Lombardi out as welll?....

[hawaiianboy]

If so, Al's cleaning house...

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm


LOMBARDI OUT IN OAKLAND?


There's rampant talk in league circles that Raiders senior personnel executive (or whatever in the hell his title is) Mike Lombardi has been or will be fired.

The development is surprising, since most league observers presumed that Lombardi and former head coach Art Shell were caught up in a one-stays-and-one-goes situation.

Instead, both go.

During the season, Shell publicly accused someone within the organization of undermining him to the media. Shell refused to name the culprit, but most league observers assumed that Shell was talking about Lombardi.

Per a league source, Lombardi hopes to land in Tennessee, and he's banking on his relationship with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in order to make it happen. But the concern/speculation/scuttlebutt is that Lombardi's pissing match with Shell could hurt him.

[Ark Raider]

Man, I wish I knew what the hell is going on at the HQ's.

[COraider]

I too would love to know what's going on at HQ. Maybe Davis is as tired of the last 4 years as the fans and he thinks the best approach is to clean house and start with a clean slate.

At first I was surprised by Lombardi getting the ax as well because I assumed when Art was fired that Lombardi won that round. Maybe Davis thinks Lombardi is the one getting info to Scheffter and as secretive as Davis is he's getting rid of Lombardi because he thinks Lombardi was leaking info to the press last season and I don't think that would sit well with Davis.

[hawaiianboy]

How soon before the Parcells as Raiders GM rumors start to really heat up?...

[Madturk]

How soon before the Parcells as Raiders GM rumors start to really heat up?...

Exactly what I was thinking when I heard the Lombardi news on the radio

[R4Life]

Wow
I read Bill can only get out of Dallas by going to be a GM somewhere else.
I don't know if I'd call this a housecleaning:
Bill Parcells - GM
Sarkisian - HC
Trestman - OC
Ryan - DC
More like AL burned down the house and rebuilt from the ashes.
Parcells and Trestman give Sarkisian instant credibility and great resources from within the organization. They might be able to wrest some control from Al's bony fingers.
Add the #3 ranked defense and the first pick overall and the picture gets very interesting for 2007.
I guy can dream can't he?

[Madturk]

Is this the supposed "big news" Al was alluding to?

[Limee]

Bill Parcells - GM
Sarkisian - HC
Trestman - OC
Ryan - DC
I guy can dream can't he?
For now, why not.

[hawaiianboy]

I'd roll with that foursome...

Does Parcells have enough money to actually buy into some of that 31% Al bought out recently?.... or could a piece of the pie be incentive?... All I know is the Tuna looks sick of dealing with the media as a coach at this point....

[massraider]

This is a crossroads people.

No Personnel Director
No head coach
#1 pick

Most important Raider offseason evah.



I'm scared, I don't mind admitting it.

[CrossBones]

Parcells? Interesting although this comes up almost every time the Tuna is either unemployed or looking for work. For all this business about he and Al being best buds I wonder what Al thought when Parcells cockblocked him on the way to Orlando Pace (the trade to St. Louis)?

anyway I'm think=ng that Bill is gone from Dallas if Ownes is in the picture. Jones says he wants 'em both back. Maybe Parcells has just had enough or maybe a marriage with some ownership involved with the Raiders would be the perfect fit.

All I know is ``we didn't score enough".

[jatfly]

Parcells? Interesting although this comes up almost every time the Tuna is either unemployed or looking for work. For all this business about he and Al being best buds I wonder what Al thought when Parcells cockblocked him on the way to Orlando Pace (the trade to St. Louis)?

anyway I'm think=ng that Bill is gone from Dallas if Ownes is in the picture. Jones says he wants 'em both back. Maybe Parcells has just had enough or maybe a marriage with some ownership involved with the Raiders would be the perfect fit.

All I know is ``we didn't score enough".
Well Parcells would be interesting, but you all know that if that is the case and we trade Moss and/or Porter the next line you would hear at the Airport would be " Welcome to Oakland Keyshawn"

[Madturk]

Is Parcells really going to come here after the coaching staff is already implemented? I think not

[hawaiianboy]

Is Parcells really going to come here after the coaching staff is already implemented? I think not


As a GM would it be a deal breaker?.... I've also wondered if Al and Bill are all that chummy outside of the combine... Parcells talked Sean payton out of accepting the Raiders job if journalist are to be believed...


