Rich Gannon Still Not Welcome in Raiderland

By MikeBullock  |   Thursday, January 07, 2010  |  Comments( 8 )

Oakland Raiders
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Whether it’s Tim Brown offering to coach the team or Rich Gannon offering to help out however he can, Al Davis seems to revel in the opportunity to bite the hands that fed him. There was a day when Davis listened to Brown’s counsel over the head coach, no matter what. But when Brown offered his help in actually coaching the team, Davis reacted, via senior executive John Herrera, as if Brown was offering to burn the building down around their ears.

When Rich Gannon made an off the cuff remark that the Raiders should "blow up the building and start over" in order to get the once great franchise back on track, Herrera’s response was not only juvenile, but indicative of a man in possession of faulty mentality.

“We think in a post 9/11 world, that's not a very proper thing to say," Herrera responded. "It's uncalled for. He seems to be a guy who can't get over the fact that he played the worst Super Bowl game in the history of the game and he wants to blame everybody but himself."

While the Raider’s break down since the aforementioned Super Bowl has been colossal in professional sports, trying to give this team the real world impact of, say, the World Trade Center and the 3000 plus men and women who died there is beyond ridiculous.

Now, Gannon is once again offering help to a team he proved capable of resurrecting from mediocrity in the past. And, once again, Davis’s lapdog is slinging insults at the only quarterback who has proven capable of leading Oakland to the Superbowl since Jim Plunkett retired. It’s as if Davis and Herrera feel the true enemy of the Raider’s is ex-players who want the team to do better. Way to focus on the real issue, guys.

During his radio show on Sirius Satellite’s NFL Radio, Gannon offered his help to stem the tide of losses pounding the Raider’s Harbor Bay headquarters. Herrera attempted to ban Gannon from Raider HQ prior to a game broadcast back in September. Now, Gannon actually has to ask permission to visit Raiderland. Rich Gannon isn’t welcome on Raider property. Seriously?

One of the four greatest quarterbacks in Raider history isn’t allowed to drop by for a visit to a facility that perpetually has ex-Raiders milling about like teenagers at a mall on Friday night. No wonder this team can’t put it together and win.

"I did something (Tuesday) that I can't believe even I did. I picked up the phone and I reached out to Al Davis” Gannon said. “So, I called Mr. Davis, I have not spoken with him yet, but I'm happy to help out in any way I can.

"I'd love to help JaMarcus Russell if he wants help. I'd love to help Tom Cable and that organization. It's important. Listen, seven straight seasons where they've lost 11 or more games? Something's not right."

The official response from Raider central was the equivalent to burying their head in the sand and waiting for danger to pass.

"It's Rich that needs the help," snapped Herrera. "When he goes on a radio show offering Mr. Davis help, Tom Cable help, the Raiders help, maybe it's Rich that needs the help."

Since Rich Gannon never captained the second worst run in professional sports history, I doubt it.

Maybe if Gannon really wants to help Russell out, he should buy a condo in Vegas. Chances are he’ll see more of the ailing quarterback in Sin City than the land of Silver and Black. And, maybe if bad luck befalls Gannon while there, Davis will bring him back into the fold and pay him millions to sit on the sidelines, doing nothing but watching as the team implodes even further.
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CommentsComments: 8  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
bigsnow81		04:11 PM
01/08/2010
Gannon burned this bridge when he ran his mouth during the season. The Raider front office is dysfunctional everyone knows this....
No.2
flashman518		04:22 PM
01/08/2010
I admire Rich Gannon and his commendable offer to help one of the biggest busts in Jamarcus Russell. Gannon is everything that...
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No.3
bigsnow81		08:17 PM
01/08/2010
Can you believe the sh!t the above poster just spewed out? Pity, shove it up your hole. I pity your Buffalo Bills losing 4...
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