Silver and Black Report

In this two part series, SBReport.net takes a look at the nineteen Raiders that have been selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

Jim Otto – Center – Inducted: 1980

You can call him Mr. Raider. Otto joined the newfound Raiders in 1960 and the team never saw another center along the offensive line for 15-campaigns. He was a nine-time AFL All-Star, three-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time All-Pro. Till this date, Otto still remains a presence at Raider games and works for the organization.

George Blanda – Quarterback/Kicker – Inducted: 1981

From 1967-to-1975, Blanda provided Raider fans with memorable moments. At 43, he had a remarkable streak of games that featured him tossing three touchdowns in relief of an injured Daryle Lamonica versus the Steelers, kicking a 48-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to salvage a tie against the Chiefs and against the Browns, Blanda came off the bench to toss a tying score and then kick a game winning field goal as time wound down. He had two more amazing feats; again tossing a game winning touchdown versus the Broncos in relief and booting another field goal to seal the contest versus the Chargers.

Willie Brown – Cornerback – Inducted: 1984

The defensive back has one of the most vivid moments in Super Bowl history when he intercepted Fran Tarkenton and dashed 75-yards for a score. He played for Oakland from 1967-to-1978. Brown has remained a coach for the Silver & Black and one of the most beloved figures in franchise history.

Gene Upshaw – Guard – Inducted: 1987

He played his entire 307 preseason, regular season, and post-season game career with the Raiders. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, three time All Pro and two time Super Bowl champion was a dominant guard, who later became a historic figure as executive director of the NFLPA.

Fred Biletnikoff – Wide Receiver – Inducted: 1988

“Freddy B” compiled 589 passes for 8,974 yards and 76 touchdowns during his 14-year career with Oakland Raiders from1965 through 1978. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, six-time All Pro and MVP of Super Bowl XI.

Art Shell – Tackle – Inducted: 1989

Not many players in league history were as complete as Shell. Equally great as a run and pass blocker, Shell was selected to eight Pro Bowls and was an All Pro first team tackle three-times. His post-player career included a AFC coach of the year award in 1990, when his club tallied 12-wins and made an appearance in the championship game that season.

Ted Hendricks – Linebacker – Inducted: 1990

“The Mad Stork” donned the Silver & Black from 1975-to-1983. In 1976, he was a full-time player for the Raiders in a 3-4 defense that ranked 6th that season in sacks tallied. A four-time Super Bowl champion, Hendricks attained the nickname “Kick ‘em in the Head Ted” as a Raider.

Al Davis – Owner – Inducted: 1992

Davis was one of the most legendary figures in league history. As an owner, head coach, general manager and commissioner, Davis’ impact in football is widespread, on the field and off of it. No other person embodied what the Raiders were all about.

Mike Haynes – Cornerback – Inducted: 1997

Speed, range and cover abilities – Haynes was the epitome of bump and run coverage. A nine-time Pro Bow selection and a member of the leagues’ 75th anniversary team, Haynes was a Raider from 1983-1989. He tallied 18 interceptions wearing the Silver & Black.

Eric Dickerson – Running Back – Inducted: 1999

He was a Raider for one season, acquired from the Rams for fourth and eighth round picks in the 1992 draft. He rushed for 729-yards – with his lone shinning moment on the Monday Night Football stage versus the Chiefs, darting 40 yards for a score.

Part two of SBReport’s look at Raider hall of famers:

A look back at all the Raiders in the NFL Hall of Fame (pt. 2)

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Robert Gallery is ready to move one and start fresh somewhere else.

The Oakland Raiders, who have been busy trying to retain most of their free-agents to be, have lost a key component to their roster. Gallery, who started 91 games since entering the league, stated, “With the end of the league year coming today, and the few conversations I’ve had with the Raiders and Mr. [Al] Davis, we’ve come to a mutual agreement that it’s time for me to move on with my career.”

Reportedly, the starting left guard was seeking a contract worth about $8 million a season. Per John Herrera, the Silver & Black were willing to offer nearly $2.5 million per campaign.

“I’m looking for a new start somewhere else, to experience another place, and to be able to accomplish some of the things I want to,” Gallery said. “It’s best for everyone.”

Gallery’s agent, Rick Smith, commented that all indicators from his meetings with the club hinted that the Raiders wanted to go with their youth along the trenches.

In 2004, the Raiders drafted Gallery with the 2^nd overall selection.

The former Iowa star stated, “I appreciate the start that they and Mr. Davis gave me and I truly have enjoyed my time wearing the silver and black. I wish them well, I thank the fans and I take away great memories of my time in Oakland.”

