Al Davis Dead: Where Do the Oakland Raiders Go from Here?

Al Davis has died at the age of 82. His son, Mark Davis, will inherit control of the team, according to Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News.

Mark Davis obviously has big shoes to fill. His father was one of the biggest icons in the history of professional sports and is without a doubt one of the most identifiable owners in the NFL.

Al Davis was rogue. He had complete control over his team and excelled using unconventional tactics. These same tactics were highly criticized, but also produced results.

It's unclear as to how Mark Davis will tackle the task of taking over the team. Will he try to replicate his father's ways? Will he give more control of the team to others?

Whatever the case may be, it's safe to say Mark Davis will not have nearly the authority and command of the team his father did, and that's okay. Al Davis has been highly criticized lately over the manner in which he literally ruled the Raiders.

It's hard to believe Mark Davis is ready for that sort of backlash. He can't hope to duplicate his father's legacy, but he can make moves that win over the fanbase right away.

Taking a more conventional approach to the draft, sharing some of the control of the team and not over-emphasizing speed can make him wildly popular right away.

Even so, their image is in danger. Al Davis created an image that Raiders fans love. "Just win, baby."

His win-at-all-costs approach can't be lost. The Raiders can improve the team, but the attitude of the team has to remain the same.

This is a sad day for Raider Nation, and the future of the franchise is uncertain. Mark Davis faces the impossible task of filling his father's shoes and satisfying a fanbase that is anxious to find out where the new ownership is going to lead the team.