Al Davis Uses His One Phone Call To Break Up with Lane Kiffin

Though the Raiders are still clearly a far cry from rejoining the NFL elite, even the casual observer can see they were slowly gaining on the middle-of-the-pack under Kiffin's tutelage. 

And while average is not acceptable in today's "What have you done for me lately?" world of college and professional sports, it is a step in the right direction away from mediocrity.

A Petite Disclosure and a Plea to Pat Bowlen

Finally, in the name of editorial integrity, I should point out that as a lifelong Denver Broncos supporter, my opinions presented here are not completely unbiased, though I have attempted to present the facts of this case with both accuracy and truthiness. 

I honestly believe that the finest days of Al Davis' Hall of Fame tenure as Captain of the Silver & Black are behind him, and his performance as the team's GM over the past five years have been no better, if not worse, than the recently fired Detroit Lions' GM, Matt Millen.

On the upside, Lane Kiffin is a talented, young NFL coach who comes with an impressive pedigree as the son of defensive guru and current Bucs defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin, and he has brighter coaching days ahead.

So, Pat Bowlen, if you happen to read this article, consider doing something you did in  the early '90s and extend an olive branch to a former Raiders coach who was similarly fired by the H.P.I.C.—Head Pirate In Charge—after compiling a losing record in just 20 games. 

Perhaps some of that Kiffin ingenuity could help restore the Broncos' struggling defense as one of the league's best.

And you never know; when future HOF'er Mike Shanahan's run as the greatest coach in Denver sports history finally sets into the Colorado sunset, you just may have his successor waiting in tow.

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