Al Davis' letter to Lane Kiffin- Sept. 12, 2008
- Thread starter Tony
- Start date
I see what you're saying mayne.... it's just the perception that I am not falling for. I believe this team is good and we should/could/would be 3-1 right now (if Al was calling shots down to Kiffin we would be 3-1, because as old as he is he still seems like he's smarter than Kiffin). Al wasn't making phone calls down to the field telling Kiffin to go for 70+ field goals, he didn't tell Kiffin to save his two timeouts against Buffalo, he didn't tell Kiffin to only throw the ball 3 times in the 2nd half against Buffalo, he didn't tell Kiffin to send 5 DB's on the field when we were trying to get the ball back against SD (and then L.T. breaks off that long run for a score, I was wondering what Branch was doing in there). Al gave Kiffin control to coach games and it was Kiffin that was blowing it mayne. So you can pity me all you want but I don't need it. The Raiders still have a legit shot at winning the AFC West title and making the playoffs this season.
Long live Al Davis... Like he said "The Raiders will win"!
Long live Al Davis... Like he said "The Raiders will win"!
Man, I don't agree with that article but I do agree with this one,
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1279228.html
Ailene Voisin: This 79-year-old shows he still has plenty of fight
-
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, October 1, 2008
ALAMEDA – Al Davis should have done this a long time ago. He fired the head coach he distrusts, hired a head coach he trusts at least a little, and after more than a week of epic Raiders zaniness brought to you by YouTube and every other news outlet, finally injected some sanity into the situation.
Point by point. Line by line. Hour by hour.
Davis made sense, seemed sincere, and landed punches in bunches.
Sounding like someone preparing for a protracted legal battle, which he probably is, the Raiders' owner spent much of Tuesday afternoon eviscerating the formidable young coach he hired and then failed to control.
With his continual, media-savvy dispatches, Kiffin had been playing Davis for a fool, for a feeble old man. Al finally swung back, swung from the seat of his pants, on his once-familiar stage in the auditorium at team headquarters.
In a setting that could be best described as old-school and low-tech, Davis, 79, using only an overhead projector and a folder of papers, and with a Raiders helmet deliberately positioned near his oft-gesturing right hand, outlined why he fired Kiffin, and almost as significantly explained why he waited so long.
He hates to admit a mistake. He wanted to avoid disrupting the team. He had hoped Kiffin would mature and, eventually, emerge as a masterful, on-the-job trainee.
He made sense. He did. He also did what he needed to do, emerged from a lengthy cocoon of silence and said his peace – and confirmed there has been no love between coach and owner almost since the beginning. Davis said Kiffin's original sin was committed when he opposed drafting former LSU standout JaMarcus Russell No. 1 overall in 2007. Also according to Al – and the dispute was escalated later in the day when Kiffin offered his rebuttal in televised interviews – the two disagreed about the value of wide receiver Randy Moss, the contributions of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, the expensive offseason acquisitions and the current team's overall talent.
Where Davis sensed a competitive, improved roster, Kiffin suspected otherwise and wasn't reluctant to say so. In that respect, Kiffin was different from his predecessors, all those others who kissed the ring for a while, only to be stripped to their silver-and-black skivvies and escorted out the door.
Davis, at various times combative and cerebral, witty and introspective, and occasionally even playful with journalists he has long considered adversaries, purposefully mentioned many of his former coaches by name. Mike Shanahan, he clearly dislikes but grudgingly respects. Bill Callahan, who guided the Raiders to the 2003 Super Bowl, remains appreciated, if overmatched. Art Shell will always be a beloved member of the organization, that pathetic 2-14 season in 2006 notwithstanding. Norv Turner also was portrayed favorably; Davis allowed he might have been "impetuous" in releasing the current San Diego Chargers coach after a 4-12 season in 2005.
Somewhat surprisingly, Davis voiced particular regret about releasing Jon Gruden, another young, strong-willed individual with whom he tangled. "Jon," Davis said, his voice softening, dropping. "You will have to make your own decisions. Jon was a good coach."
So why offensive-line coach Tom Cable instead of offensive coordinator Greg Knapp or Davis' personal favorite, Ryan? The operative term here is "interim" head coach. While Davis said he believes Cable is capable of "dominating" a locker room, the former Idaho head coach seemed more grateful than dynamic. During his much shorter turn at the microphone, he offered the usual sports clichés, said he was all about winning, and wisely neglected to mention the Raiders of late are more about drama than winning.