He continued: “I’ll always remember being able to come out of the tunnel of that stadium, into the Black Hole. That was exhilarating and never got old. I loved being a part of a group that helped bring the Raiders back to where they were in the past. It’s just that now it’s time to go someplace else.”

ANALYSIS

In an off-season where the Raiders splurged, they found a line in the sand and bullied Gallery. The reported $8 million he was asking for was far too much money for a left guard that consistently missed games due to injury and may not fit the new philosophy offensive line coach Bob Wylie will install.

The 30-year-old will find a job quickly whenever free agency begins. He’s a hard worker, solid teammate and an effective guard when healthy, who could transition back to tackle in the right situation.

Oakland made the right move drafting him in 2004. Gallery was the consensus ‘lock’ talent coming out of college, with very few detractors. The nimble lineman had all the tools that projected him to be a cornerstone left tackle.

Many factors led to him failing at tackle, starting with the constant shifting along the line. “Robert took the bulk of the work at right tackle,” coach Norv Turner said in 2004. “And if things go as planned for the rest of the week, he’ll start.”

Turner had him at guard and tackle to get his feet wet. He was never stout once he got to left tackle, and in 2006 when the line allowed a league high 72-sacks, Gallery accounted for 10.5 of them while missing six-games.

Aaron Kromer, Jim Colletto, Irv Eatman, Jackie Slater, Art Shell, Tom Cable and Jim Michalczik were part of the revolving door of coaches that hindered his development through the start of a promising career, as well.

Cable transformed him into the solid left guard he is now in his zone-blocking scheme. But that was years after the Raiders took him atop the draft with other intentions.

Gallery and Jake Grove were taken together to form a dynamic duo. Oakland had the right idea to build a solid foundation, but that did not pan out in one of the many unfortunate breaks this organization has had since their loss to Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl after the 2002 season.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers have met 18 times during the regular season. The Silver & Black hold a 10-8 edge dating back to their first meeting on October of 1970. Both provided memorable match-ups in the post-season, with the teams splitting their six meetings during the playoffs.

In 2006, Oakland only won two contests, but one of those victories was against the Steelers. The Raiders triumphed 20-13, as Chris Carr returned a Ben Roethlisberger  pass 100-yards for a score and Nnamdi Asomugha tallied his first career score with a 23-yard return of his own in the first quarter.

“I thought our defense was magnificent,” said Raiders coach Art Shell. “We played as good as any defense could play in this league — against the world champions, the Super Bowl champions.”

Here are photos from that contest:

LaMont Jordan carried the ball 7-times for 21-yards.

Tommy Kelly recorded two-sacks versus the Steelers in 2006.

Derrick Burgess tallied 2-sacks against the Steelers in 2006.

Michael Huff (24) closing in on Willie Parker

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders have a 27-23 lead over the Seattle Seahawks during regular season meetings dating back to 1976. Both were members of the AFC West from 1978-2001, before the Seahawks were switched to the NFC West.

Oakland’s last meeting against Seattle was on November 6, 2006 at Qwest Field.

The Seahawks won 16-0 on national television after tallying nine sacks, rushing for 207-yards while holding the Silver & Black to 3-15 on 3^rd downs and 185-total yards of offense.

“It seemed like when we dropped back to pass, something bad happens, a sack or something like that,” then Oakland coach Art Shell said.

Maurice Morris ran for 138-yards and Seneca Wallace was efficient during his first career victory.

A moment of infamy during the contest was when Raiders defensive end Tyler Brayton kneed tight end Jerramy Stevens in the groin as time expired. Brayton was ejected and later fined for his actions.

“I made a mistake,” Brayton said. “I’ll be the first to admit I made a mistake. I let my emotions get the best of me and that’s not a good thing when you do that.”

Here are some pictures from that contest:

WR Randy Moss (18) working against CB Marcus Trufant (23)

Tommy Kelly (93) engaging on the ball carrier

Warren Sapp (99) going after Seneca Wallace (15)

Tyler Brayton (91) and Michael Huff (24) tackling Maurice Morris (20)

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

On June 15 and 16, former Oakland Raiders great Art Shell will host the Art Shell UMES Celebrity Golf Classic to benefit student scholarships for the university’s PGA Golf Management program.

The two-day event will feature Shell, who spent time with the Silver & Black from 1968-81, Los Angeles Raiders 1982 and had 2 coaching stints in his career for Al Davis’ team.