Somebody hold Mass!...

[Banter]

Hey, now they got a new rumor that contradicts the old one. I'm still blaming Art Shell for stuff like this.

LOMBARDI NOT OUT IN OAKLAND?

The problem with any rumor mill is that it dabbles in rumor. Ergo the name. And sometimes rumor and fact aren't the same thing.

But we love rumors. And so do you. Otherwise, you'd be doing something productive right now.

Anyway, we're now told that Raiders senior personnel executive Mike Lombardi hasn't been fired, and apparently will not be.

Regardless, there definitely was/is a rumor that he was on his way out. Our gut feeling based on the relative quality of the sources is that he isn't.

[CrossBones]

Sing it with me....``it's the most wonderful time of the year"...

[MasterRaider]

LOMBARDI NOT OUT IN OAKLAND?

The problem with any rumor mill is that it dabbles in rumor. Ergo the name. And sometimes rumor and fact aren't the same thing.

But we love rumors. And so do you. Otherwise, you'd be doing something productive right now.

Anyway, we're now told that Raiders senior personnel executive Mike Lombardi hasn't been fired, and apparently will not be.

Regardless, there definitely was/is a rumor that he was on his way out. Our gut feeling based on the relative quality of the sources is that he isn't.

[Seraph24]

LOMBARDI NOT OUT IN OAKLAND?

The problem with any rumor mill is that it dabbles in rumor. Ergo the name. And sometimes rumor and fact aren't the same thing.

But we love rumors. And so do you. Otherwise, you'd be doing something productive right now.

Anyway, we're now told that Raiders senior personnel executive Mike Lombardi hasn't been fired, and apparently will not be.

Regardless, there definitely was/is a rumor that he was on his way out. Our gut feeling based on the relative quality of the sources is that he isn't.
Serious Spicy 7 is that you?:confused:

[MasterRaider]

Serious Spicy 7 is that you?:confused:

Are you asking this because I accidently reposted something somebody posted above me? Or is it because I used bold for the headline of the post of I made? Either way...if either one really bothered you that much...you need to relax...its a message board...the reason im here is to read or post Oakland Raiders news & to discuss the team...if I mad a mistake and reposted something that someone else has im sorry...but for you to actually make a ignorant comment like you did & get bothered by the fact that I made a mistake makes you pretty lame...sorry

[Byron2112]

So... say Parcells was GM.

I know he pulled the trigger on Bledsoe with the #1 overall... did he also make the call on Simms in NY or was he there before Parcells?

Tryin to get a feel for his pick here...

Theoretically we have alot to offer Parcells.

Good D, decent backs that can produce in the right situation, some young O-lineman that I'm sure Parcells could motivate... and of course that fat, juicy, pick at the top of the draft.

Al should do it, just give the guy a piece of ownership.. at least we'd know someone with a strong personality and a proven football record would have a stake in this thing when Al goes for his dirt nap...

[Freakshow]

I suppose it's fun to pretend but all this speculation about Parcells coming to Oakland as a GM is premature and unrealistic. He ain't coming here.

[CrossBones]

I suppose it's fun to pretend but all this speculation about Parcells coming to Oakland as a GM is premature and unrealistic. He ain't coming here.I really agree with you. It's such a long shot the Crazy Mouse Sports Book has it at N/L.

[Seraph24]

Are you asking this because I accidently reposted something somebody posted above me? Or is it because I used bold for the headline of the post of I made? Either way...if either one really bothered you that much...you need to relax...its a message board...the reason im here is to read or post Oakland Raiders news & to discuss the team...if I mad a mistake and reposted something that someone else has im sorry...but for you to actually make a ignorant comment like you did & get bothered by the fact that I made a mistake makes you pretty lame...sorry
wow i was kidding, way to kill the humor. i guess i must put a smiley of happiness in to shed light to my motive or lack there of. :D

[NIPS]

Why do I feel like I'm shopping with the little lady

MAKE UP YOUR FUCKIN MIND ALREADY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SoCalRaider]

Parcells talked Sean payton out of accepting the Raiders job if journalist are to be believed...


Somebody hold Mass!...
That's one theory I have a hard time buying. If my interpretation is correct, wasn't it Parcells that recommended both Payton and Carthon to Davis? Sure doesn't make a lot of sense to recommend the guy, then tell the guy not to take it once it's offered.

