Bleacher Report - Articles by Tony from NB

Meet Marc Trestman: Next Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders

Tony from NB — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:59:24 -0500

**UPDATE** Marc Trestman and the CFL's Montreal Alouettes win the 2009 Grey Cup

over the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28-27.

Asked about the NFL coaching rumors, Trestman says: "I think that any time your team has success, there are going to be people coming out of that team who are going to be visible and that are going to be written about. But I'm not going to comment on any of those stories."

In other words.....he will be the Raiders new coach come January 2010.

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It’s inevitable, a coaching change will occur in Oakland, probably at the end of this regular season. Tom Cable couldn’t improve on the final two wins of the 2008 NFL season, partly because of the personnel on the field, but also due to his abilities as a coach, or inabilities. Cable’s high-profile legal issues are well documented and that certainly plays a part in his eventual dismissal.

If Al Davis remains in charge of football operations he should consider a “professional” coach who has a history with the Raiders, Marc Trestman.

Trestman is currently the 53 year old head coach of the Canadian Football League’s, Montreal Alouettes. He had the Alouettes (Als) in the Grey Cup (league championship) in his first season (’08) and now has them poised to return, with a CFLs best record, 13-2.

The Als should win it all this season, and Trestman is responsible for the high octane offensive that the Als have displayed in the last two seasons.

So why Trestman?

Well, he’s smart (a law degree), articulate, and has a terrific football pedigree and above all, Al Davis knows who he is.

Therefore, who is Marc Trestman?

Trestman entered football coaching at the University of Miami in 1981 as a volunteer coach while getting his law degree. In 1983 he was named quarterbacks coach. That same year, quarterback Bernie Kosar passed for 2,329 yards and Miami won the national championship. The next year, Kosar completed 262 passes for 3,642 yards, both school records.

Trestman then moved to the NFL and coached the running backs with the Minnesota Vikings in 1985 and 1986, Bud Grant introduced him to the NFL. He became Quarterbacks coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 then held the same position with the Cleveland Browns in 1988.

In Cleveland, he again coached Kosar and the team finished 10-6 and made the playoffs (Yes, the Browns). He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1989. That year Kosar passed for 3,533 yards and 18 TDs, wide receiver Webster Slaughter had a franchise record 1,236 receiving yards, and the Browns made it to the AFC Championship game (yes, the Browns).

In 1990, Trestman returned to Minnesota as quarterbacks coach for the Vikings. He spent two years there and then left coaching for three years. He returned to the NFL in 1995 as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator with San Francisco, where he served in that capacity through 1996.

49er's coach George Seifert made Trestman learn the "West Coast" offensive. The first year he was there, the 49ers led the NFL with 457 points scored, 644 pass attempts and 4,779 passing yards (Steve Young likes him, too).

Trestman moved to the Detroit Lions as quarterbacks coach in 1997. That year Lion's quarterback Scott Mitchell passed for 3,484 yards, second most in team history (yes, the Lions).

In 1998 he was with the Arizona Cardinals as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. That year quarterback Jake Plummer threw for 3,737 yards, and the Cardinals made the playoffs for the first time since 1982 and won their first post season game in 51 years (way before Fitzgerald and company).

Trestman next went to the Oakland Raiders in 2001 as Rich Gannon’s quarterbacks coach. In 2002 he was promoted to offensive coordinator and the Raiders led the NFL in total offense with 389.8 yards per game and passing yards with 279.7 per game (the last time they did that).

That same Raider team made it to the Super Bowl but lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rich Gannon gave much credit to Trestman for his MVP Season.

Trestman spent the 2004 season with the Miami Dolphins and in 2005 he returned to college football as the North Carolina State Wolfpack offensive coordinator.

Trestman was named head coach of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in December of 2007. The Als narrowly lost 22-14 to the Calgary Stampeders in the 2008 Grey Cup championship game, that should change this year.

Marc Trestman is an offensive minded coach above all else, with an understanding of the running game, deep ball, and west-coast style. Therefore, he is ready for the NFL of the 21st Century.

Trestman did interview with the Raiders for the Offensive Coordinator position in January of 2009, so Al Davis is well aware of Marc’s body of work after he left the Raiders in 2003.

Why hasn’t Trestman been given a head coaching position in the NFL?

I say perception, he doesn’t look like a NFL head coach, which is sad. He’s also been the victim of complete staff dismissals.

Any former coaching comparisons?

