Raider Legend Jack Tatum Dies

CSNSportsBayArea is reporting that former Raider legen Jack Tatum died of a heart attack today in Oakland. Tatus was 61 years old.

Nicknamed "The Assassin," Tatum died of a heart attack Tuesday in Oakland, according to friend and former Ohio State teammate John Hicks.

In his nine-year NFL career, Tatum was named to the Pro Bowl three times and was a member of the 1977 Super Bowl champions. He was regarded as one of the most-feared hitters in the NFL.

He was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Tatum is perhaps most remembered for his hit on New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley in a game at the Oakland Coliseum that left Stingley paralyzed.
On Aug. 12, 1978, Stingley, playing for the New England Patriots, ran head-on into the hard-hitting Tatum on a crossing pattern. The blow severed Stingley's fourth and fifth veterbrae and left the receiver paralyzed.

Tatum said he tried to visit Stingley at an Oakland hospital shortly after the collision but was turned away by Stingley's family members.

Stingley died in 2007.

"We have lost one of our greatest Buckeyes," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said in a statement that was issued Tuesday. "When you think of Ohio State defense, the first name that comes to mind is Jack Tatum. His loss touches every era of Ohio State players and fans."

Read more: Raiders Great Jack Tatum Dies
Tune to SportsNet Central at 6, 10:30 and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for more on this story

I wrote this piece on Tatum and Darryl Stingley a couple of years ago.

Tatus was a true competitor and will be missed.

Raiders move to reclaim some of Jamarcus' stash

Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports is reporting that the Raiders are seeking to reclaim $9.55 million from JaMarcus Russell.

The grievance is based on the contention by the Raiders that the contract was changed at one point during Russell’s three-year stint with the organization and that he’s not allowed to keep all of the money he had collected prior to his May 7 release. Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, was guaranteed $32 million as part of a six-year contract reportedly worth $68 million.

Hey, our courts are here to process frivelous lawsuits and nobody knows that better than Al Davis. The biggest drawback to this of course is that it sends a dangerous message to other potential free agent candidates.

Why sign with the Raiders, when you could end up in court trying to hold on to your salary. The organization seemed headed in the right track over the past two months, with several personnel moves, including a decent draft, but actions like this just force them two steps backwards.

A Message to Al

I haven't posted here in a while, but saw something today that was worth posting.

A new website focused on convincing Raiders owner Al Davis to step down as General Manager (he doesn't formally hold the title), but it's no secret that he makes just about personnel decision on the team.

Message To Al was formed as a grass roots effort to try and collect signatures on a petition intended to convince Davis to hire a general manager and a new head coach.

The organizers even had a billboard ad placed on Highway 880 in Oakland a half mile from the Coliseum. You can sign their petition and / or send them a donation for the cause.

The Madness Starts Early This Season

I‘m trying to be more positive this season, so I’ll begin this post by trying to find the upside on the whole Tom Cable punching allegations. The good news is, the big distraction of the year has come before the regular season has even started. We don’t have to worry about a messy distraction getting in the way of things in the middle of a push to a possible playoff run.

No, things will be in disarray from the get-go this season. The Raiders also have a great excuse, should they lay another egg in the standings. They’re primed to make a run for the number one overall draft pick next year, which they can waste on someone like Tim Tebow, who they can then try to convert to a tight end or a free safety.

From the reports out of Napa, the Raiders offense was clearly focused on the game in day two of the integrated practice with the 49ers. A practice in which JaMarcus Russell threw five interceptions, fueling a week’s worth of fodder for San Francisco’s secondary. They held nothing back in post practice interviews, yuking it up with local reporters.

As for the alleged Cable incident, what more can you say. The regularity of these head scratching episodes have become so common, that they’re starting to lose the sensational effect that something like a fist fight between coaches would once garner. The baffling has become passé.

Since the organization’s better judgment is something in short supply, let me try and provide a litmus. If your actions would make Raider alumni from the 70’s squirm, it’s probably wrong. The renegade behavior of the great Raider teams never interfered with the ultimate goal.

