superior rushing offense - one rated 16th or better. 

The Data:

Games Oakland Won

Denver (pre-Tebow)  20 - 23 

#19 rushing offense ... #2 passing offense (ranking after  4 preseason games)

New York J's  24 - 34

#25 rushing offense ... 22nd passing offense [current ranking]

 Houston  20 - 25

#3 rushing offense (Note:  Ben Tate d/n play, Arian Foster played with injured hamstring) ... 14th passing offense [Id. etc.] ... * this is the only exception to the study's decisive results and the conclusions that flow.

Cleveland  17 - 24

31st rushing offense ... #25 passing offense

San Diego 17 - 24  

#19 rushing offense .... #4 passing offense

Games Oakland Lost

Buffalo 38 - 35

#7 rushing offense ... #15 passing offense

New England  31 - 19

#16 rushing offense ...  #1 passing offense

Kansas City  28 - 0

#10 rushing offense ... #27 passing offense

Denver  38 - 24

#5 rushing offense ...  #31 passing offense

Remaining games

Minnesota

#4  rushing offense ... #29 passing offense [present ranking]

Projected loss (deal with it as well as you can); Adrian Peterson is league's 4th leading rusher and Oakland cannot stop an even mediocre rushing attack.  

 Chicago

#11 rushing offense ... #19 passing [Id. etc.]

Projected loss (another tough one slips through our fingers - Matt Forte' is the #2 rusher in the league and the Raiders cannot stop a dominant rushing attack)

 Miami

#15 rushing offense ... #24 passing offense

Projected loss but on cusp that our superior Offense should make up for.

 Green Bay

#20 rushing offense ... #3 passing offense

Projected Win (We match well against G.B. and should shock them at Lambo)

Detroit

#27 rushing offense .... #10 passing offense

Projected Win (Another win that many will consider "an upset" when, in fact, the Raiders match-up well and should beat the Lions.)

 Kansas City

#10 rushing offense ... #27 passing offense

Projected loss

San Diego

#19 rushing offense ... #4 passing offense

Projected Win

Conclusion: Raiders finish 9-7

Our greatest obstacle and, in truth, our nemesis is our own inability to stop the rush ... as was the case last year, the year before, and was the case back to the dawn of our darkness.

If you're like me, you're a little baffled and disappointed by Coach Jackson's decision to release WR Derek Hagan to make space for WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Not the Housh isn't a good move, just that Hagan wasn't the player who should have been released. I can think of several players who should have been cut before Derek, e.g. Louis "Stay Stiff" Murphy, Chaz "Glass" Schilens, Marginal blocking running catching Tonga, et alia.

During his press conference today, Hue was asked about the WR situation:

Q: But you brought in receivers during training camp… 

Hue: "So at that time Derek was there, we took Derek; I wanted T.J. Hey like I told you – when Coach makes a decision, he made it. Well now all of a sudden as I keep looking at our football team and where we are, I say, ‘Hey, here’s a guy that can help us now that we’re in a whole different situation’ and that’s why I did what I did.

Could it be that Hagan was the one cut because he was Al Davis' choice at the exact time that Hue wanted Housh? I believe this is exactly the case and also that this decision is Hue's Declaration of Independence (from "Coach's domination over him).

I'm not laying any value judgments on this attitude; quite frankly, I never bought into Hue's obsequious lavishing of praise and credit upon Al Davis while the great one lived. Hue was the only type of coach that had a chance at being functional under the long-standing conditions imposed by the iron willed HOF legend who ruled the Raiders. Now Hue is unbridled - no longer restrained by the role he assumed as executor and facilitator for the ideas and vision of Al Davis. Hue wants to be entirely his own man now, call the shots, impose his own will and vision.

Whether this is a good thing or not will become evident very soon. The Raiders next five games should all be won (Denver, StD, Minn., Chicago, Miami). If the Raiders come out of this rather fortuitous period - say 9-3 (or even 8-4) - I will be the first to say, "Hue, you are the Man" ... but if we crash, if we suck, well, I don't even want to think about that.

Reading through these threads reveals a trend that is beginning to cause some alarm. In a word, too many are looking through this Denver game, dismissing a game as already won that has not yet been played. The fact that N.O. was shocked last week by a weak St. Louis team as well as dozens of past upsets of stronger by weaker teams - not to mention our embarrassing last game against K.C.- should have a sobering effect on us rather than this bombastic cockiness.

Simply put: If we lose Sunday our season is ruined.