[CrossBones]

The Tuna also recommended Norv Turner, right?

[Banter]

Well, say Parcell is eyeballing a replacement for Payton. But by the time Al decides on Payton the guy Parcells was hoping to get is no longer available. So now its oh crap I better keep this guy.

Jimmy Johnson recommended Turner. He did worse then that. He badgered Al so much that Al finally promised to give Norv an interview.

[CrossBones]

Well my point is that for all the reports of Al and Parcells being big buddies, Parcells seems to always be screwing the Dark Lord one way or the other. With friends like that, who needs enemies?

[Langlier]

MORE LOMBARDI RUMORS

Okay, so we've plugged back into the NFL grapevine and we've learned that the most accurate scuttlebutt regarding Raiders senior personnel executive Mike Lombardi is that, while he's not going to be fired, he is looking to get out.

And he's angling, as we mentioned earlier on Wednesday, for the vacant G.M. gig in Tennessee.

We're also told that another guy who is interested in the G.M. job with the Titans is Dolphins G.M. Randy Mueller, who could be in jeopardy of getting released by whoever the new coach is in Miami.

[SoCalRaider]

Does anybody else find it interesting that the boys at PFT have posted 3 seperate dialogues about what's going on with Lombardi, but not a single word about the coaching search?

I don't mean to belittle what they're doing over there because I've been sipping the PFT kool aid as much as anybody else... I just get the feeling that they're a little more dialed into what's going on with the search, but not as forthcoming as the Bay area media.

[Banter]

There is too much smoke here for something not to be up. Must likely Lombardi's contract doesn't expire until March or something and he's itching to leave now so he can land a job but Al knows this and so will leave him twisting in the wind for a couple of months.

[R4Life]

Per PFT

LOMBARDI IS BEING FROZEN OUT IN OAKLAND

We'd previously heard strong rumors of the departure of Raiders personnel exec Mike Lombardi from the organization. There were rumors he was getting bounced, and there were rumors that he was looking for a new landing spot in Tennessee.

We're now being told by multiple league sources that Lombardi is being frozen out of the team's draft preparations. One source says that he is not participating at all in the team's contract discussions with potential No. 1 overall picks (more on that later), and another source says that he has been excluded from some draft meetings.

It makes sense to make a move with a personnel employee after the draft. Firing him before the draft enables him to carry his knowledge of the team's draft plans (and his views on the current draft class) to a new city.

In this case, it appears that Lombardi's departure has been looming for a while. After the draft, it's pretty clear that the end will finally come. Whether he is terminated or "resigns" (a la Charley Casserly a year ago in Houston), it's clear to us that it's over for Lombardi in Oakland.

Knocking the dust off of the thread...
Classic Al.
My take: Lombardi had been fed misinformation and is the mysterious "source" oft quoted in the media (so disregard everything with a source that isn't Kiff/Al). While most would fire after the draft - to get the input of their personnel guy - Al doesn't think he needs it and used Lombardi (because he knew he talked (see last year - or better yet call Shell at 1-800-I-chose-huff)) to put out whatever misinformation he wanted. Lombardi obviously is crying about getting locked out now (now that they have to have talks about what they're really doing) for PFT to hear from multiple sources on a previously dead issue.

Very Very Al

[Swords]

So,..... without Lombardi the team kicked ass on draft day. If this was all it took he shoulda been kickin' rocks awhile ago.

IMO Kiff is doing a better job then I thought he would. I beleive we have found a great coach who has the warrior ethos I covet and demand from a leader.

Great job FO. Ya basically got McNoun and BMW for Moss. Addressed all of our needs with some intelligent awareness.


My grade for this weekend is a B-. I really believe we shopulda gotten a better OL pick. That's the only concern I have and would have shot this grade up to an A had they gotten someone like a Blaylock who can play G or T.

[RaiderIVlife]

"say what you want about National Socialism, at least it's an ethos"

Sorry, whenever I hear that word, I think of this movie line. Carry on.

[massraider]

"say what you want about National Socialism, at least it's an ethos"

Sorry, whenever I hear that word, I think of this movie line. Carry on.

Bwahahaha.

"That rug really tied the room together."

"I know, man...."

