Here’s part two of my assessment of today’s entertaining press conference featuring Al Davis and Hue Jackson.
The Oakland Raiders introduced Hue Jackson as their next head coach, but most of that took a backseat to the other juice topics that were bantered about by the aging owner who had not given a state of the union address in quite some time.
Here are some of the highlights of the press conference, along with my analysis of the happenings:
Al Davis on Shane Lechler’s emotional outburst after Tom Cable was not retained:
“My first reaction was three years ago, if you get out your newspaper, Shane said publicly he wasn’t coming back, he didn’t like it here,’’ Davis commented. “A month later, he was coming back because I gave him the highest paid contract of a specialist in pro football.’’
ANALYSIS:
Davis pretty much said to his punter, ‘shut it up, you are getting paid heavily for what you do and your two-cents have no bearing on what I will do with my club.’
Davis on Nnamdi Asomugha & Richard Seymour:
The owner stated that with the money remaining on the cornerback’s deal, “that 17 million dollars can bring you two or three players that can help you win.’’
He also talked to Asomugha about possible trade rumors, and he got this response from him: “’No. I want to stay. I don’t want to go.’”
“You may not think it was a good trade [with New England]. I thought it was a great trade. Still do.’’
ANALYSIS:
Asomugha is respected in the community, is a vital part to the Raiders future success and a player you want to keep around. But the owner is right, not at that ridiculous price tag, especially for what he brings to the table. He’s not a ‘game altering’ cornerback in the mold of a Deion Sanders or Rod Woodson, so being heavily paid is expected, but not obscenely over-paid. Oh, and Davis is right, the Seymour trade has been a good one for Oakland. They don’t have a 1st rounder in the 2011 draft, but Seymour’s leadership and presence will pay dividends with the many young defenders they have on that unit.
Davis on Darrius Heyward-Bey:
“He’s going to be good. [Has] explosion. He can catch, he’s getting better, and he’s a good guy. He’s going to be good.’’
ANALYSIS:
If he becomes ‘good,’ that still won’t justify the money given and how high Oakland drafted him. Especially when they passed up other more productive options that have become legitimate weapons in the league. Davis knows he screwed that one up, but there’s no way he’s going to say that today, or ever.
Davis on Tom Cable’s lawsuits (Randy Hanson and Marie Lutz):
“That lawsuit created a tremendous amount of work, stress and turmoil,” Davis said. “Tom had been told earlier in his career that he could have been fired without pay for the wrath he brought on the Raider organization.”
“We had been in turmoil for about a year or two after the initial stuff came out and so I just didn’t think we needed another uproar at this particular time,” Davis stated. “Two roads. You can choose Road A or Road B, either way.”
ANALYSIS:
Davis lived with all this for far too long. If he was really that annoyed by the issues Cable brought upon the organization, he shouldve just axed him as soon as the stress became evident. Through all of this, I will say, more power to Cable, who had to deal with a sour owner, a team in disarray and the looming losing culture in the locker room.
On the Randy Hanson saga:
“Can’t get the story,” Davis said. “You know, it’s like Gitmo. Trying to find out, did they waterboard those guys or not? No, really. It’s hard to believe. How many guys went in? Four guys went into the room with a guy, the guys comes out with a broken jaw and no one saw it.”
ANALYSIS:
Davis stated he still does not know how Hanson’s jaw was broken. They should’ve had Benny Hill music playing in the background during this point of the press conference.
Davis on Free-Agent hits and misses and other moves:
“I have made mistakes. Yes, there’s no question about it, and you got to have great players. But you also, sometimes, have the players and don’t get it done. So, you’re saying, should I take some of the blame? I certainly do.”
ANALYSIS:
One never to shy away from the heat, Davis admitted many of moves have been the downfall of the organization. Self-realization is a tough thing, and harder on older prideful men that had a golden touch in their prime. Davis does deserve a lot of the blame, but he should also be given his rightful credit when things break right. Unfortunately, there have been more misses and his meddling ways along with over-bearing nature are one of the many reasons this organization has been and could remain in a rut.
On Cable’s Raiders not ‘losers’ anymore comment:
“If that’s not being a loser in our world, I don’t know what it is, come in .500. That’s never been my goal.”
ANALYSIS:
Davis has to be realistic. Yes, the goal for every team is to win the Super Bowl. But lets be real here, Oakland has been the laughingstock of the NFL for many years and Cable had to deal with a crotchety owner, an all-time bust at quarterback and a losing culture. Getting this team to 8-8 was an accomplishment, and whether the owner wants to admit it or not, a hell of a job. Yes, ‘Just Win, baby!’ and other mantras have been a part of the Raiders mystique. You don’t get that overnight and Cable was just saying the right thing at the right time about the players he worked hard for.
Davis on Lane Kiffin:
“I beat him because he lied. He’s a liar. He lied to you guys.”
ANALYSIS:
Beating a dead horse here…it has to bother Davis that Kiffin is at USC.
On new stadium:
“We don’t have the resources that other teams have, but, but, I think we’ve shown that we can compete. It’s a question now of winning, and doing better than them. But it depends on what happens in the collective bargaining agreement.”
ANALYSIS:
The coliseum is a dump. Plain and simple, it’s an archaic facility that has a lot of greta memories to some, but in the real world of dollars and cents, Oakland needs to get a new stadium with better amenities in hopes to generate more revenue. For an organization that prides itself in such history and having greatness in the future, it’s a shame they play in one of the worst facilities in all of sports.
Davis on 18-game schedule:
“There’s no question that the ownership wants it, and Roger seems to have a way of getting things done if he wants it. So I’d rather not say what I think but I think the business of injury is overplayed.”
ANALYSIS:
Cha-ching. Off course ownership wants it… $$$$$!
Davis bantering with Raiders beat reporter Paul Gutierrez:
“Your free-agent number is off… it’s ridiculous…”
ANALYSIS:
Tim Kawakami had some funny exchanges as well with Davis. Heck, the owner likes to keep the media on the edge of their seats. Comical, embarrassing, discomforting – who knows what is Davis’ intentions? One of the reasons why seeing a Davis presser was like watching Romper Room, and seeing the Magic Mirror, when we were children.
Davis on key games in 2010:
“We messed up the Miami game. We messed up the Jacksonville game.”
ANALYSIS:
He stated that the defense was disappointing, and one of the reasons why he was furious about how the team missed out on the playoffs. He has every right to, the Dolphins dismantled the Raiders, as the Silver & Black gave a horrid effort after Jacoby Ford’s opening kickoff, and they lost two 10-point second half leads in Jacksonville.
Hue Jackson on his goal:
“We are going to build a bully here.”
ANALYSIS:
First build a consistent winner. You are not going to bully anyone with an 8-8 record. Opponents will fear you when you win, and do it consistently.
Davis scolding a Raider PR staffer:
“you f*cked that up,”
ANALYSIS:
Ha – Davis was not done yapping when the first segment of the briefing was closed. He wanted to continue. Man, if that’s how he addresses employees in public, imagine behind the scenes? Screw Donald Trump, we need Davis to host ‘the Apprentice.’
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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
Well it’s official: we have a lockout.
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