Do not be fooled. Do not allow yourselves any complacency. Last time we met Denver we won by a measly 3 points. Is that reason for complacency? Is Tebow's playing a guarantee we win? Fox can play (or even start) Quinn or Orton at any given moment or Tebow could play an entire game as he did in the last 5 minutes against Miami or get loose with his FB style and rack up 1st downs.

I trust Hue will get this team focused and not allow it to look beyond Sunday to our Thursday game against Phyllis and StD but, human nature being what it is, there is a possibility we come out flat.

One last thought, the Raiders have lost every game following the bye week for the past 8 years.

Okay, here's a thread for tonight's main event. I tried to be for KC to check StD from maintaining the 1 game lead they enjoy over us but that only lasted 2 minutes. My deep seated loathing for KC cannot permit me to want them to ever succeed. 

Alright let it roll.

1969 - John Madden appointed Raiders head coach.

2011 - Hue Jackson appointed Raiders head coach.

1969 - Raiders QB, No. 3 All-Pro Daryle "Mad Bomber" Lamonica sets pro record with 6 touchdown passes in first half victory over Buffalo, 50-2.

2011 - Raiders quarterback, No. 3 Carson Palmer "Mad Bomber II"  is poised to break Lamonica's 6 TD in 1 half record.

1969 - Raiders go on to cinch AFL Western Division and advance to AFL Championship.

2011 - Raiders poised to cinch AFL Western Division and advance to AFC Championship.

1969 - Raiders have All-Pro WR Fred Biletnikoff and grossly underrated deep threat Warren Well (who caught 14 TDs, had 47 recepts and 1,260 receiving yards that year alone).

2011 - Raiders have at least one potential All-Pro WR in Jacoby Ford, Denarius Moore and Darrius HeywardBey

1969 - Raiders have All-Pro TE Billy Cannon

2011 - Raiders have potential All-Pro TE Kevin Boss.

1969 - Raiders have two All-Pro OL, C Jim Otto and LG Gene Upshaw

2011 - Raiders have two potential All-Pro OL, Jered Veldeer and Stephen Wisniewski.

1969 - Raiders have future HOF Kicker/QB George Blanda

2011 - Raiders have potential HOF kicker Sabastian Janikowski.

1969 - Raiders have all-purpose speedster and slashing tackle-breaking RB Charlie Smith.

2011 - Raiders have all-purpose speedster and slashing tackle-breaking RB Darren McFadden.

There she sits - read it and weep KC, STD and Denver hoards of unwashed vulgarians. Stopping our running game is no longer your only major problem.

Jay Glazer on Twitter says the following:

The Raiders & Bengals are close to a trade that would send Carson Palmer to OAK for a first-rounder in 2012 and a conditional pick in future

The trade is expected to be completed by deadline. Hue Jackson has a close relationship w Mike Brown and really worked to get Brown to budge

Hue & Co need to act quickly.  ...

Meanwhile, Palmer's stock soars.

Should we go for it? - make the big commitment move for GB's Ace-backup Matt Flynn?

via t2.gstatic.com

Whoever we get, let him have deep ball potential. We have huge weapons that have been wasted this season. Next man up? ...

http://youtu.be/_C8F0cWvAfo

Before heading out to the Tailgate Prefunction Function, I wanted to wish everyone in the Nation 'Best Wishes' for a decisive victory today. I've never been more confident that Oakland will come away with a win. Even more, in my bones I sense a smashing blowout today that will mark this special memorial day in Raider annuls.

October 16th, circle it for this day the Raider manifesto changes for the better, notching it up, improving it, raising the bar and our standard of excellence from 'Just Win, Baby' to "Just Dominate, Baby!"

Enjoy the carnage/game, Brethren of The Nation.

I am celebrating this decision now. Thank you, Hue & Mark (and Al) ... and Amy & Carol ... .

"He’s the starting Will (weakside linebacker) on this football team," Hue Jackson said. "Right now. I didn’t bring him here to look at him to figure it out or anything like that.

He’s the starting Will on this football team. Period.”

Al Davis was all about winning. Everyone, even I suppose in the axis of evil countries, knows Al's famous motto, "Just Win, Baby."  And certainly last week's game against Houston fit Al's paradigm perfectly. I never was sold on this motto, it leaves too much excellence unused and is rather recklessly on the edge. So, when Hue took over and started talking about building a Bully and dominating (a theme Al also cherished ... but seemed just as pleased with any win regardless of stats or game esthetics) my heart began to quicken and I remembered George Atkinson saying that he always "Killed a fly with a sledgehammer."

