BustedKnuckles
Footballguy
I have been a loyal Raiders fan since 1983 and have been VERY patient with Al Davis for some time now ...but i don` know how much more of him i can take as a fan. If he fires Kiffin that may be the last straw for me as i may not be motivated to support my favorite team until Davis steps down or dies. 
Trouble brewing by the bay
Kiffin’s job could be in danger over perceived disloyalty, control of coaching staff
By Trent Modglin
Jan. 14, 2008
Bobby Petrino resigned and Cam Cameron was fired, meaning two of the NFL’s three first-time head coaches in 2007 have already been relieved of their duties. The way we hear it, Al Davis may be exploring ways to make it a perfect trifecta after learning of Lane Kiffin’s disloyalty stemming from his expressed interest in vacancies at a pair of prominent universities.
Despite his strong denials, Kiffin, sources confirmed, showed interest in the Arkansas position for which Petrino abruptly left the Falcons, and he expressed great interest in the previously vacant Michigan job that was eventually awarded to West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Sources told PFW that Davis and Kiffin have disagreed over the composition of the roster dating back to the draft, when Kiffin sought to overhaul the loose, rebel culture fostered by the aging owner but was able to accomplish little with Davis holding full authority over the 53-man roster.
Tensions have mounted in recent weeks over the coaching staff. Team officials spent the last week working on coaching contracts and the financial future of the roster, but no word of Kiffin’s future was mentioned.
With a defense that slipped from a No. 3 ranking to 22nd overall, Kiffin sought to correct the defense with his own coach. However, the staunchly loyal Davis holds control over the coaching staff and vetoed the move to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who interviewed for the head-coaching job prior to Kiffin’s appointment and remains in high regard by Davis and fellow coaches around the league.
“Lane is going to stand up to Al,” one source with knowledge of the front-office dynamics said. “In a lot of ways, he's a young Jon Gruden. But he is not stupid and is not going to quit.”
Sources have told PFW that the notoriously frugal Davis, who paid a $2 million settlement to Art Shell last season, is said to be exploring the best exit strategy for Kiffin and debating whether to give Kiffin what he wants — an easy out of Oakland. Confounding Davis’ decision is his desire to win now and the importance of maintaining some continuity, something he would keep by promoting Ryan to head coach.
Ryan, who was retained by Davis after the firings of Norv Turner and Shell, is believed to be the most logical candidate for the top job should Kiffin be let go. The last time Davis intervened in a similar fashion came after the 1998 season, when former head coach Mike Shanahan tried to fire Shell, then the team’s OL coach. The following season, Shanahan was let go and replaced by Shell.
The decision to promote Ryan would give the Raiders their fifth head coach in seven seasons since Gruden was essentially traded to Tampa Bay in 2002. However, with Pete Carroll’s name surfacing for the job in Atlanta, sources speculate that the ever-wavering Davis will wait for all other vacancies to be filled, as he has done in recent years, before making any move and might just decide to let another year play out before letting Kiffin off the hook.
Trouble brewing by the bay
Kiffin’s job could be in danger over perceived disloyalty, control of coaching staff
By Trent Modglin
Jan. 14, 2008
Bobby Petrino resigned and Cam Cameron was fired, meaning two of the NFL’s three first-time head coaches in 2007 have already been relieved of their duties. The way we hear it, Al Davis may be exploring ways to make it a perfect trifecta after learning of Lane Kiffin’s disloyalty stemming from his expressed interest in vacancies at a pair of prominent universities.
Despite his strong denials, Kiffin, sources confirmed, showed interest in the Arkansas position for which Petrino abruptly left the Falcons, and he expressed great interest in the previously vacant Michigan job that was eventually awarded to West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Sources told PFW that Davis and Kiffin have disagreed over the composition of the roster dating back to the draft, when Kiffin sought to overhaul the loose, rebel culture fostered by the aging owner but was able to accomplish little with Davis holding full authority over the 53-man roster.
Tensions have mounted in recent weeks over the coaching staff. Team officials spent the last week working on coaching contracts and the financial future of the roster, but no word of Kiffin’s future was mentioned.
With a defense that slipped from a No. 3 ranking to 22nd overall, Kiffin sought to correct the defense with his own coach. However, the staunchly loyal Davis holds control over the coaching staff and vetoed the move to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who interviewed for the head-coaching job prior to Kiffin’s appointment and remains in high regard by Davis and fellow coaches around the league.
“Lane is going to stand up to Al,” one source with knowledge of the front-office dynamics said. “In a lot of ways, he's a young Jon Gruden. But he is not stupid and is not going to quit.”
Sources have told PFW that the notoriously frugal Davis, who paid a $2 million settlement to Art Shell last season, is said to be exploring the best exit strategy for Kiffin and debating whether to give Kiffin what he wants — an easy out of Oakland. Confounding Davis’ decision is his desire to win now and the importance of maintaining some continuity, something he would keep by promoting Ryan to head coach.
Ryan, who was retained by Davis after the firings of Norv Turner and Shell, is believed to be the most logical candidate for the top job should Kiffin be let go. The last time Davis intervened in a similar fashion came after the 1998 season, when former head coach Mike Shanahan tried to fire Shell, then the team’s OL coach. The following season, Shanahan was let go and replaced by Shell.
The decision to promote Ryan would give the Raiders their fifth head coach in seven seasons since Gruden was essentially traded to Tampa Bay in 2002. However, with Pete Carroll’s name surfacing for the job in Atlanta, sources speculate that the ever-wavering Davis will wait for all other vacancies to be filled, as he has done in recent years, before making any move and might just decide to let another year play out before letting Kiffin off the hook.
Last edited by a moderator:
