Silver and Black Report

This weekend’s match-up between the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs has conjured up many great memories of this historic rivalry. Throughout the years, players and coaches that have participated in these epic battles have given memorable quotes that describe the intensity and zealous nature for both clubs when they meet. Here are some:

“It’s a dark game. I characterize it as a lot of darkness.” – Gunther Cunningham (Raiders defensive coordinator and Chiefs head coach/defensive coordinator)

“In Oakland…the games you always really wanted to come see were the Niners and the Chiefs. You grew up hating red…It goes deep. It’s not just the teams. It’s the organizations, you know, which organization is better? These are two teams that played in the old AFL against each other. Most of the history goes back to it. They’ve been AFC West rivals for a very, very long time. It’s always been the must-win game.” — Kirk Morrison  (former Raiders linebacker)

“Only one word: Blood.” — Harvey Williams (RB, played for the Raiders and Chiefs)

“I never liked the Raiders.” – Todd Haley (current Chiefs head coach)

“We knew we had to go through Oakland to win the championship, and they knew they had to go through Kansas City. That made it a very bitter rivalry.” – Hank Stram (Hall of Fame coach of the Chiefs)

“The one constant you can count on in playing the Raiders is that they don’t finish. They don’t finish plays and they don’t finish games. I always told my players that if they kept playing hard against the Raiders, they would eventually fold. That is why I knew we would always win. That is still the perception around the league.” – Marty Schottenheimer (former Chiefs head coach)

“I’ll admit that early in the week, I wasn’t really caught up in the Chiefs-Raiders rivalry. But I’m caught up in it now. You betcha!” – Marty Schottenheimer

“Every time we play the Raiders, it’s a dogfight, no matter what the records are or where we play the game. It’s always a smash mouth game between us, back to when Buck Buchanan and Art Shell were playing. You’d better wear your mouthpiece in this game, I guarantee you that. It gets violent out there.” – former Chiefs defensive lineman Dan Saleaumua

“Marty does it the old fashioned way, he gets up and screams and cries. Marty could win an Oscar. He used to talk about how he has no respect for the Raiders.” – Harvey Williams

“[Al Davis] told me he was going to get me. I think he’s tried to ruin the latter part of my career, tried to devalue me. I think he’s trying to stop me from going to the Hall of Fame.” – Former Raiders and Chiefs running back Marcus Allen

“What went through my mind was, maybe I can break Lenny Dawson’s ribs and he won’t be able to play next week. Maybe they’ll lose and we’ll be back in first place.” – Raiders DE Ben Davidson

“Those were my favorite games. I always likened them to a heavyweight fight. You knew you were going to get beat up, but it was fun. We needed the Chiefs. We wouldn`t have been as good without them.” – Ben Davidson

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Tyrone Wheatley plowing through the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tyrone Wheatley, RB

In August of 1999, a day after the Miami Dolphins cut Wheatley; Oakland inked the former Michigan star and he went on to have a 936-yards rushing season with 8 touchdowns. The 1995 draft pick with the New York Giants had been a bust so far in his career and when he donned the Silver & Black, the tough runner rejuvenated his career. In 2000, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry and ran for a career best 1,046; and paired with Napoleon Kaufman, Oakland had the best running attack in the NFL. Wheatley played with Oakland through the 2004 season and then retired, achieving all his best campaigns after signing with the Raiders.

Verdict: His play helped the Raider resurgence under Jon Gruden. Whether paired with Kaufman or later with Charlie Garner, Wheatley always was a bruising complement in the Raiders run game.

Harvey Williams, RB

In 1993, Los Angeles had a putrid rushing attack. A year later, Williams, who had his carries taken away by former Raider Marcus Allen, signed a one-year deal to become the primary ball carrier for the Silver & Black. After becoming the team’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Allen back in 1985, the Raiders rewarded Williams in 1995 – when he became unrestricted free-agent – with a five year $11 million deal. “(Raiders owner) Al Davis took a gamble, and it has paid off,” said Williams.

Verdict: Williams never became a force, eventually lost his job in the line-up to Napoleon Kaufman and ended up at tight end as his career wound down. In 1997, the seldom-used Williams scored 4 touchdowns in a rout of the Chargers in front of what was a then record 65,714 fans in attendance in San Diego. “When you go out like they did and beat us in Oakland and then you’re bustin’ gums like they did, we had a lot of things we wanted to come in and prove,” said Williams.

Terry Kirby, RB/KR

In November of 2000, Oakland signed Kirby not knowing Wheatley’s prognosis due to an injury sustained. He spent two-more seasons with the club being a key cog on 3^rd downs, a pass catcher out of the backfield and a return man on special teams. At age 32, in a game against the Steelers, Kirby returned a kickoff 96-yards for a score on the first play of the 4^th quarter to keep the Raiders comfortably in front during the contest. He said during that season: “I’ve never been one to complain about doing anything. Not too many people like playing special teams, period. But it’s one of those things you have to do sometimes if you want to stay in the league.”

Verdict: Kirby was a solid role player who was vital in Oakland’s early success in the 2002 season. After being a multi-purpose rusher at other destinations, the Raiders found a niche for him as a special teams ace. “I’m just glad [Oakland] gave me the opportunity to come here and do these things, I’m thankful for that.”

Ted Washington, DT

The Raiders were coming off a 2003 campaign in which they were last in rush defense in the league. In March of 2004, the Pro-Bowl defensive tackle signed a 4-year $14 million contract with a $4 million signing bonus. At the time, the 36-year old was a four-time Pro Bowl performer and a All-Pro. “I can bring leadership, plug up the middle, free my linebackers and also make plays,” stated Washington. “With all those factors, and a team that’s on the uprise, we should have a dominant defense.”

Archived Game Coverage: Ted Washington in Silver & Black

Verdict: In the 2-seasons the mammoth tackle was with Oakland, the Silver & Black finished 22^nd (125.8 yards per) and 25^th (128.1) in rushing yards allowed per contest.

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