Cable is obviously too stupid to know any better.

An NFL head coach punching someone is ridiculous. An NFL head coach punching one of his subordinate coaches is ludicrous.

Even in the military, where a primary job description entails killing other human beings, there is a code of conduct which prohibits any officer from striking a subordinate. Do it in any of the U.S. service branches, and you get kicked out.

How are any of the players supposed to buy into the concept of discipline? Not that discipline will be a problem for the team ranked third in penalties in 2008. If the coach can’t stay disciplined, why should the players?

The story is already old and we haven’t seen a down of football that counts.

Sad.

Raiders Trade Burgess to Pats

Man-o-man, someone please tell me why the Raiders continue to trade ANYONE to the New England Patriots. It's bad enough that they trade players within the conference, but to the Patriots?

They did that, by dealing holdout DE Derrick Burgess on Thursday.

New England isn't going to suck all of a sudden, and net you a decent pick. It also sends a terrible message. I despise the notion of guys signing contracts, then turning around and whining that they're under paid. If that's the case, DON'T SIGN THE FREAKING CONTRACT.

Another head scratcher. If Al Davis can let Marcus Allen sit and rot on the bench, then why not Burgess? At the very least, trade the guy out of the conference, so he's not the guy exacting any revenge on you.

From AP:

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)—The New England Patriots obtained defensive end Derrick Burgess(notes) on Thursday after the two-time Pro Bowl player held out of the Oakland Raiders training camp in hopes of being traded.

The Patriots gave up undisclosed draft considerations for Burgess, who is coming off an injury-plagued season in which he had 3 1/2 sacks in 10 games. New England released offensive lineman Al Johnson(notes).

The trade was announced on the ninth day of Burgess’ holdout from the team he recorded 38 1/2 sacks with in four seasons, including a club-record and league-best 16 in 2005. He had 11 the next year and made the Pro Bowl both times.

His total dropped to eight in 2007, but he missed two games.

In three seasons with Philadelphia and four with Oakland, the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Burgess had 47 sacks in 85 games. He also missed the 2003 season with a torn Achilles’ tendon.

The Patriots were 11-5 last season but had 31 sacks, tied for 14th. The Raiders were 5-11 with 32 sacks.

Burgess is entering the final year of his contract with a $2 million salary and felt underpaid for most of his time with the Raiders. He joined them when he signed a five-year, $18 million contract as a free agent before the 2005 season.

New England and Oakland held discussions around the time of the draft in late April. Then Burgess stayed away from all the Raiders optional offseason workouts and did not go onto the field during May’s mandatory minicamp because of a reported upset stomach.

Raiders to don retro unis in 2009

The Raiders are scheduled to wear their retro 1963 uniforms, including helmets with the "white" logo, as part of the NFL's tribute to the old AFL teams. Translation, the league is looking for ways to better market team merchandise, and jerseys command a pretty penny.

The Raiders have always had one of the most classic uniforms in the league, and these throwbacks are still fantastic looking. They'll just probably cost an arm and a leg.

The Raiders and San Diego Chargers will wear their "classics" during an opening week matchup on September 27th, which is part of a Monday night double-header.

They will folow that up on November 15th, when the New York Jets visit the Oakland Coliseum.

Oakland will wrap up the marketing tour on November 26th when the team travels to Dallas, as part of he NFL's Thanksgiving Day schedule.

Capsized Boat Found off FL coast

CNN just reported that a capsized boat was discovered off the Florida coast and that a single survivor was seen clinging to the debris. No other details were provided. More to come on this breaking news.

*** UPDATE 3/2 10AM PST***

The Coast Guard says the overturned boat it found off Florida's Gulf Coast belongs to Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper. The survivor found clinging to the vessel is former University of South Florida player Nick Schuyler.

The Coast Guard says Cooper, Detroit Lions free agent Corey Smith and another former USF player, William Bleakley, remain missing.



*** UPDATE 3/2 4:30PM PST***

Still no word on additional survivors.

