Time For Change

Hello fans,

It was a very troubling season for the Raiders, but they did please me by finishing strong. It seems things are lining up for a stronger 2009 season for the Raiders. I am and will continue to be positive in regards to the future of the team.

There are 3 people I pointed too as the main problem with the Raiders over the past 4 seasons. They were Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan and Al Davis assistants Jeff Birren and John Herrera. Well, Rob Ryan wanted the Head Coach job, but did not get it. He has decided to leave the Raiders to take a job with another team. That gets rid of one problem and leaves 2 more. Those 2 will have a harder time driving a wedge between the Head Coach, whomever is selected, and the rest of the team the way they (John Herrera) were able to with Art Shell and Lane Kiffen.

There are tons of coaches on the block, today. Free and clear. The latest...John Gruden. He and Al Davis parted on friendly terms in 2002 and the door to return is not locked (as proven in the rehire of Art Shell in the past). Personally, I would like to see that, but there is another, stronger, rumor lingering out there. It is former Raider Defensive Back coach, Terry Robiskie. He left, on good terms, after Art Shell was released. Talks have been scheduled with him and he has quietly assembled a staff of WILLING assistant coaches. Coaches who have stated that if he is hired by Al Davis, they will join him with the Raiders. If that happens, you will see a huge change in the swagger of the Raiders. You will see the fear in the eyes of Raider opponents, just like the Raiders of old. You will see the Raiders return to the top of the AFC West in 2009. The Raiders have the players, they need the leadership. Terry Robiskie will bring that to them. Let me know if you agree.

As for Big Al, if you think he has lost it. If you think he does not know football anymore. If you think he can no longer function as an owner. You are not looking at what is happening on the team. If he was out of touch, his right hand men (John Herrera and Jeff Birren) would have had Rob Ryan in position as Head Coach 3 seasons ago. Al is sharp enough to know that Rob Ryan, while being a top defensive coordinator, is not Head Coach material. If he was, he would have been. Everyone knows Al Davis likes to promote from within. The Lane Kiffen firing was more for personal reasons than business. Interim Head Coach, Tom Cable, is not the man for job. Yes, he produced wins over the Buccaneers, but they still lost to the Chargers. (What's your opinion?)

The Superbowl teams have been decided. The Cardinals and the Steelers. While I am not a Steeler fan (Big news) I will be pulling for the Steelers to win the Superbowl for two reasons. 1) They have a black Head Coach and 2) They have a BLACK Head Coach. On the other side, the Cardinals have to much in-fighting going on. A WR was caught on camera yelling at the Offensive Coordinator while he was trying to call plays during a drive in which they were losing by 2 points. He called the coach out of his name and you could see the coach tell him repeatedly, "Don't call me that. Don't you call me that." as his teammates were pulling him away from the coach. After the game, which they won, he along with other players decided not to participate in the celebration and trophy ceremony. Not the sign of a Superbowl winning team.

On the other game, there was a hit by a Steeler player on a Raven player in which both were hurt, but the Raven is in the hospital. What I am about to say may anger you, but it is how I feel. Both players are Black, yet White commentators are calling for a fine and suspension of the Steeler player for a helmet-to-helmet hit. Anyone who played the game knows that was not an intentional helmet shot. It was a textbook football hit. I agree with Cordell Stewart, former Steeler WR and QB. He stated the helmet hit controversy is the fault of NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell. He has brought attention to these hits in an effort to protect players. You, as a player are taught the proper, safe, way to make a tackle. The hit made in last nights game was exactly how you make that hit. It just happened to cause injury to the players. This will happen in football. What is worse is if players are fined and suspended for it they will become timid and not play at full speed, thus causing more injuries instead of less. We had decades of helmet hits by DB's with no complaint. Commentators constantly say defenders use the helmet as a weapon, but they do not speak of the running backs who do the same. I still see images of Earl Campbell using his head as a bull to aid in running thru a LB or CB or Safety. I did it Everyone I know who played did it. It it a natural thing. It is part of your safety equipment. It works great when you wear it properly. That is another story.

I have received tons of messages asking for the final Raider-Man blog. sorry to disappoint, but this blog will continue as long as the Raiders have a team. While the 2008 season is over for the Raiders, it will not end for football. Stop reading if you like, but I will continue to write. Who knows, I may even reveal who Raider-Man is, someday. But, just understand, as long as there is football, there will be a Raider-Man blog.

Until the 2009 Superbowl,
Raider-Man out!!!!