Elvin Bethea (Houston Oilers 1968-83) and Bobby Mitchell (Cleveland Browns 1958-61, Washington Redskins 1962-68) are among the football pros planning to participate as well as, college Football Hall of Fame inductee Roger Brown (Detroit Lions 1960-66, Los Angeles Rams 1967-69, UMES Class of 1960) and Emerson Boozer (New York Jets 1966-1975, UMES Class of 1965), who will be inducted into the College Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010 during the Enshrinement festivities on July 16-17 in South Bend, Ind.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Aaron Brooks, QB

After the Oakland Raiders parted ways with Kerry Collins, they signed Brooks to a 2-year deal worth $8 million. “Aaron gives us great depth at the quarterback position and provides us with a veteran presence,” then Raiders head coach Art Shell stated. Brooks was the starter at the beginning of the 2006 campaign, as his only competition was Marques Tuiasosopo and Andrew Walter. Brooks was sacked seven times in the opener against San Diego and battered week-two versus Baltimore, fumbling two snaps from center before straining his pectoral muscle. Eventually he started eight games for the Raiders, losing all of them and was cut after his lone season in Silver & Black, as the team wanted to avoid a $5 million roster bonus he was due the next off-season.

Verdict: Brooks was a stopgap quarterback during an agonizing season for the Raiders. His final stats: a 57.3 completion percentage, eight interceptions and three touchdown passes while being sacked 26 times in eight games.

Eric Turner, S

Prior to the 1997 season, the Raiders were on a shopping spree, and one of their prized signings was the Pro Bowl safety. Turner was reeled in with a 4-year $6 million deal. ”We’re delighted that we can add another impact player to the organization,” said Joe Bugel. He played 32-contest with the Silver & Black before dying of intestinal cancer at age 31. “I realize people are concerned, but I have chosen to keep this issue within my family,” Turner said in a statement prior to his death.

Verdict: The former 2^nd overall pick of the 1991 draft arrived in Oakland after being selected to two Pro Bowls. Turner has always been remembered fondly by teammates and the organization on and off the field.

Andre Rison, WR

A week after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs in August of 2000, Oakland picked up the 33-year old target with a one-year contract worth $450,000 and a $100,000 signing bonus. “The day I was released I already knew where I was going,” Rison commented when he landed with the Chiefs rival. The mercurial wide receiver played 16-games, compiling 41-receptions for 606-yards and 6 touchdowns. The prior season, he tallied career lows in catches and yards with no scores. Rison had 3 receptions for 44-yards in the playoffs, but had a score nullified due to pass interference flag with 4-minutes remaining in the AFC Championship game loss to the Ravens.

Verdict: Rison added attitude to the offense and solid production at wide-receiver behind Tim Brown as the Raiders marched to a 12-4 finish in the regular season in Jon Gruden’s third season.

LaMont Jordan, RB

After the 2004 season, Oakland looked to boost their putrid ground game with the signing of LaMont Jordan. After the former NewYork Jet landed in the Bay Area with a five-year, $27.5 million contract, he stated, “I’ve played out here in Oakland a couple of times and it’s actually my favorite stadium to play in, so I’m really looking forward to getting this ball rolling and hopefully being a big piece to us accomplishing our goals.” Jordan led all NFL rushers with 70 catches his first season and tallied 1,588 total yards from scrimmage and 11 scores. But it went down hill from there, as he tore his MCL in November of 2006 and missed the remainder of the season. After starting the 2007 campaign with 350-yards rushing and two touchdowns in the team’s first three-games, he sustained a back injury in Miami.

Verdict: Jordan was phased out due to his ineffective running and Justin Fargas’ emergence in his last months in Oakland. He never lived up to his contract or the expectations he had to become a productive rusher in the NFL. “After three games [in 2007], LaMont Jordan led the NFL in rushing,” teammate Warren Sapp said. “But…he was out of shape and couldn’t keep it going.”

Stay tuned for upcoming installments, looking back at the Raiders history during the free-agency period. Part-six is coming soon…

The 60^th annual Senior Bowl will be played Saturday, January 30 at 4:00 pm ET at Mobile, Alabama.

More importantly, the practices begin January 25. And there is where hundreds of NFL coaches, personnel directors, scouts and many other staffers from professional clubs go to observe and evaluate potential draft picks and talent that will be available in the coming months.

In the past, Oakland Raider coaches have spearheaded the staffs in charge of the squads. Here is a list of those that donned Silver & Black that were at the helm of a sideline during the Senior Bowl:

2008 – Lane Kiffin

2005 – Norv Turner

1999 – Jon Gruden

1992 – Art Shell

What will be interesting is whether or not the Raiders will send a large contingent to Mobile for scouting?

One team – the New York Giants – have already reportedly decided not to send their coaches next week due to varying reasons such as the economy, the new stadium and pending labor situation states the NJ Star Ledger. But I guess that is not a crippling thing, since they didn’t either two years ago right before their Super Bowl winning season.