[RaiderIVlife]

Cheesy as it might sound, I wish they would have made a sequel to this movie.

Perhaps the, "The Bigger Lebowski" - It's been almost 10 years. He would just be an older, thicker hippie. Works for me.

Speaking of sequels, I can't wait for "28 Weeks Later". The first film (28 Days Later) put a new spin on the 'zombie' genre. Besides, British cinema is pound-for-pound better than American cinema. (ducks as daggers fly)

[BigTron]

Cheesy as it might sound, I wish they would have made a sequel to this movie.

Perhaps the, "The Bigger Lebowski" - It's been almost 10 years. He would just be an older, thicker hippie. Works for me.

Speaking of sequels, I can't wait for "28 Weeks Later". The first film (28 Days Later) put a new spin on the 'zombie' genre. Besides, British cinema is pound-for-pound better than American cinema. (ducks as daggers fly)

Bigger L would be nice. 28 weeks later looks awesome!

[Madturk]

Lombardi, Raiders part
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on May 9th, 2007
Personnel executive Mike Lombardi is out in Oakland, which at this point is like reporting spring will give way to summer next month.

In other words, no surprises, and also no way to know how it affects the Raiders because of their method of operation.

Lombardi joined the Raiders personnel department in 1999, eventually ascending to "senior personnel executive." He took over some of the duties of senior assistant Bruce Allen upon Allen's departure to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so it's clear he was a valued member of the organization by Al Davis.

Exactly how good Lombardi is as a personnel man is hard to determine because when it came to speaking on the record, he adhered to Oakland's in-house policy. There are those who believe Lombardi, along with now retired Chet Franklin, were at the core of Oakland's ability to land veteran free agents at bargain prices when the team won three consecutive division titles from 2000 through 2002.

But since he was never out front and open like the 49ers Scot McCloughan, or others in the league, the credit basically went to Davis and Jon Gruden. Davis, after all, makes the final call. Only he knows how much he leaned on Lombardi, and he's not saying.

Lombardi's slow exit began the moment Bobby Petrino turned down the job as Raiders head coach. It was Lombardi who gave Davis the hard sell, with Petrino even being offered the job.

When Petrino said, "thanks, but no thanks," Davis turned to Art Shell. Shell knew Lombardi wanted Petrino. He either suspected or knew for a fact Lombardi wasn't on board with the Shell program.

Let's face facts here _ Lombardi was right. Shell is a good man, but made two colossal blunders in hiring a staff. He made Tom Walsh a loyalty hire as offensive coordinator (he was fired along with Walsh from the Raiders in 1994). An even bigger error was Shell's decision to make Irv Eatman and Jackie Slater co-offensive line coaches instead of bringing in one experienced voice.

Lombardi, Shell believed, floated stories to selected media members critical of Walsh and the Shell regime. Shell reacted angrily, believing Lombardi was stabbing him in the back, and said as much with an unprompted speech to local writers in which he didn't name Lombardi but made it clear who he was talking about.

I can't say for certain whether he didn't, because Lombardi never said those things to me.

Davis has the reputation of being heavy-handed, but he does invite discussion and debate. He thinks arguing within the walls of the complex is not necessarily a bad thing. If Lombardi ever voiced his concerns to Davis regarding the Shell regime, and then similar things wound up in the media in the form of anonymous sources, the only he way he stuck around as long as he did was keeping his name out of it as much as possible.

If Lombardi had any chance of holding on, it ended when Lane Kiffin came aboard as head coach. Kiffin was hired in part becuase he has a background in personnel as a recruiting coordinator in USC.

Kiffin, in turn brought in Mark Jackson as "director of pro football development," helping with administrative duties so he concentrate on personnel as well as X's and O's.

It's doubtful the whole Shell affair will have any effect on where Lombardi will land. A few teams may shy away from Lombardi, but others will say, `Hey, it's the Raiders. You never know what really happened there."

Still others reside in the AFC West, and how much could it hurt to have someone aboard with extensive knowledge of Oakland's operation?

[BigTron]

Fresh start all around!!!!!!!!!!!!

[007]

I laugh when certain people said Lombardi was the only guy with a clue...

We don't even know what the hell he did in Oakland, or what role he played in FA, the draft, personnel decisions etc.

He definitely wasnt Bruce Allen.