CNN reported that:

Schuyler told his rescuers that the boat was anchored Saturday evening when it was overturned by waves during a storm, Close said. He told them that all four men were clinging to the boat for a time, but became separated, Close said.

The four men embarked in a 21-foot single-engine boat from the Seminole Boat Ramp near Clearwater Pass about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard said. The search was launched early Sunday after friends and relatives realized they had not returned from their fishing trip.

LB Marquis Cooper reported missing off Florida coast

The AP reports that two NFL players are among a group of boaters reported missing off Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Sports agent Ron Del Duca said his client, Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith, and Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper were two of the four boaters who were reported missing Sunday morning by the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard issued a statement saying the boaters were on a 21-foot vessel that left Clearwater Pass on Saturday morning for a fishing trip and did not return as expected. Crews used a helicopter and a 47-foot motor-life boat to search a 750-square mile area west of Clearwater Pass on Sunday.

Is Justin Fargas' Career Up In Smoke?

On the day we should be plotting (and analyzing) the next course of the good ship Silver & Black on account of the hiring of Tom Cable as head coach, we are forced to interrupt this regular program to bring word of more head scratching news out of Alameda.

A video posted at worldstarhiphop.com shows a rapper who allegedly goes by the moniker “Yukmouth”, spends an evening at Raiders running back Justin Fargas’ house rhyming about the ganja. The rapper is seen with a box full of cash and bags of what appear to be the marijuana.

Fargas is never seen holding either the cash or the herb, but he is featured in the video, while Yukmouth goes on a profanity-spree throughout the video.

You have to wonder what Fargas was thinking? The only thing missing was Snoop Dog, playing Huggy Bear in the musical rendition of Up In Smoke meets Starsky & Hutch.

On the day that Olympic demi-god Michael Phelps lost his endorsement deal with Kellogg’s, you’d think pro football players would stear clear of promotional videos touting themselves and illegal drugs.

Oh, and the NFL has a SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY.

More to come on the Cable hiring later this week…just as soon as I finish up my home movie on free basing.

The Letter

So much for an amicable parting of ways. The following letter, apparently couriered to Lane Kiffin on September 12th, was released by the Raiders this afternoon following one of the nuttiest days in team history.

September 12, 2008

By Hand Delivery and Federal Express

Dear Lane:

Over the past months, you have made a number of public statements that were highly critical of, and designed to embarrass and discredit, this organization, its players and its coaches. I left you alone during training camp in hopes that you would cease your immature and destructive campaign.

However, you continue to make public statements that are critical of the organization, its players as whole as well as individual players. Such statements constitute conduct detrimental to the Raiders and I will no longer stand silently by while you continue to hurt this organization.

Further, your contract is quite clear that you work “subject to the direction and supervision of the General Partner” and that the General Partner has “the exclusive right to do all things, which in its sole discretion are necessary to maintain and improve the Club, the football organization and their activities.”

I realized when I hired you that you were young and inexperienced and that there would be a learning process for you. Your mistakes on player personnel and coaches were overlooked based on our patience with you. But I never dreamt that you would be untruthful in statements to the press as well as on so many other issues. Your actions are those of a coach looking to makes (sic) excuses for not winning, rather than a coach focused on winning.

For example, with the exception of Gibril Wilson, you were involved in recruiting all free agents and determining salaries for them and you were explicit about your desire to sign Javon Walker and DeAngelo Hall amongst others. All were a must to sign in your eyes, Hall, in particular, because he played for Greg Knapp in Atlanta and Knapp gave him high grades. Do not run from that now.

I do realize that you did not want us to draft JaMarcus Russell. He is a great player. Get over it and coach this team on the field, that is what you were hired to do. We can win with this team!

In regards to your recent fabrications about the defense, during the final cuts you made every cut on offense and every cut on defense except for (Fred) Wakefield on defense and (Seth) Wand on offense. Furthermore, during the game Monday night (defensive coordinator) Rob (Ryan) played your Cover-2 defense and we got killed on an approximately 50-yard touchdown pass and an approximately 70-yard gain that led to a field goal.