Well, if your looking for a comparison, look no further than Marv Levy. Sure, there are many differences between the NFL and CFL, but I'm a firm believer that the qualities to lead, communicate and getting your players to believe are the same whether there are three downs or four, whether there are 11 or 12 men on the field. Marv Levy understood that, and he was one of the most successful NFL head coaches of all time, and he came from the CFL.

He led those same Montreal Alouettes to two championships (’74 & ’77). As a former Montrealer, I fondly remember the 1977 Grey Cup on the frozen turf of the Olympic Stadium, with a record crowd of over 63 thousand.

Both Trestman and Levy are certainly not flashy, but right now the Raiders need a different kind of coach, a smart one and a winning one.

The NFL's Hot Dog Headliners

Tony from NB — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:29:21 -0400

With regard to Mark Sanchez and that hot dog scene in Oakland:

“Sanchez just bought 500 hot dogs and hamburgers, along with buns and rolls, and donated them to the Community Soup Kitchen in Morristown, N.J.," the Jets announced on their Twitter page.

"That's pocket change for a guy who signed a contract earlier this year that guaranteed him $28 million," wrote Chris Chase of Yahoo! Sports.

"But it's still a kind, meaningful, and amusing gesture from a 22-year-old who could instead be living up to the stereotype of a spoiled, rich-kid quarterback."

In a related story:

“JaMarcus Russell, QB of the Oakland Raiders, just bought 500 hot dogs and hamburgers, along with buns and rolls, some coleslaw, potato salad, and a few pumpkin pies, and ate them by himself.”

Coach Cable remarked, “He’s a 'growing' franchise QB…and we may need to get reinforced benches on the sidelines."

How about that JaMarcus is living up to the stereotypes of a spoiled, rich kid quarterback?

Hey, John Herrera...Baghdad Bob Has Nothing On You.

Tony from NB — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:27:13 -0400

I thought the comparison between Baghdad Bob and John Herrera are appropriate considering recent events.

Have fun with the description below, and replace any word you wish with these: John Herrera,Al Davis,Oakland Raiders,NFL, Kawakami,Gannon,Russell,Black Hole…you get the idea.

[Al-Sahhaf is known for his daily press briefings in Baghdad during the 2003 Iraq War. His colorful appearances caused him to be nicknamed Baghdad Bob^[4] (in the style of previous propagandists with alliterative aliases such as "Hanoi Hannah" and "Seoul City Sue"

On April 7, 2003, al-Sahhaf claimed that there were no American troops in Baghdad, and that the Americans were committing suicide by the hundreds at the city's gates.]

[At that time, American tanks were patrolling the streets only a few hundred meters from the location where the press conference was held. His last public appearance as Information Minister was on April 8, 2003, when he said that the Americans "are going to surrender or be burned in their tanks. They will surrender, it is they who will surrender". ]

- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oakland Raiders for Sale: Only $797.00

Tony from NB — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:27:26 -0400

According to Forbes magazine annual rankings, the Oakland Raiders are dead last in the NFL, valued at $797 million, and that’s down 7 percent from last year.

While the Cowboys are worth $1.65 billion, the most of any NFL franchise, and for that matter, the most of any U.S.-based sports franchise. Only soccer’s Manchester United of England top the worldwide list at $1.87 billion.

Economic downturn or not, this is a pretty sad state of affairs for a franchise that claims to have a worldwide following.

Like any financial problem, there’s a financial opportunity, and Raider Nation, you might have an opportunity on your hands here.

Let’s do the math together, shall we.

Current Value of the Oakland Raiders: $797 million

Number of Raider Fans willing to invest:(conservative figure) 1 Million

Cost per Fan to invest: $797.00 (eat your heart out Packer fans)

…that’s right, give Al Davis $797.00 (postage paid) and you have yourself an NFL franchise.

Any and all comments would be appreciated.

Bob The Builder: A Habs Post Mortem

Tony from NB — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:08:18 -0400

100 years of excellence, a Ring of Honor representing the 24 Stanley Cup banners, 15 retired jerseys, 44 legendary players and 10 Great builders…and capped off by a run at the 25th Stanley Cup...wait a second.…it didn’t happen…Bob the Builder was silent.

So what happened?

The 2008-09 edition of the Montreal Canadians was to be a year of celebration on and off the ice. Unfortunately, on the ice, the celebration came to a crashing halt after a four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The blame game starts the moment Game Four ended, and the blame is squarely directed at one of those 44 legendary players, the GM, and Coach Bob Gainey.