[BigTron]

He never got us a trophy, so peace! Its a new franchise, and I for one am enjoying the winds of change.

[massraider]

Doesn't matter whether Lombardi was right about Shell or not. Once you sandbag the coach, the next guy can never trust you. He had to go.

[007]

100% right Mass.

Even if the next coach thinks you sandbagged the guy before him, or thought about sandbagging the guy before him...

You gotta go.

[RaiderIVlife]

Not to mention that despite Art's failure's as an HC (sadly, I'm forced to admit that), he's still a Raider and I do feel for the guy. In fact, I'll always like Art Shell. If Art had to go, than so did Lombardi IMO. At least Art was a great player and loyalist to Al Davis and the franchise.

Somewhere, Art has at least a slight bit of vindication. Now AD should step up and pay the man. Period.

[TheNextStep]

I don't know what Lombardi actually did, how well he did it, or why he will be no longer doing it.

In short, I really have no opinion on this.

[BigTron]

I think this is the example of " cleaning house" Big Al obviously is turning over a new leaf...

[hawaiianboy]

Everybody with responsibility to last years debacle better check for a plastic sheet laid on the ground when they walk into Al's office....


RAIDERS ALREADY HAVE INTERVIEWED EIGHT

A league source tells us that the Oakland Raiders discreetly have interviewed eight candidates to replace former personnel executive Mike Lombardi, who left the organization on Wednesday.
Per the source, another four or five will be interviewed in the coming days.

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle identifies NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2007/05/10/SPGQ3PO5T21.DTL) as a potential candidate, along with newly-hired Raiders director of football operations Mark Jackson.

But it's our understanding the Mayock was considered for a job with the team a year ago, and that the interview didn't go particularly well. Though it could be that Mayock is back on the radar screen, it's also possible that the recent report of Mayock's candidacy related to last year's flirtation.

[Turo]

Next up: shit-canning the league source who told the media we were discreetly interviewing eight candidates.

;)

[Stanny]

Raiders | Snead a candidate for front office job
Thu, 10 May 2007 11:04:32 -0700

Jerry McDonald, of ANG Newspapers, reports the Oakland Raiders have talked to Tennessee Titans player personnel director Rich Snead about their vacant senior personnel executive position, according to the NFL Network.

[RaiderIVlife]

Lane Kiffin, Tom Cable, Rob Ryan, Keith Millard, Greg Knapp, possibly a Rich Snead.

Pretty solid personell for a team that "no one want's to work for".

[Madturk]

What's the gig pay? I may be interested. I think my 7-8 years bouncing around on various Raider boards and my 4 year college degree should give me a nice in here. I'm looking for a career change

[CrossBones]

Hell they offered me the job.

Two Million/year. I laughed in their face.

[RNorris]

Hell they offered me the job.

Two Million/year. I laughed in their face.

I would figure they would shy away from hiring anyone older than AL.

[R4Life]

Per PFt - Total teaser

POSTED 1:53 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 2:15 p.m. EDT, May 14, 2007

RAIDERS PICK A NEW PERSONNEL GUY

A league source tells us that the Oakland Raiders have selected a new personnel executive to replace Mike Lombardi.

We don't have the name just yet, but we're told that it is a guy who currently is employed by another NFL team.

And this would mean that it won't be Mike Mayock, Fran Foley, or Pat Kirwan.

A league source guesses that the job is going to Titans director of player personnel Rich Snead. But for now it's just a guess.


and added:

The Oakland Raiders contacted Titans Player Personnel Director Rich Snead about their vacant senior personnel executive position, the NFL Network reported.

Snead had been one of the in-house candidates who interviewed for the general manager opening prior to the hiring of Mike Reinfeldt.

Snead spent four seasons as a scout for the Los Angeles Raiders from 1990-93 before he joined the Oilers in 1994 as Director of Pro Personnel.

Snead would enter his 14th year with the Titans and 10th season as Director of Player Personnel in 2007.

[Byron2112]

Sweet, this Snead guy looks like he may be comming home... looks like a good move too.