You meet every week with the defensive coaches to go over both the past game and to get a general feel for what will happen during the week in practice. You have the ability and authority to provide your input during those meetings and the preparation of the game plan. I do not have weekly meetings with Rob—you do.

During the week no one has ever told you what to do on either offense or defense. In addition, no one has ever told you during a game what to do on either offense or defense and you call every play on offense. During a game if you want to blitz more, all you have to do is let Rob know what blitz you want and he will do it.

Although you continue to use the media to express your dissatisfaction with others, no one has publicly pointed out to you that in four preseason games and one regular-season game played this year, your offense has scored one first-half touchdown. That put tremendous pressure on the defense.

I know that you wanted to bring your father in to run the defense and that Monte told me that he wanted to come here even though he as (sic) under contract to Tampa. However I did not want to tamper with another team. In any event that was over seven months ago. Do not now also run from the defense and your responsibilities.

This letter constitutes notice that if you further violate any term of your contract, in any manner whatsoever, you will be terminated for cause. I trust that this will not occur.

A.D. Football, Inc.

So now it's he said, he said. Technically, the Raiders can now market the fact that they provide an "entertaining" product to their customers. The fact that was released simply makes the organization look petty, paranoid, and any other bad "p" word you can think of. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...

The Kiffin Episode Ends

Kiffin's Biggest Fan

The most predictable soap opera in professional sports closed another chapter on its dysfunctional history on Tuesday afternoon, when the Raiders fired head coach Lane Kiffin. KGO radio, ESPN and NFL.com all reported Kiffin’s dismissal, which was as big a surprise as a Raiders loss. The beleaguered coach has been waiting for the announcement to come since last January, but there’s nothing efficient about the Raiders these days.

For as hard as Al Davis tries not to be predictable, his once storied franchise is as easy to read as a Rob Ryan blitz scheme.

What I don’t understand is, what Davis thinks all of this is actually going to accomplish? I was actually holding out hope that Davis would throw everyone a curveball, including Kiffin, and keep him at the helm for the remainder of the season.

When Mike Shanahan was fired in 1989, the Raiders righted a 1-4 start to finish the season 8-8, but that was a much different team. That roster included the like of Bo Jackson, Marcus Allen and Howie Long.

The list of possible replacements does little to incite any belief that this will turn thins around. James Lofton seems like the most obvious choice, because his name has been dangled around since the day Kiffin was hired. He also seems to be the kind of yes man Davis can manage without distraction.

What’s most baffling (oh there are many things to be baffled by) is the fact that names like Tom Cable or Tom Rathman are even being talked about. Tom Cable, head coach. Really?

The one thing about Kiffin’s hiring was that it was a fresh perspective, bringing in a young offensive mind that actually seemed to be changing the losing culture that has plagued the Raiders. Ranted, he didn’t win, but what can you expect given the tools that he was handed (and the command that he wasn’t)?

Rather than arm Kiffin with the tools he needed to be successful, the Raiders blew most of their cap space on defensive retreads. You can argue that Darren McFadden cost the Raiders a pretty penny, but he was a draft pick. Where was the receiver the Raiders so dearly needed? Javon Walker? Ashley Lelie? Seriously?

I’m surprised Davis didn’t throw a couple million at Vince Evans to come out of retirement.

What’s worse is the fact that Kiffin appeared to be righting the ship. Blowing two 4th quarter leads isn’t the model of success, but put those loses into perspective. They came against a surprising 4-0 Buffalo Bills team and a San Diego Chargers team that’s supposed to compete for a Super Bowl this year.

What we’ll find out is if those two games were motivated by a roster that was playing to save their coach’s job. If it was, what does that mean for the remainder of the season?

Now Davis gets to select a fill-in for the remainder of the season, and we get wait for the next episode of this soap opera to play out. Who will be Davis’ next protégé turned nemesis? What head scratching moves come next?