Oakland still has a staff in place, and Tom Cable is technically still the coach of the Raiders.

Al Davis has not announced his fate, but at this point, isn’t safe to say that Cable is still the head coach until further notice? If there’s even a need to make that publicly.

Mike Waufle has been hired, Hue Jackson has been bantered about and Cable is still on board.

With the Senior Bowl work-outs around the corner, maybe things will become clearer over the next couple of days.

Insidebayarea.com posted a report that former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter had $312,000 worth of jewelry stolen.

Porter told officials that someone took his jewelry from his vehicle while he went for a facial at a Bay Area salon.

According to staff writer Peter Hegarty, Porter was going to speak to the Alameda police about the happening this afternoon. Porter did not show up for the meeting and officials are still sorting out the details of the robbery.

The 31-year old still resides in Oakland.

He was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars at the start of the 2009 campaign after signing a six-year, $30 million contract with them in 2008.

Porter’s best season came in 2003 when he tallied 688-yards and 9 touchdowns, being a key cog in Rich Gannon’s league MVP campaign. He teamed up with hall of fame bound targets Jerry Rice and Tim Brown to form the most prolific offense of that season in reaching Super Bowl XXVII.

In 2004 an 2005, Porter compiled 140 catches for 1,940 yards and 14 touchdowns. But in 2006, he publicly feuded with Art Shell and demanded to be traded. He was deactivated and inactive for most of the season even suspended without pay for conduct detrimental to the club for four games.

“There’s guys every year that might not want to be on a team, but, hey, part of this business is you play with who you’ve got,” Shell stated that season. “If we have somebody on this team that’s here, whether he said he wants to be here or not, if he’s doing what he’s supposed to do, then we’ll go to work.”

The NFLPA intervened and the suspension was dropped to two games.

Porter was drafted in the second round of the 2000 NFL draft.

OTHER NEWS

• Steve Corkran confirmed a story that had the Raiders interested in rehiring defensive line coach Mike Waufle.
• Earlier in the day, Jon Condo was added to the Pro Bowl roster.

Since Jon Gruden compiled a 40-28 record with the Oakland Raiders, the revolving door at head coach for the Silver & Black has been kept busy with constant change. SBReport will take a look back at the dreadful track record along the sidelines since his trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Bill Callahan (2002-2003)

He became just the fourth rookie head coach in league history to lead a team to a Super Bowl in his first year with the Raiders. A 15-17 overall record in two-seasons was unbalanced toward the loss column when Oakland piled up 12-defeats in 2003. What started as a joyous time for Callahan, ended with misery when his own team openly stated their dislike towards him. “I don’t think he was happy there, and I don’t think everybody was happy with him,” said Callahan’s starting left guard Frank Middleton at the time. “I felt like something had to be done, either with the players or with the coach.

“We’ve had that before on great teams”, commented Davis about locker room distractions during the 2003 season. “The thing with the coach [Callahan], and the players, that’s something that I don’t think we’ve ever had here, really to the extent that it went this year”.

His demise was a post-game rant in which he critiqued his team for being dumb.

“We’ve got to be the dumbest team in America in terms of playing the game!” Callahan yelled to reporters. “I’m highly critical because of the way we give games away — we give ‘em away! Period. It’s embarrassing, and I represent that. And I apologize for that. If that’s the best we can do, it’s a sad product.”

Norv Turner (2004-2005)

Turner tallied a 9-23 record during his two-year stint. Al Davis fired him with a year remaining on his three-year deal worth about $1.75 million. “I belong here,” stated Turner, upon his arrival. “When I got off the plane the other night, I felt like I was coming home. I feel like I’m home now.”

Oakland traded for Randy Moss and inked LaMont Jordan during his stay. But the crafty offensive mind was not able to ignite the offense for prolonged periods and his one-win against divisional rivals was his downfall. “I just thought it was the right fit,” said Davis, when he hired Turner. “Everything that we need at this particular time, we will rely on Norv to help us with.”

Players sympathized with Turner, as they knew the burden of all the losses and the misery during his tenure should be blamed on all involved. “I think he did what he could,” then starting linebacker Danny Clark stated. “Ultimately, everybody involved didn’t get it done. Unfortunately, this is a production-based business and if you’re not winning the weight falls on someone.”

Oakland at that time was the last of seven teams to fill their coaching vacancy when they inked Turner.

Art Shell (2006)

Oakland only managed two-wins in Shell’s second tenure. Again the Raiders were the last team to fill their coaching void that off-season, when they hired Shell,  after a search that included the courting of Ken Whisenhunt – who decided to remain on Pittsburgh’s staff – and offers to Bobby Petrino who stated he was flattered but wanted to remain in Louisville.