Five areas of blame should be looked at...five areas that Bob Gainey was silent on:

1. Veteran Goalie

Prior to the 2008 playoffs, Bob Gainey shipped veteran goalie Cristobal Huet to the Washington Capitals for a second-round draft pick. All of his confidence in nets would be placed in the hands of Carey Price, anointed by the fans and the media as the “next one”.

Price's performance in the 2008 playoffs deteriorated in the Bruins series, and fell apart in the Flyers series. The need was clear: Price required mentoring in the form of a veteran goalie, and perhaps a new goaltending coach.

Price needed someone to show him the ropes as a pro in the NHL, and to take off some pressure. Price has won at every level relying on his natural talent, and at the tender age of 22, that talent is not enough in the pro’s…Bob the Builder was silent.

2. Power Forward/Big D

The 2008 playoffs also uncovered the need for a power forward up the middle with some skill. The Flyers manhandled the Habs, and the need was obvious. Bob’s response was Laraque, Metropolit, and Lang…nice guys with little skill other than Lang, who has traveled by way of many teams in the NHL for a reason. The 2009 trade deadline came and went….Bob the Builder was silent.

The need for a big strong defenseman to protect Price was also evident…Bob’s response was Matthew Schneider. Sure, Schneider is a skilled, veteran defenseman, but he isn’t big or strong. Matt is also 39, and the injuries are mounting….again, Bob the Builder was Silent.

3. Too many Euros, more North Americans

Winning a Stanley Cup requires a delicate balance of grit, skill, leadership, and perseverance. North American players, specifically Canadian ones, embrace those qualities (Detroit the exception that proves the rule).

The Stanley Cup is the most difficult professional championship to win. The playoffs are a test of endurance, and thus requires a different type of player. The Habs have too many players that have the same qualities, important qualities, but not the ingredients necessary for a Cup run.

Jaromír Jagr once was asked why his Rangers where eliminated in the playoffs a few years back, and he said, “Too many Euros on this team to compete”. Well Bob, the same can be said for the 2008-2009 Habs. Trade deadline came and went….Bob the Builder was silent.

4. A Coach for all seasons

Guy Charbonneau was the scapegoat. His cards were dealt, and his players threw in their chips. No win situation. Bob Gainey had given him basically the same roster that lost to the Flyers a year earlier, and the trade deadline came and went...Bob the Builder was silent, and a popular coach was lost.

Guy will resurface, and we will probably succeed similar to Julien and Vigneault, two other former Habs coaches.

5. An Aging Captain

We all admire Saku Koivu's career and what he has done to overcome many difficult life obstacles. A model player, a model citizen, a model captain, and a player that deserves to be the missing puzzle on another team that’s close to winning it all.

Should Saku be the face of the franchise next year? Sadly, no.

The Habs need a vocal captain inside/outside the locker room—someone who has tasted playoff success, and may have even won a Cup…someone like Vincent Lecavalie, a veteran mentor for the likes of Lapierre, Subban, and Plekanec.

A captain that has the physical presence and linguistic skills to dominate inside/outside the locker room is needed; a captain that is at the perfect point in his career to embrace the responsibility of wearing that “C” in Montreal…again, Bob the Builder was silent.

Sure, Tampa said Lecavalier is going nowhere, but we all know a trade can be made anytime (think Jay Cutler)… still Bob the Builder remained silent.

Much is up in the air for the Montreal Canadians this coming offseason, including the ownership. The best move George Gillett could make is to dismiss Bob Gainey at the earliest opportunity.

Habs fans, do you really want Bob the Builder to handle your 10 unrestricted free agents and the upcoming NHL Draft?

No, I didn't think so.

Steve Young: A Case for the Best QB of All Time

Tony from NB — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:53:41 -0400

It's an ageless debate that never ends. One that tries to place the individual athlete in context with the team, and the individual athlete in context with history.

Some will examine specific statistics, like pass completion average, ability to run the ball, ability to come from behind, average touch down to interception ratio, or quick release.

Some believe that since a quarterback should inspire a team, the most important factor in determining best quarterback of all time should simply be Super Bowl wins.

Lately, this debate has focused squarely in the hands of two, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, and rightfully so. Both of their history books are yet to be completed; therefore, before you judge this argument I’m about to make, please leave Manning and Brady out of the conversation….you may include Favre if you wish.

So, how great was Steve Young?