Those Court TV executives must be salivating. Move over, O.J. Davis has no intention of paying Kiffin any of his remaining $3.5 million salary, and admittedly is preparing for another heated courtroom tussle. On Tuesday, he seemed to gain strength with each allegation. He has documents. He has letters. He called Kiffin a "liar," characterized his former coach's public criticism of Ryan as "unfair" and "unheard of."
"He conned all you people," Davis insisted.
He made sense, at least some of the time. He was the Al Davis on the assault, the one who favors the deep throws, the high-risk/high-reward approach. The one who plays to win. He might have underestimated the ferocity of the young and implacable Mr. Kiffin, but as Davis himself noted before being wheeled out of the room, he ain't dead yet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1279228.html
Ailene Voisin: This 79-year-old shows he still has plenty of fight
-
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, October 1, 2008
ALAMEDA – Al Davis should have done this a long time ago. He fired the head coach he distrusts, hired a head coach he trusts at least a little, and after more than a week of epic Raiders zaniness brought to you by YouTube and every other news outlet, finally injected some sanity into the situation.
Point by point. Line by line. Hour by hour.
Davis made sense, seemed sincere, and landed punches in bunches.
Sounding like someone preparing for a protracted legal battle, which he probably is, the Raiders' owner spent much of Tuesday afternoon eviscerating the formidable young coach he hired and then failed to control.
With his continual, media-savvy dispatches, Kiffin had been playing Davis for a fool, for a feeble old man. Al finally swung back, swung from the seat of his pants, on his once-familiar stage in the auditorium at team headquarters.
In a setting that could be best described as old-school and low-tech, Davis, 79, using only an overhead projector and a folder of papers, and with a Raiders helmet deliberately positioned near his oft-gesturing right hand, outlined why he fired Kiffin, and almost as significantly explained why he waited so long.
He hates to admit a mistake. He wanted to avoid disrupting the team. He had hoped Kiffin would mature and, eventually, emerge as a masterful, on-the-job trainee.
He made sense. He did. He also did what he needed to do, emerged from a lengthy cocoon of silence and said his peace – and confirmed there has been no love between coach and owner almost since the beginning. Davis said Kiffin's original sin was committed when he opposed drafting former LSU standout JaMarcus Russell No. 1 overall in 2007. Also according to Al – and the dispute was escalated later in the day when Kiffin offered his rebuttal in televised interviews – the two disagreed about the value of wide receiver Randy Moss, the contributions of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, the expensive offseason acquisitions and the current team's overall talent.
Where Davis sensed a competitive, improved roster, Kiffin suspected otherwise and wasn't reluctant to say so. In that respect, Kiffin was different from his predecessors, all those others who kissed the ring for a while, only to be stripped to their silver-and-black skivvies and escorted out the door.
Davis, at various times combative and cerebral, witty and introspective, and occasionally even playful with journalists he has long considered adversaries, purposefully mentioned many of his former coaches by name. Mike Shanahan, he clearly dislikes but grudgingly respects. Bill Callahan, who guided the Raiders to the 2003 Super Bowl, remains appreciated, if overmatched. Art Shell will always be a beloved member of the organization, that pathetic 2-14 season in 2006 notwithstanding. Norv Turner also was portrayed favorably; Davis allowed he might have been "impetuous" in releasing the current San Diego Chargers coach after a 4-12 season in 2005.
Somewhat surprisingly, Davis voiced particular regret about releasing Jon Gruden, another young, strong-willed individual with whom he tangled. "Jon," Davis said, his voice softening, dropping. "You will have to make your own decisions. Jon was a good coach."
So why offensive-line coach Tom Cable instead of offensive coordinator Greg Knapp or Davis' personal favorite, Ryan? The operative term here is "interim" head coach. While Davis said he believes Cable is capable of "dominating" a locker room, the former Idaho head coach seemed more grateful than dynamic. During his much shorter turn at the microphone, he offered the usual sports clichés, said he was all about winning, and wisely neglected to mention the Raiders of late are more about drama than winning.
Those Court TV executives must be salivating. Move over, O.J. Davis has no intention of paying Kiffin any of his remaining $3.5 million salary, and admittedly is preparing for another heated courtroom tussle. On Tuesday, he seemed to gain strength with each allegation. He has documents. He has letters. He called Kiffin a "liar," characterized his former coach's public criticism of Ryan as "unfair" and "unheard of."
