Oakland Raiders and the Lockout: Al Davis, Coaching and Best-Worse Case Scenario

Okay, we can argue the good and bad sides to the NFL lockout. We can argue the money, that most of us will never see in our lifetimes, is being tossed around while both sides whine that the other is being untruthful, unrealistic and downright irritating.

But as it sits for the Raiders, the team did some last-minute pickups, beating the paperwork gurus to decertification process, buying the team some extra names.

Granted, since no one is sure how things like free agency, the draft or even how restricted free agents will work, once this has all panned out, there are a couple scenarios that can play out well for the Raiders while some would cause a massive breakout of chaos. And if football is played in 2011, it's anyone's guess on what will happen.

First of all, the best-case scenario. No, we're not going to say that tomorrow both sides sit down over a box of tacos and patch things up. No, I'm not that crazy to think it would happen. By the Fourth of July, as draft picks, agents and coaches start ratcheting up pressure for their clients and players to get prepared, someone is going to crack.

It could happen a lot sooner, depending on how the antitrust case cracks the ownership ranks. Can you imagine Tom Brady going one-on-one with Robert Kraft? Or what Robert Gallery would really like to say to Al Davis? I'm sure more than a few of us would like to know how Al Davis created a few lump sums of $350 million on short notice...does he have the devil on call-waiting just for free agency?

Another good scenario that could play out would be that the former existing system, with just a few changes like a salary cap for rookies or expanding the salary cap for vet-class players who have played more than seven years, would remain. This would provide more funding for those who have served in the league longer, and should be justifiable in earning better money.

One idea that would be a nice change of pace would be to establish a fund for players from the mid-'80s and older, who played football when it truly was football so those who are injured or crippled due to their service in promoting a game could seek the help they need.

Within this system of play, the Raiders already have locked up several key players. Unless current ownership around the league is willing to drop draft picks to land Zach Miller or Michael Bush, both players will be in Oakland for the season to come.

Now comes those scenarios that tend to hurt.

Both sides tend to not flinch and this time, both the former union and the owners play a staring contest until Thanksgiving. What hope we had for a season is shot, while anything even remotely looking like a season is a nightmare, similar other strike-shortened seasons. The owners may just throw up their collective hands, scratch a season and those players who would have played are simply locked up for another year.

A similar situation, involves the above scene, with a twist. Some players tend to get impatient, looking at the CFL and the UFL as venues to play, or like Chris Johnson would say, there's outlets for talent. What would stop several Raiders from getting drafted and moved into another league for a chance to play?

I could imagine the owners trying to sue in court to prevent players from playing in another league. It could be something to drive the owners to settle, or cause the NFL to break apart, as the players abandon the home they've known since the merger.

Probably what would rank as the worst-possible scenario, would be the sudden passing of Al Davis, the current owner and majority-stockholder for the Oakland Raiders.

Now, before going crazy, think about it a moment. How many choices and decisions is Al Davis a part of with this team? How many personnel choices hinge on his thumbs up or thumbs down? During this juncture of the "offseason," could a single person step in and run the team from the get-go? Attend the owners' meetings, work off of existing plans regarding free agents, contracts or work for the betterment of the team in Al's departure?

It would be quite a sight in Oakland...chaos, and just the way Al seems to like it at times, but with one major difference. Al would be responsible for it, but for once it would be someone else's job to clean it up.

For what it's worth, I'm hoping for a full, fun 2011 football season for the Raiders to build off of. Losing an entire season would be painful, and it's anyone's guess on what 2012 will look like.