I believe Al Davis made the perfect choice in handing off the Torch to Hue Jackson and his son Mark Davis. In fact, after watching Kenneth Brannah play Henry IV (a prince who was not very serious about things until the mantel of power and responsibility was placed on his shoulders) who became, to everyone's astonishment, an amazingly strong and wise King, I thought of Mark Davis and became excited that he who grew up with the greatest Raider may be very much like Henry IV once the power was transferred to him.

This Sunday the Raiders are, for the first time all season, favored to win (by 7 pts). I can think of no better moment in history for Mark & Hue to make a big statement. That statement is this: A new epoch has begun and even winning is not enough, the Raiders will dominate teams and will not relent though opposing teams and coaches complain and cry, "unsportsmanlike to beat us so badly and by so many points."  The "New Epoch of Raider Dominance" is what Sunday needs to usher in. 

Al's perfect vision was not just to win but to dominate.

Crush the Cleveland Browns Sunday; physically and morally devastate them and their fans and their organization. Make that statement, commit now to an even higher standard of excellence than just winning - dare to be truly great and beyond conventional standards and norms - that is the Raider Way.

God Bless the Raiders and Long Live the indomitable spirit of Al Davis. 

Now it is your time Hue and Mark and the new Raider doctrine, "Just Dominate, Baby!"

Read this article by Jerry Brewer  , Originally published August 27, 2011  Seattle Times (I've taken out non-essential sections)

"Aaron Curry has been called many things, most of them unflattering, during his lackluster first two NFL seasons.

...   His early pro career has been a whir of underachieving and overanalyzing, of the philosophies of two different head coaches and of mass confusion over how he best fits into a defense. He and the Seahawks have restructured his massive rookie contract, trimming it from six to four years, eliminating a guaranteed $5 million salary for next season and putting his status after the 2011 season in limbo.

You'd expect Curry to be on edge ... Curry is practically serene right now. ... . He was baptized in March, after attending a pro athletes' Christian retreat with his wife, Jamila.

And what does this have to do with football? Well, Curry is showing signs of improvement in three key areas — patience, playbook comprehension and discipline — and he credits his faith for that. Curry has struggled with the Seahawks not because he's lazy or content after signing a huge contract. To the contrary, he wants it too much at times. He overruns plays, or becomes robotic when he doesn't understand the nuances of playing the position, or fails to grasp the big picture of what the Seahawks are trying to do in their defensive scheme.

Because Curry's problems aren't physical, he still has a chance to be a rare, late-blooming linebacker if he can relax, study harder and develop a better feel for the game. Many don't see it and breathlessly declare him a bust. But Curry, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2009 draft, is only 25. There's still time. There's little question about his athletic ability. And there's no doubt his newfound faith is changing his mental approach.

"With the Bible, you have to read it, understand it, apply it and deliver it," Curry said. "That's how you understand it. And that's what I need to do to understand the playbook — read it, understand it, apply it and deliver it. My faith and obedience is definitely helping to elevate my game on the field."

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com, Twitter: @Jerry_Brewer

Preach that playbook Aaron, can I get a witness Chuck?!

Darius Heyward-Bey, Tommy Kelly and Michael Huff turned in stellar performances today - and what better time to do it? These Al Davis hand picked-players who he supported against critics with stoic calm, played amazing football today and demonstrated again that when it comes to talent, Al Davis (and Ron Wolf) has no equal (QBs notwithstanding).

This game also demonstrated that we do have a DC who can make needed adjustments in a timely and appropriate manner. Bresnahan did well too - another Al Davis choice. And Hue Jackson? Off the scale brilliance in playcalling gutsy innovations, e.g. the fake punt that sent our STs Captain and "Rock" on a play that took everyone by utter surprise.

Thank you, Raiders! You took control of your emotions and played like true Raiders - physical and intelligent ... a deadly and winning combination. It's in the books: Raiders 25, Texans 20.

Our Team Leader, Richard Seymour distinguished himself yet again in what can only be characterized as an All Pro performance and our Kicker, Sebastian Janikoswski is the coolest dude in California with a Cannon for a leg and ice in his veins.

Al has got to be loving this from his celestial view.

We knew the day would come and it arrived today. I grew up with Al Davis in my consciousness, being a Raider devotee from boyhood, Mr. Davis always seemed present. Whatever your opinion may be of the man, he had an amazingly strong will and a singular devotion to the Raiders. He will be greatly missed.

Autumn is the perfect season for Al Davis to make his exit and pass to the next life - for this season has the Autumn Wind and but for Al Davis there would not have been so many of the great deeds on football fields the past 48 years and all the memories for us associated with them.

God, Bless Al Davis, accept him into Your eternal light and grant him eternal happiness.