"He conned all you people," Davis insisted.
He made sense, at least some of the time. He was the Al Davis on the assault, the one who favors the deep throws, the high-risk/high-reward approach. The one who plays to win. He might have underestimated the ferocity of the young and implacable Mr. Kiffin, but as Davis himself noted before being wheeled out of the room, he ain't dead yet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, I guess you're right, its all Kiffins fault just like it was with Shannahan, Shell, Bugel, Gruden, Callahan, Norv etc.
riiiiight
riiiiight
See that's where the problem is... just because Al did them coaches bad in the "past" doesn't mean that he did that to Kiffin. That's where the perception comes in and takes over. Kiffin knew the history of Al and his old head coaches and tried to use that to his advantage. I am not buying it.
LOL, don't jump the gun just yet. We may actually improve under Tom Cable so let's give him a chance and see what happens... I've been saying Kiffin should have been fired since last year. That's good you remembered that thread I created back in Nov. of 07, I think. I am ahead of my time... I knew Kiffin wouldn't last because he was blowing games since last year.
AL IS A CON ARTIST PERIOD. LEAVE THE TOWN GOING TO LA. THEN COMES BACK AND TRYS TO SCREW THE FANS FOR PSL'S... CHARGING IRWINDALE 10 MILLION DOLLARS TO MOVE THERE AND RENEGES ON DEAL AND SAID THAT WAS A NON REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT. TRYS TO SUE CAROLINA FOR HAVING SILVER AND BLACK IN THEIR JERSEYS. SUING THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA FOR THE RAIDERS NOT SELLING OUT. AND SUING THE NFL FOR OTHER RANDOM CRAP ..DUDES HISTORY IN THE PAST 10 YEARS IS REALLY SHOWING HIS AGE..NOT A GOOD THING
Step your footbal knowledge up mayne. The raiders blew games up since last year, actuallly way before kiffin even came on board. Al is tryinna reach the playoffs in a coaches first year. How in the fuck is that shit possible ? 1-3 now but imagine if ya'll ended up 13-3 under Kiffin at the end of the season. Shoulda given dude a chance. Raiders ain't got nothing to lose.
Maybe Al should be coach, he would probablly take the Raiders to the superbowl
Maybe Al should be coach, he would probablly take the Raiders to the superbowl
Who knows how much is true…and how much isn’t.
What I do know is that the Raiders have been pretty competitive this season. And credit should go to Kiffin for that. Even if he didn’t originally want some of these players…the players obviously liked him and were playing hard for him. If Kiffin was trying to get fired…I didn’t see that watching the games.
What all of this does is remind everyone how crappy of an organization Oakland has become. With one press conference…Al dragged the franchise even deeper into the abyss. It will now be even harder to find a quality head coach and find quality players willing to play there.
A somewhat promising season is now probably wasted and the poor Raider fans will continue to suffer.
What I do know is that the Raiders have been pretty competitive this season. And credit should go to Kiffin for that. Even if he didn’t originally want some of these players…the players obviously liked him and were playing hard for him. If Kiffin was trying to get fired…I didn’t see that watching the games.
What all of this does is remind everyone how crappy of an organization Oakland has become. With one press conference…Al dragged the franchise even deeper into the abyss. It will now be even harder to find a quality head coach and find quality players willing to play there.
A somewhat promising season is now probably wasted and the poor Raider fans will continue to suffer.
LIKE I SAID...
give it up...stop being a raiders fan...
be a patriots fan or sumthing..they enjoy wack-ass wagon hoppers..
fuck al davis' interview...
and fuck that letter...THE ONLY REASON HE WROTE IT IS BECAUSE THEN HE WOULD HAVE DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE FOR "CAUSE"...
how could he accuse kiffin of slander to the organization??
what he has done over the past 5 years is 100x worse...
give it up...stop being a raiders fan...
be a patriots fan or sumthing..they enjoy wack-ass wagon hoppers..
fuck al davis' interview...
and fuck that letter...THE ONLY REASON HE WROTE IT IS BECAUSE THEN HE WOULD HAVE DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE FOR "CAUSE"...
how could he accuse kiffin of slander to the organization??
what he has done over the past 5 years is 100x worse...