[R4Life]

Rich Snead
Director of Player Personnel

Rich Snead is in his 13th year with the Titans and ninth as Director of Player Personnel. Snead is responsible for evaluating all college and pro personnel, as well as continuing the evaluation and grading of league personnel, researching free agents, and monitoring waiver and possible trade transactions. Snead originally came to the Oilers on June 27, 1994 as the club's Director of Pro Personnel. He spent four seasons as a scout for the Los Angeles Raiders (1990-93) and two seasons as a scout for the San Diego Chargers (1988-89). Snead began his pro career in 1983 as a scout for the Oklahoma Outlaws in the United States Football League (USFL). He also served as Director of Player Personnel for the Los Angeles Express from 1984-86. Snead's coaching experience includes a stint as wide receivers and quarterbacks coach at Santa Ana College from 1979-82 after attending Long Beach State University. A native of San Gabriel, Calif. (11/6/55), Rich and his wife, M'Lissa, have one son, Bill.

[007]

Snead would be a good hire, IMO.

Im not proclaiming to know anything about the personnel guys in the NFL, but Fisher and crew over in Tennessee had the highest winning % in the nineties, and drafted/signed some big time players in the last 10+ years.

We've had plenty of great playoff and regular season battles with Tennessee...Back when we were both good.

[Madturk]

Snead would be a good hire, IMO.

Im not proclaiming to know anything about the personnel guys in the NFL, but Fisher and crew over in Tennessee had the highest winning % in the nineties, and drafted/signed some big time players in the last 10+ years.

We've had plenty of great playoff and regular season battles with Tennessee...Back when we were both good.

I'd have to concur here. Fisher & Co always seemed to get the best out of his players even though they may not have had some of the bigger marquee names in the NFL. Look at the job they did last season in a supposed re-building mode.

[R4Life]

Headline prediction #1 "Raiders take a Gamble,".

Per PFT

POSTED 2:59 p.m. EDT, May 16, 2007

RAIDERS REELING IN GAMBLE?

Though the deal is still not officially done, we're hearing stronger and stronger indications that Tom Gamble soon will be hired to join the Raiders, as the replacement for former senior personnel executive Mike Lombardi.

Gamble has been the 49ers pro personnel director since 2005, and has 19 years in the league. In Gamble's two years with the team, the Niners have made good progress, and are regarded as a team on the rise.

If Gamble ultimately gets the job, the decision to pursue a guy with current NFL experience will be much smarter (we think) than a move to hire Fran Foley or Mike Mayock or Pat Kirwan, none of whom have been consistently grinding away in the business of finding football players.

Besides, the Raiders will save a bunch of money on moving expenses.

Stay tuned for more. Others are chasing this one and have yet to hit paydirt. But it appears that, like other moves made by the Raiders, there is a shroud of mystery (intentional or otherwise) regarding the direction in which the franchise is heading.

added:
Tom Gamble

Director of Pro Personnel

In his 19th NFL season, Tom Gamble enters his second year with the 49ers overseeing the club’s pro personnel department. In his role, Gamble monitors every NFL roster with an emphasis on scouting talent of upcoming pro free agents. He is also responsible for maintaining continuous depth and personnel on the 49ers roster.

Prior to his arrival in San Francisco, Gamble served as an area scout for the Indianapolis Colts for seven seasons under Bill Polian.

He worked in 1997 as a part-time college scout for the Carolina Panthers while dueling as a pro scout with the Baltimore Ravens. Gamble entered the NFL as an assistant in the player personnel department of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1988. He stayed with the Eagles through 1994, serving as an area scout, handling contract negotiations, and later served as Director of Pro Scouting. He served as a defensive assistant/quality control coach with the New York Jets in 1995-96.

Gamble earned his B.S. from High Point in 1987 and an M.S. from Rowan University in 1988.
Gamble grew up in a football family where his father Harry served as the head coach at both the University of Pennsylvania and Lafayette College. He would later become the former President of the Philadelphia Eagles. Gamble and his wife, Juliette, have three sons, Tom, Gregory and Mathew.

[RaiderIVlife]

Snead? Gamble? These guys both seem qualified.

I love the direction this franchise seems to be headed. Maybe you can't teach an Old Dog new tricks, but Al Davis seems to be "retrieving the newspaper" quite nicely in his advanced years.

[BigTron]

I really think the Randy Moss/Art moves made him change. He is starting to realize he needs more people on his side. I cant put into words how great of an offseason its been. Great coaching hires, solid free agent pick-ups and re-signing's, great draft picks.... impressive. Last season was the all time low for me as a Raider fan. I glad things seem to be running smooth.