Well, Joe Montana, whom many people regard as the greatest passer in National Football League history, called Young ''the greatest passer I've ever seen.'' Fran Tarkenton, whom many regard as the greatest running quarterback in NFL history, calls Young ''the greatest running quarterback I've ever seen.'' Bill Walsh, the coach who brought Young to the San Francisco 49ers, calls him ''the best, most accurate passer I've ever seen.''

Sure, coaches will say anything good about their “man”, but is Steve Young really the best passer anyone has ever seen?

According to the NFL's complex rating system, which takes in all passing categories and figures a composite score, Young, at 96.8 is the highest-rated quarterback of all time; higher than Sammy Baugh, Otto Graham, Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway, and Brett Favre.

When Young retired, his 1994 season of 112.8 was rated as the best of all time, slightly ahead of Joe Montana in 1989 (112.4), Milt Plum in 1960 (110.4), Sammy Baugh in 1945 (109.9), and Dan Marino in 1984 (108.9).

(Today, he stands 3^rd…yup, Manning & Brady occupy the top two spots)

Go ahead, and choose the method you like. According to the NFL, Steve Young was the league's best passer in six of the last seven seasons that he played from 1991 to 1998.

Want to place this dominance in context to another sport? Try baseball, and think about the great Sandy Koufax.

Koufax is generally regarded as the most dominant pitcher in modern baseball. From 1960 to 1966, Koufax won 25 or more games three times, led the National League in strikeouts four times, and led both leagues in E.R.A. for five straight seasons.

Everyone who has watched Steve Young play knows he is good; not everyone understands how good.

That type of dominance places the “player” in context with “history” of the time. It’s rare in any sport, and unequaled in pro football. And that's just the passing part of the game folks.

Young has run for more touchdowns than any quarterback in NFL history. Incredibly, he did this after he turned 30. Though he joined the 49ers in 1987, he began playing regularly for 49ers only in 1991, when he was nearing 31…perhaps that’s the main reason so many people forget Steve Young, similar to the great Bears running back Gale Sayers, his prime-time was relatively short.

There’s also the matter of who came first, especially in the mind of 49er fans. To many, Young's statistical record is of little value, he may never replace Montana in their hearts. (think to a lesser degree Elway and Cutler if they played together)

Let’s all remember, Joe Montana was the most popular football player, not just in San Francisco, but in America. A lot of people blamed Steve for Joe's departure because the 49er organization had to make a choice.

For Steve to then step in and put up better numbers is simply incredible, and shows astonishing professional leadership…you can just imagine that feeling he had after winning Super Bowl XXIX, throwing a record six touchdowns, and being named the MVP.

Something else the stats won’t tell you about Steve Young: He has had seven (recorded) concussions and has been knocked unconscious 10 times as a professional football player.

The way Young played is to run the ball himself when he felt the occasional demands, literally risking his neck against linebackers 40-50 pounds heavier in situations where most quarterbacks would settle for a nice, soft slide.

Young's way was to step forward into a crumbling pocket to get a better throwing angle and take a blind-side hit, when other quarterbacks might put the ball up for grabs. In the end, the decision was a no-brainer for Steve Young: One more solid blow to the helmet and this article would be far different.

So, if you’re looking for character, guts, teamwork, and perhaps the best all-round QB to ever play the position, Steve Young fits that bill, but if you believe statistics rule the day, Steve Young comes through as well. He was one of the most accurate passers in league history, was named All-Pro in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1998 and earned All-NFC honors three times. The two-time league MVP also was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times.

A few more numbers to please the masses:

Highest Passer Rating, Career—96.8

Most Rushing Touchdowns by a QB, Career—43

Most Passing Titles, Career—6 (tied w/Sammy Baugh)

Most Consecutive Passing Titles—4 (1991-94)

Most Seasons with a Passer Rating Over 100, Career—6 (1991-94, 1997-98)

Most Consecutive Games w/300+ Yards Passing—6 (Young was the first QB to do this in 1998; Kurt Warner (2000) and Rich Gannon (2002) have since tied the mark)

One of only 4 QB's to lead the league in touchdown passes 4 times (tied w/Johnny Unitas, Brett Favre, and Len Dawson)

Most Passes Attempted, Playoff Game—65 vs. Green Bay, 1995

Most TD Passes, Playoff Game—6 (tied w/Daryle Lamonica)

Most TD Passes in one Super Bowl—6

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2005)

…AND

Greatest QB of all time: I say Steve Young.

A “Cut Above”: Is Jay Cutler the Next Donald Vincent Majkowski?