Raider quarterbacks were sacked 72-times that season, as Shell along with Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman attempted to work with the offensive line.

Shell’s feud with Jerry Porter made headlines, his handling of Randy Moss was atrocious and the offense was miserable (fewest points in team history – 168), while the defense played admirably under Rob Ryan.

“Everybody has a way of doing things. The Raiders have a way of doing things. We’re about winning. And we will win,” Shell said at introductory press conference.

Lane Kiffin (2007-2008)

During his 20-game tenure, Kiffin went 5-15. The then 31-year old was the youngest coach in Oakland’s history. Davis chanted to those loyal to his club when introducing Kiffin, “To the Raider fans, players, to the Raider nation, to the organization, that bleed and give their loyalty and skill to the organization…we will come back, and Lane Kiffin will lead us back!”

But a rocky relationship behind the scenes that included Kiffin’s reluctance to draft JaMarcus Russell and the notion that he wanted out and attempted to do so through insubordinate acts marred the marriage.

“I just couldn’t go on much longer with what I would call, propaganda, the lying that had been going on for weeks, and months, and a year, and time. And he had a few questions, he says ‘does that mean I don’t get paid’, I said that’s what I’m saying to you”, Davis said during a memorable press conference.

Kiffin was fired via phone reportedly and the official Raiders web site acknowledge the happening at the time, “Lane Kiffin has been released as head coach of the Oakland Raiders for cause.”

Per Davis, Kiffin complained, as he stated, “[Kiffin] complained he didn’t have this, and didn’t have that.” Remarks that peeved Davis which he in turn he stated to Kiffin, “If you don’t think you can win resign,” per the owner’s remarks in the almost 50-minute session which included an over-head projector.

Tom Cable (2008-current)

Cable joined the Raiders as an offensive line coach in 2007 and was the interim coach when Kiffin was dismissed.

He ended the 2008 campaign with back-to-back wins and all the players lobbied for his hiring. “I want to be the head coach of the Raiders, but it’s not in my hands. But I certainly know I put this team together and got it going in the right direction, and today proved that,” commented Cable after the win to knock Tampa Bay out of the playoffs.

But a tumultuous off the field in 2009 that included an alleged attack on Randy Hanson (Cable was cleared and no charges were pressed by the Napa police) and a story that aired on ESPN which exposed his history of violent behavior could be some of his downfalls this off-season.

Russell’s lack of development and Davis’ insistence that his quarterback is still a part of the team’s future could also lead to Cable’s demise.

Cable did surprise many by keeping his team competitive, pulling out solid victories against the Steelers, Bengals and Broncos in the second half of the season and giving this team some semblance of order after the Kiffin fiasco.

His record as coach: 9-19 and the extension of a NFL worst seven straight seasons with 11 or more losses in a campaign.

What did Davis say in hiring Cable back in February 2009:

Just listen to him. Just the fact what he did with the team at the end.

His excellence with the offensive line was never in doubt. He always did well with them.

He’s good, he really is. He really loves football; he has a passion for the goddamn thing.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS DURING THAT SPAN

“No coach has been hired. There will be a time period before a coach is hired,” stated Davis in January of 2004 when it was rumored that Sean Payton – then Dallas Cowboys assistant – could be a candidate to be the next Raiders coach. “Were this got started, was an assumption and it just carried. It seems like everything carries today, very, very quickly.”

“We have a coach with a very big ego, you know what I mean? He’s not listening to those veterans. And that’s what’s sad about it. When you get to a point, I think, in your life where you can’t listen to guys with the experience that we have on our offense, then I think there’s something very wrong”, Charles Woodson stated about Callahan early in the 2003 season, foreshadowing a lot of what would go wrong that season.

“I expect a whole lot out of myself,” Shell said as the 2006 season wound down. “I expected a whole lot out of this team. And when we don’t meet or come close to those expectations, then it’s disappointing.”

“I’m going for this job 100 percent,” stated Steve Sarkisian back in January of 2007. “I’m solely focused on this job with the Oakland Raiders.” He appeared to be the prohibitive favorite before bowing out. “The Oakland Raiders were not ready to offer the position and wanted to wait until after the weekend as the organization is still doing its due diligence,” the organization said in a press release prior to settling on Kiffin. “I thank them for their interest in me,” Sarkisian then commented. “While the job was never offered to me, at this time in my career, I’ve told them I want to stay at USC. I strongly believe that the Raiders’ job is a great opportunity for whomever their next head coach is going to be.”