Like Terdell Sands through the hourglass, these are the days of your Raiders lives.

No Control

This is a franchise in control? This is the behavior of an NFL senior executive? Even if San Jose Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami did fabricate the infamous story of a Raider official handing out an ESPN story that discredited Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin (along with a bunch of other reporters), it doesn't excuse the fact that John Herrera's behavior oozes of paranoia and dysfunction.

Where will it end? I suppose a shooting in the press room isn't beyond this franschise right now. Heck if you're going to send a senior executive out to pick a fight with a beat reporter half your size, anything's possible.

If the job requirments for "Senior Executive" with the Raiders simply means you're willing to make a jackass out of yourself in front of a room full of reporters, sign me up!

There are only two possible explanations for this latest episode. Either Herrera was acting on his on volition, or he was ordered to confront Kawakami. It seems unlikely that anyone is dumb enough to confront a reporter in a room full of other reporters and cameras. Who would do that? So it would seem that this was yet another peculiar move orchastrated from the top.

If the Raiders brass didn't order the confrontation, then this team is more dysfunctional than anyone can imagine. I suspect that this is one that back fired on the Raiders, and in an attempt to save face, they tried to discredit Kawakami with a public spectacle.

The "us against the world" mentality will only go so far, so you have to question how this plays out on the field. If I'm a rookie and I pick up the paper and read what will certainly be coverage which leans in Kawakami's defense, so questions get planted in my head. Fresh out of the gate and those players already develop a huge mistrust of reporters, which doesn't bode well for their careers. Like it or not, the media plays a role in how the public perceives the character of many players. Does a Darren McFadden establish a good repoire with a Michael Silver as a result of something like this?

If I'm a veteran, I may start questioning the professionalism of the franchise that I represent. How do I focus on football, when there's a circus going on all around me. What the Raiders don't need right now is another distraction.

Guys like Jamarcus Russell need to be focused on developing their game, not focusing on how they're supposede to deal with the "evil media."

Regardless of how this latest ordeal was spawned, if the Raiders want to right this ship, they can Greg Herrera today. Make him he fall guy if it was a grander plot, or run him out of town for his stupidity if it was his own idea.

This organization needs a shakeup, plain and simple. Start playing by the rules. The renegade ways of yesteryear don't cut it in the multi-million dollar world of professional sports anymore.

Pathetic Season Opener

I think Mike Ditka is a clown, but he said it best on Monday night with his comment about the Raiders.

“You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken shit,” said the ESPN analyst during the Raiders pathetic showing in their season opener.

When the visiting Denver Broncos weren’t moving the ball at will, the Raiders were tacking on 15 yard penalties by the bushel full. A porous defense, anemic offense and dumb penalty after dumb penalty, simply resulted in more of the same from a team that has won less than 30% of its games over the past six years.

The Raiders were embarrassed at home before a national audience, reaffirming the fact that this franchise is as dysfunctional as ever. The dumbfounded look on Al Davis face from the owner’s box reaffirmed the fact that it’s time for Davis to move on.

I’ve been a supporter of Davis’ for far too long. His legacy has afforded him far too many mulligans.

I don’t think anybody anticipated the pasting the Raiders would endure on opening night. I certainly didn’t. The difference on this night was that the Raiders seemed to take ten steps backwards (as if that were possible). There was nothing positive to take away from this game.

Well, except for the fact that Lane Kiffin will be able to resume his football coaching career sooner than later. This debacle will obviously fall on Kiffin’s shoulders, which means he’ll get canned that much quicker. Kiffin doesn’t fit in with the Raider mystique. He’s too progressive. Not a company man. Not an Al Davis man.

It was Kiffin after all, who wanted defensive coordinator Rob Ryan out. The same Rob Ryan, who’s defensive schemes allowed Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler to roam untouched all night long.

OK, maybe that’s not entirely fair…unless it was Ryan who convinced Davis to spend all that money on Tommy Kelly during the off season. Kelly played like a $50 million paper weight on Monday night. The Raiders defensive front did the impossible, making Namdhi Asomugha, Gibril Wilson, Deangelo Hall and Michael Huff look like a high school secondary unit.