Tony from NB — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:55:35 -0400

The purpose of this article (if that’s what you choose to call it) is to examine the first three years of two very similar QB in the NFL.

Let me preface. I have no fan base interest in Jay Cutler, nor do I have interest in either the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, or Green Bay Packers.

I just find it very strange that Cutler has been anointed (by the media for the most part) as the next Elway or Manning without ever winning a playoff game, and garnering such a high price in compensation.

This comparison is worth a look since both QB’s became Pro Bowlers in their third year, which in NFL terms, is very early. I ask the reader to look at the statistics, and comment on the future of Jay Cutler based on Don Majkowski career numbers over the same three years.

While doing so, ask yourself these questions:

Do you see similarities?

If so, what makes Cutler’s numbers better going forward with the Bears?

Was Cutler a system QB under Shanahan?

Could have Majkowski been the next Brett Favre (ironic, I know) if it where not for injuries?

Why would you think Cutler is a better overall QB than Majkowski considering neither had won a playoff game during that period?

Let the facts do the talking.

Comparison No. 1: Physical Attributes & College

Majkowski: Height: 6-2 Weight: 197 lbs. College: Virginia Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 10th round (255th overall) of the 1987 Draft

Cutler: Height: 6-3 Weight: 225 lbs. College: Vanderbilt Drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 1st round (11th overall) of the 2006 Draft

Results: Similar bodies, and that’s where the similarities end prior to their NFL careers. However, they did both attend a college beginning with the letter “V”.

Comparison No. 2: NFL statistical passing numbers based on their first three years

Majkowski’s Numbers (1987-89):

1987

Games: 7

Completions: 55

Attempts: 127

Pct: 43.3%

Yds: 875

Avg: 6.9

TD: 5

Int: 3

Rating: 70.2

1988

Games: 13

Completions: 178

Attempts: 336

Pct: 53%

Yds: 2,119

Avg: 6.3

TD: 9

Int: 11

Rating: 67.8

1989

Games: 16

Completions: 353

Attempts: 599

Pct: 58.9%

Yds: 4,318

Avg: 7.2

TD: 27

Int: 20

Rating: 82.3

*Pro Bowl Selection

** Majkowski had one of the most productive seasons by a quarterback in Green Bay history. Brett Favre has had only one season where he threw for more yards than the Majkowski.

Cutler’s Numbers (2006-08):

2006

Games: 5

Completions: 81

Attempts: 137

Pct: 59.1%

Yds: 1,001

Avg: 7.3

TD: 9

Int: 5

Rate: 88.5%

2007

Games: 16

Completions: 297

Attempts: 467

Pct: 63.6%

Yds: 3,497

Avg: 7.5

TD: 20

Int: 14

Rate: 88.1%

2008

Games: 16

Completions: 384

Attempts: 616

Pct: 62.3%

Yds: 4,526

Avg: 7.3

TD: 25

Int: 18

Rate: 86%

*Pro Bowl Selection

**Cutler’s 2008 numbers surpassed that posted by Elway’s best statistical year 1985. Ironically, it was Elway’s 3rd year in the league as well.

Results: Sure, Cutler’s numbers are somewhat better in year two, but very close in year three. Let’s also remember who coached Cutler in all three years. Lindy Infante is no Mike Shanahan

Comparison No. 3: Attitude and Leadership

(This might be the biggest difference of all, and perhaps the most difficult to evaluate.)

Majkowski:

Don was, and remains a positive person inside and outside the locker room.

He was always a fan favorite in Green Bay. So much so that he was elected to the Packers HOF—no small feat considering the legends that have played on the “frozen tundra”.

Majkowski embraced the whole “Majik Man” persona, and has returned back to Lambeau several times over the years. To this day, the “Majik Man” is still extremely popular with Packer fans all over the country.

Majkowski has formed the Majik Network for which he provides expert analysis on the Packers and the NFL to radio and TV outlets across Wisconsin and around the country.

Jay Cutler:

Jay has shown in the last few weeks that he is a man of great (maybe too much) pride and when you throw in the way he interacts with the media (mostly negatively) you cannot paint the same positive picture for Jay Cutler the “man” as you can Don Majkowski the “man”.

Perhaps being a first round selection and the money that comes with that changes you as a person.

Results:

Real difficult because this isn’t quantifiable, but attitude is a big part of the QB position (think Steve Young, and all those hits.)

Jay Cutler may have the best arm under 30 in football today, but if he can't get his guys to win by showing leadership and a good attitude, is he really worth it?

