15 reasons Raider fans should say, “Enough.”

By Anthony Carroll  |   Tuesday, November 11, 2008  |  Comments( 82 )

Oakland Raiders
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OK, so there’s that famous mantra out there in the inner circle of die-hard Oakland Raiders fans. You know, that one that goes: “Win, lose or tie … Raiders ‘til I die.”

Frankly, it makes me sick.

Of course, there’s something out there called support. Every NFL fan, at some point, has to stomach 10-plus-loss seasons based solely on the notion that they support their team through both the good and the bad.

But there’s also something called blind support.

That’s when you refuse to accept the fact that there is something intrinsically wrong with the franchise you follow, then refuse to believe that next year won’t be the same old thing. Frankly, when I see bloggers or forum frequenters say, “We need to do X, Y and Z if we want to be playoffs contenders in 2009,” I want to point out to that person that there aren’t enough letters in the alphabet to turn the Raiders around any time soon.

Actually, I take that back. They could turn around the franchise very quickly with just a few strategically positioned letters.

F-L-U-K-E.

With that off my chest, here are 15 reasons why you should say “no” to that Raiders oven mitt you want so badly this holiday season (I can’t believe this actually exists) and spend your money, time and effort elsewhere.

• Let’s start with the obvious: 21 wins and 68 losses over the last 5 1/2 years. Over 76 percent of the time, the Raiders give fans nothing to cheer about on Sunday afternoon.

• 1,444 to 2,152: The total score of the Raiders versus their opponents in the last 89 games. Yes, they’ve been outscored by 708 points since 2003.

• Rick Mirer, Marques Tuiasosopo, Kerry Collins, Aaron Brooks, Andrew Walter, Josh McCown, Daunte Culpepper and JaMarcus Russell. Really? Not one of these quarterbacks from 2003 on can win more than five games? Maybe, just maybe, there’s something wrong with the front office. (Side note: Kerry Collins is 8-0 as a starter with the Tennessee Titans this year).

• Value of the Raiders in 2002, when they reached the Super Bowl: $576 million. Value of the franchise in 2008: $861 million. Hey, Al Davis is still sittin’ pretty.

• Zero: The team’s total postseason appearances over the past half-decade.

And, more importantly . . .

• Zero: The number of playoffs game they’ll appear in next season. Next year’s schedule: Denver Broncos (loss, loss), Kansas City Chiefs (win, loss), San Diego Chargers (win, loss), Baltimore Ravens (loss), Cincinnati Bengals (win), Philadelphia Eagles (loss) Washington Redskins (loss), Cleveland Browns (loss), Pittsburgh Steelers (loss), Dallas Cowboys (loss), New York Giants (loss), one AFC South team (doesn’t matter who … loss) one AFC East team (again, doesn’t matter who … loss). You heard it here first: 3-13.

• Bill Callahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell, Lane Kiffin and Tom Cable: Either Al Davis is the worst evaluator of talent ever, or he sticks his nose where it doesn’t belong after hiring a coach, or both. (Both).

• Minus-54: Oakland’s turnover differential since 2003. Yeahhh … That’s how you win games.

• Raiders’ player-costs-to-win ratio for last year: 47. That means the team achieved 53 percent LESS victories per dollar of payroll compared with the league average in 2007. The Patriots' ratio: 205. That mean’s they achieved a 105 percent MORE victories per dollar of payroll compared with the league average. The perfect example of incompetence vs. efficiency.

• Oakland can’t pick or develop its own talent. First-rounders from 2001 to present: Derrick Gibson (bust), Phillip Buchanon (given up on), Napoleon Harris (given up on), Nnamdi Asomugha (winner!), Tyler Brayton (bust), Robert Gallery (mega-bust), Fabian Washington (bust/given up on), Michael Huff (bust), JaMarcus Russell (…) and Darren McFadden (…).

• 168 sacks for, 258 sacks against: Proof that games really are won up front. And also 90 more reasons to feel a sudden sense of frustration over excitement.

• Number of 1,000-yard receivers since 2003: One, and it was Randy Moss.

• Number of 1,000-yard rushers since 2003: Two, and one was LaMont Jordan.

• Player salary expenses in 2002 (11 wins and a Super Bowl appearance that year): $81 million. Player salary expenses in 2008 (two wins and possibly none more): $126 million.

• Al Davis.
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About Anthony Carroll

Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal ...
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