In This Race, the Raiders Are the Best All Time

If you’re a fan of a good team, you probably think your team is the best (Cubs fans not included).  In the NFL, there are eight franchises that have won three or more Super Bowls, so those teams have legitimate arguments to make.   It’s tough to argue with Pittsburgh (six Lombardi Trophies and eight Super Bowl appearances), and right on their heels, you have Dallas (with five titles in eight Super Bowls) and San Francisco (who is undefeated in five Super Bowls). 

Those teams are followed by five proud franchises, all with three Super Bowl Championships: Green Bay, New England, Washington, New York and Oakland.

Now, as an admitted Raider fan, I still have an issue with one of the Patriots' Super Bowl Championships (see Tuck Rule), but I guess I need to get over that.

Well, if I can’t claim my Raiders to be the best of all time (yet), I will take a measure of solace in this: nobody, and I mean nobody, beats the Silver and Black on the Track.   That’s right, it’s gotten so bad for this Raider fan that I’m bragging about my team's legendary speed.  In fact, not only are we faster "all time" than your team, we are faster than most Olympic sprint teams.

Just for fun, I’ll put up my top three All-Time Raider 4x100 relay teams up against anybody.

Team #1 (Running Backs)

(Lead Off) Napoleon Kaufman—Ran a reported 4.31 40-yard-dash and 10.59 in the 100 meters.

(2nd Leg) Darren McFadden—Ran a reported 4.33 (and an unofficial 4.27) 40-yard-dash and 10.8 in the 100 meters.

(3rd Leg) Justin Fargas—Ran a reported 4.35 40-yard-dash and 10.47 in the 100 meters.

(Anchor) Bo Jackson —Ran a reported at 4.23 40-yard-dash and 10.39 in the 100 meters.

Team #2 (WR’s & DB’s)

(Lead Off) Alexander Wright—Unofficially ran a reported 4.09 in the 40-yard-dash and was twice the NFL’s Fastest Man (1990,91).

(2nd Leg) Cliff Branch—Ran a reported 10.24 in the 100 meters.

(3rd Leg) Darius Heywood Bey—Ran a reported 4.30 40-yard-dash (unofficial 4.23 clocking in college) and a 10.4 in the 100 meters.

(Anchor) James Trapp—Ran a reported sub-4.3 40-yard-dash time and 10.03 in the 100 meters.  Also the NFL’s Fastest Man for 1995.

Team #3 (Raiders with World Records & Olympic Gold)

(Lead Off) Willie Gault—Ran a reported 4.20 40-yard-dash (plus a reported 4.27 at the age of 48).  Former world record holder in 4x100 meter relay, teamed with Carl Lewis in 1983, timed at 37.86 (current record 37.10) and 10.10 in the 100 meters.

(2nd Leg) Sam Graddy—Best time: 10.09, 100 meters.  Silver medalist in the 1984 Olympics, finishing behind Carl Lewis, gold medalist in 4 x 100 meter relay 1984 Olympics, setting a World Record.

(3rd Leg) James Jett—Ran a reported 4.27 40-yard-dash and 10.18 in 100 meters (Olympic Gold Medalist 1988 4 x 100 Relay Team).   NFL’s Fastest Man in 1996.

(Anchor) Ron Brown—Ran a reported 4.25 40 yard dash, reported 10.06 in the 100 meters, Olympic gold medalist at 1984 Olympics in the 4 x 100 meter relay, setting a world record.  NFL’s Fastest Man for 1987.

Maybe the United States Olympic Committee should put Al Davis in charge of the track and field team.

I would love to put all these guys in a 100-meter race against each other, and I’ll give an at-large bid to the Redskins' Darryl Green, the Bears' Devon Hester, the Cowboys' Bob Hayes and Deion Sanders.

Anyway, here’s hoping for a “fast” return to the top of the NFL for the Raiders.

Finally, who do you think is the fastest NFL player or players of all time?