It took the Raiders 48 minutes before they finally put any points in the board, but that’s because the Broncos were starting to pack for the trip home.

To make matters worse, 1st round draft pick Darren McFadden left the game with an apparent shoulder injury, and Derrick Burgess also left the contest with an injury.

And that was just week 1 folks. Painful.

Al Davis departure can’t come soon enough.

2008 Camp Musings

Training camp. It marks the end of summer and the launching pad to the start of another NFL season. It’s that time of year when the rust is supposed to come off, so when the games count, your players are ready to play for real. While it’s important to ramp up on the intensity, keeping those players healthy should be the number one goal of any NFL team.

So when they decide to hold practices with other NFL teams, I scratch my head and wonder if the schedulers really understand how important a healthy team is. You get 16 chances a season to bash your opponents into oblivion, so that you can earn the right to play for a championship.

The Raiders practice with the San Francisco 49ers is one of those situations that really is hard to understand. What real benefit do you get from practicing with another team, especially one that you’re set to face in the preseason that week?

I think back to 1994 when the Raiders decided to hold several practices with the Dallas Cowboys. Don Mosebar, a three time All-Pro center for the Raiders, got caught up in a pile of players, Raiders and Cowboys alike. In the middle of that pile, Cowboy’s defensive tackle Chad Hennings got his fingers inside Mosebar’s facemask and gouged out the eyeball of the 12-year veteran.

Just like that, Mosebar’s career was over. Freak accident or barbaric trench warfare, it could have been avoided altogether had there been no inter-team practice. These were players from opposing teams. Intensity got the best of Mosebar that day, and it cost the Raiders one of their all-time greats.

49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz summed it up best.

“This is pointless,” said the former Rams head coach.

Pointless indeed.

To Play or Not to Play

News out of camp that $55 million wide receiver Javon Walker almost hung up his cleats last week doesn’t really come as a shock. The 29-year old receiver has had a lot of distractions before playing a single down for the Raiders.

Getting beaten unconscious and left for dead in a Las Vegas gutter isn’t the best way to kick off a career with a new team. Practicing with his head in the clouds doesn’t make that situation any better.

Those distractions have irked Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin enough that Walker was being fast-tracked in the coach’s dog house. But as is the case with any $55 million that needs to be baby-sat, Kiffin (with or without the direction of his boss) straightened the matter out and Walker is “committed” to playing football again.
Hats off to Kiffin for at least voicing his displeasure.

"I'm not into the whole, you know, 'When the lights go on, I play well, 100%" Kiffin told the San Jose Mercury News. "That's not my deal. Trying to work him out of that mentality."

I say he’s out of the lineup by week 10 and inactive by week 12. Can you say “sounds like Jerry Porter all over again”?

Open Practice Sunday

Missed out on training camp this year. Don’t worry, everyone not on the Raiders payroll is in the same boat. Closed training camp has become the Raiders modus operandi as of late, but don’t fret. You can catch the team’s open practice at the Coliseum on Sunday as part of the Raider Nation Celebration.

The shin dig kicks off at noon, and you don’t need to pay a dime to get in.

Top 10 Greats Not in the HOF

NFL Network's Top 10 show features the 10 greatest players NOT in the Hall of Fame. #6 on their list is none other than the great Kenny Stabler. Canton has eluded the Snake for far too long. It's bad enough Ray Guy and Cliff Branch still wait for their calling, but this show got it right when it ranked Stabler as one of the greats still waiting for the call.

The former Alabama star led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory in SB XI against the Minnesota Vikings in 1976. He threw 150 career touchdowns for the Silver & Black during a career that spanned 11 seasons (1968-79).

There are 17 men in the Hall of Fame that held some association with the Raiders, but only George Blanda played QB for the Raiders. When you compare Stabler's accomplishments to Blanda, it's hard to understand why he's not in the Hall.