Written by Bruce L Frank at Fans In Black
The fan base and this board being a microcosm of the Raider fan base is almost hopelessly splintered. I thought that I'd do a brief chronology of the last 10 years so that we can look at the blame, credit, and some of the reasons why we are where we are on 11/4/2008.
This is my historical fact as I know it, read it, confirmed it....
1998-Following the 1997 season Al Davis fired Joe Bugel after a one season disaster and going 4-12. He drafted Charles Woodson, Mo Collins and Leon Bender in the 1st round (Bender was a compensation pick for Chester McGlockton). Al brings in a young OC from Philadelphia, John Gruden to become HC.
The team endures a new vitality under Gruden and finishes 8-8 despite a ton of injuries and having Donald Hollas at QB for a large part of the season.
1999-Rich Gannon appears on the scene. Matt Stinchcomb is amongst the draft picks along with Eric Barton and Rod Coleman. The team finishes 8-8 again and is taking on Gruden's personality. Had it not been for Cole Ford and the special teams the record could have easily been 10-6 or 11-5.
2000-Al drafts Seabass and Jenny Pouter. The team plays great on both sides of the ball and wins the AFC West at 12-4. We lose to the Ravens in the AFC Championship game with Siragusa's belly flop on Rich Gannon.
2000 OFF SEASON:
THIS IS WHERE THE SLIDE BEGINS AND CAN BE DOCUMENTED
John Gruden has Bob LaMonte ask Al Davis to negotiate a contract extension following the 12-4 season and the trip to the AFC Championship game. Al tells Gruden/LaMonte to bugger off. He states that he's not negotiating any extensions until the current deal is over.
2001-Al drafts Derrick Gibson and Tui. The team is playing well again until Gruden rumors rise in November that he's interested in the Notre Dame job after whispers that he had expressed interest in the Ohio State job. The team loses some focus and finishes as a wild card playoff team. Ultimately lost to the Cheats in the infamous Tuck Job BS.
2002-Offseason-Al has had enough of Gruden and RIGHTFULLY trades him to TB for some draft picks. If Al had given Gruden a contract extension or at least made some promises would Gruden have been interested in leaving? After some debate and a tryout at the NFL Scouting combine Al hands over the team to Bill Callahan. Bruce Allen also leaves town and is headed for TB.
2002-Al drafts PBUC, Nap Harris, Langston Walker and Doug Jolley early. Callahan goes aggressive on offense and Rich Gannon flourishes with Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. The team wins the AFC West, destroys the Jets and Titans to make it to the Superbowl only to get thumped by Gruden's (or was it Dungy's) Bucaneers.
2003-Al drafts Brayton, Nmandi, Teyo Johnson, Sam Williams and Fargas. The team suffers from the Superbowl hangover and finishes a horrible 4-12. Bill Callahan at one point calls them the "dumbest team in America".
2004 Offseason-Al fires Callahan and hires Norvell Turner. Is Al doing the right thing hiring a retread who hasn't won anywhere? Only time will tell.
2004-Al takes Robert Gallery at #2 overall as the safest pick in the draft over Fitzgerald, R.Williams, Roethlisberger or Rivers. The team finishes 5-11 under Norvell after Gannon suffers a broken vertebrae in his neck and Kerry Collins takes over at QB.
2005-Al drafts Fabs and Routt. The team falls to 4-12 and Norvell is heading out the door after the season.
2006 Offseason-In a desperation move, Al reaches back to the Raider glory years and give Art Shell another shot at coaching the team after "interviewing but NOT offering the job" to Ken Whisenhunt. Art gives the offense over to Mayor/B&B Owner Tom Walsh.
2006-Al drafts Michael Huff and Thomas Howard. After falling further into oblivion and finishing 2-14 Al fires Art Shell after one season.
2007 offseasonIs it going to be Al Saunders? No, maybe it's this Sarkissian kid from USC and Pete Carroll's staff? No, it's Lane Kiffin. A young kid at 31 soon to be 32 with no HC experience and actually not even the OC at USC (Sarkissian's title). Al talks about the brightness of the kid and reminding him of other young coaches he hired, etc. etc.
2007-Al drafts JaMarcus Russell and Zach Miller, etc. The team looks better and has a different image but still finishes 4-12. Kiffin reportedly expressed interest in the Arkansas job and kicked a door and slammed things around when it went to someone else.
2007 Offseason- Kiffin allegedly demands that Ryan be replaced as DC. Al later admits in a PC after firing Kiffin that he told Kiffin no to firing Ryan. Kiffin is reportedly asked to resign, etc. etc. etc.
2008-Al drafts DMAC, etc. the team is 1-3 and Al fires Kiffin with a legendary if not infamous PC. Tom Cable takes over and is also 1-3 so far in his tenure.
Bottom line: The downfall all started with Gruden and Davis not seeing eye to eye on a contract extension and Gruden looking for employment during the 2001 season. Al hired Callahan and fired him after two seasons for disrespecting the organization. He hired and fired the retread Norvell. He reached badly for Art Shell. He reached worse for a young kid that he refused to give a legitimate shot to and strapped him with a mostly unsuccessful and horrible DC.
Only 2 constants since the fall of this team Al Davis and Rob Ryan. A match made in heaven or hell? You be the judge.
Written by Bruce L Frank at Fans In Black
http://www.raiderfans.com/article.php?story=20081103184915218