There you have it…Let me know your thoughts—especially Bears fans!!!

Chucky, Part Two: Jon Gruden's Fact or Fiction?

Tony from NB — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:29:00 -0500

Being a Raiders fan for 33 years and counting, fact and fiction always seem to be at odds.

Inevitably, it's a result of the man in charge, Al Davis, a very complex man who walks a fine line between insanity and brilliance. However, I find that uncovering "fact" with Al Davis normally always resides outside of the norm and between the headlines.

Many questions have arisen concerning Jon Gruden and his potential return as head coach after his firing from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a week ago. What are the facts, you ask? On the Gruden side of the ship, he has a contract from the Bucs in which he could easily sit out the next two years.

He may also spend that time working in the broadcast booth, or just enjoying time with his young family. But, knowing Jon, he's not one to sit at home and/or sleep past 4 a.m.

Now, what are the facts as far as Davis is concerned? Well, Davis did trade away the last effective Raiders coach to Tampa (notice I didn't say great. You need to win a Super Bowl with the Silver & Black to be called great in my book). Also, Davis hasn’t confirmed Tom Cable as the head coach yet.

Which begs the question, does Davis still believe in Jon Gruden? Based on "factual" quotes from Al Davis, Gruden is in the hunt, even though that hasn't been made explicit yet.

Consider this. Asked whether they might be open to the idea of Gruden filling their coaching vacancy, team spokesman John "Media Lover" Herrera made it clear that reconciliation was out of the question.

"We've been down that road," he said. "That would be reckless speculation to think that that would be any sort of a possibility."

Does Art Shell ring a bell, Mr.Herrera?

A link at the Q&A session Davis conducted after the firing of "Lance" Kiffin earlier this year, which allowed Cable to step in. It's also a very candid look at a man who is still very much in command at the helm and could live to be 103, provided he carries his mom's genes and stem cell research continues.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2008/09/30/al-davis-after-the-cameras-were-off-kiffin-conned-me-like-you-conned-all-you-people/

From that interview is the most recent reference to Gruden by Davis:

Q: Gruden?

DAVIS: Jon. You’ve got to make your own decision. Jon was a good coach. But don’t forgot, I took Jon, no one else even knew who he was. Jon’s first two years, he was in tough. He won a big game that kept him alive. You know which game that was? Kansas City…that’s pretty good. You ought to be over here with us...The Tuck Game was the undoing of a lot of things

So while Herrera says one thing, the fact is that Davis still holds a good impression of Gruden, as does Gruden of Davis, according to his book "Do You Love Football?"

Therefore, the possibility does exist of Gruden coming back.

Or does it?

Stay tuned.

New England Patriots: Bill Belichick is Darth Sidious

Tony from NB — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:59:02 -0400

With all of the talk that there is a "new" evil empire looming in the clam chowder region of the country, I thought we should truly verify the comparisons for ourselves.

Have fun...

Bleacher Report - Articles by Tony from NB

Meet Marc Trestman: Next Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders

The NFL's Hot Dog Headliners

Hey, John Herrera...Baghdad Bob Has Nothing On You.

I thought the comparison between Baghdad Bob and John Herrera are appropriate considering recent events.

Have fun with the description below, and replace any word you wish with these: John Herrera,Al Davis,Oakland Raiders,NFL, Kawakami,Gannon,Russell,Black Hole…you get the idea.

[Al-Sahhaf is known for his daily press briefings in Baghdad during the 2003 Iraq War. His colorful appearances caused him to be nicknamed Baghdad Bob[4] (in the style of previous propagandists with alliterative aliases such as "Hanoi Hannah" and "Seoul City Sue"

On April 7, 2003, al-Sahhaf claimed that there were no American troops in Baghdad, and that the Americans were committing suicide by the hundreds at the city's gates.]

- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oakland Raiders for Sale: Only $797.00

Bob The Builder: A Habs Post Mortem

Steve Young: A Case for the Best QB of All Time

A “Cut Above”: Is Jay Cutler the Next Donald Vincent Majkowski?

Chucky, Part Two: Jon Gruden's Fact or Fiction?

New England Patriots: Bill Belichick is Darth Sidious

[Al-Sahhaf is known for his daily press briefings in Baghdad during the 2003 Iraq War. His colorful appearances caused him to be nicknamed Baghdad Bob^[4] (in the style of previous propagandists with alliterative aliases such as "Hanoi Hannah" and "Seoul City Sue"