You were formerly the co-offensive coordinator of the most dominant college team in the country, and headed that teams scouting and recuiting efforts to bring in the best high school players in the country. You know college players!
Now, you work for someone twice your age, says you have the authority to make decisions, and then when you make one that he doesn't agree with, overrules you and asks you to forfeit a $4million salary. You think your knowledge of the game matters, but it doesn't to the boss. Welcome to the life that is 32 year old Lane Kiffin - current head coach of the Oakland Raiders. His headache is as big as the culmulative headaches of the entire Oakland Fan Base.
Your team holds the 4th pick in the upcoming draft, and recently spend about a billion dollars signing (or re-signing) a ton of free agents to add some quality players, and I use the word "quality" very very loosely. Javon Walker & Tommy Kely coming off season ending injuries got cash thrown their way. Super Bowl Champ Wilson was signed to shore up the secondary, and this year's 2nd round pick was offered up for a headcase, Hall, who can't seem to fit in with any coach. Thanks Al!
The NFL Draft is merely 1 week away, so where do you turn? You need a strong pass rushing end - Chris Long might be available. You need a D tackle - Glenn Dorsey might drop down. You need O-linemen, but Jake Long looks like he might go #1 to Miami, but there is Brandon Albert who the Chiefs are IN LOVE WITH and pick just behind you at #5, so Uncle Al may just do the unthinkable and take him just to shove it up KC's butt. You don't need a RB, but looks like the best skill position player in this draft, McFadden, might just fall into your lap.
DMac might be a nice addition to pair with JaMarcus, or having Howie's son to carry the new Raider torch would be a dream come true. Don't bet on any of this happening. If you know Al Davis, you have got to know to expect the unexpected. This is how he will further infuriate the Raider Nation and Coach Kiffin in the process. Here is how the Draft weekend will unfold for the Raiders:
He tries to initiate a trade for the fourth overall pick to the Cinccinati Bengals for Chad Johnson and their 2nd round pick. They pass.
Rather than selecting DMac who ran a 4.33 40 at the combine, Al turn his attention to the fastest player at the combine, RB Chris Johnson from East Carolina who ran the 40 in a blazing 4.24 sec. Al falls in love with speed, and he has a ton of it. Al saw Johnson run over the Boise St. Broncos in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve and has bee enamoured with him ever since. Al says : "Speed Kills!" Over on the NFL Network, former Raider exec Mike Lombardi says "I knew that's who he was going to pick!"
Draft Sunday, news reports that Lane Kiffin has agreed to sign his resignation letter saying he'd rather give up $4million than spend another day in Oakland.
Later in the day, with the 4th round, Al selects 5-11 180lbs WR Donnie Avery out of Houston who by the way, ran a 4.29 40 yard dash. NFL Networks Lombardi says "See, I told you!"
Monday morning, Raiders announce the appointment of James Lofton as head coach of the Oakland Raiders! Mr. Loftton, welcome back to the Silver & Black!
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5 months ago
Nah.
Don't see it panning out that way.
I see about 4 things happening, 5, if you count the Chad Johnson idea.
First will be Long.
If Long is gone, Dorsey.
If Dorsey's gone, then Vernon Gholston.
If not him, McFadden.
Where it becomes a question, is if we keep McFadden, or turn around, and try to swap him down to the Cowboys, or lose some of our Running backs, to open the market some.
The last option, again, has us keeping McFadden, then trying to organize a big enough trade to lose 2 running backs, Fabian Washington, and Stuart Schweigert, et al, and call it good, for Ocho Cinco.
Hey, crazier things have happened, ask the Vikings.
5 months ago
Marty, You say the Raider shave signed players that are coming off season ending injuries like Javon Walker and Tommy Kelly and I infer that what you mean to say is that "The Raiders are the dumbest team in NFl to have signed them!". Well I ask you this, those injuries didnt stop nearly half the NFL (all the of the NFC East, by the way) from offering contracts to Walker. It didnt stop Tommy Kelly from having a 30 tackle, 1 sack season in just 7 games who also was hand-picked by the QB killa himself as the next Big thing in the three technique. Hmm? Wilson is known for his tackling ability and will most definitley bring the "authority" needed at safety position so I can safely say his contract is justified and I dont have to say anything about Hall. He had five interceptions in one of the most pathetic franchises and weakling of a defense last year and has been nominated to two probowls. As for the draft only time will tell of the final result. Best of Luck till then!
5 months ago
It looks like Jake Long is going to go number 1 to Miami. Id say that St.Louis will either take Chris Long or Glenn Dorsey at number 2.If the Rams take Chris Long then the Falcons will deffinatly take Dorsey at 3.So we have Jake Long,Chris Long,and Glenn Dorsey all likely gone this leave the likely options for the Raiders as being either trading down for more picks,or staying put and either drafting Vernon Gholston or Darren McFadden.With Al Davis love of speed and also his seeming preference of offensive players I would say the raiders draft Darren Mcfadden with the 4th pick.
5 months ago
Also I saw the mentioning of Brandon Albert though he would be a reach at 4 overall I dont think it would be a bad pick.He has franchise LT material and this would allow the raiders to move Robert Gallery to guard giving them a pretty formidable and young O-Line to protect Russell. Ryan Clady wouldnt be a bad pick either.
5 months ago
Another bit of my 2 cents worth, if somehow some way Al Davis can pull off a trade with Cincy for Chad Johnson I would damn sure try I dont even think they would have to give up there 1st rd pick to get him I think he could be had for a 2nd and 3rd round pick. Then the raiders could draft McFadden with the 4th pick then trade one or two of there current RBS for draft picks to get back what you lose in trading for Chad.
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