My Take on the Kiffin situation:
Al values loyalty, which is reflected by the significant number of Raiders still in the organization today.
More importantly, the Raiders operate different than other clubs. AL has had much success and is uniquely qualified to be coach, owner and GM, while Kiffin is an inexperienced, unproven coach who's biggest asset is being chosen by Al , as a potential good coach. Kiffin has barely won 27% of his 18 games. There are much smarter, more experienced people who spend their entire careers chasing the opportunity to be a head coach. He needs to shut his mouth and earn his stripes. He has done nothing. Al has forgotten more than Kiffin knows. Al had a SuperBowl win, before Kiffin floated around in his daddy's balls.
Al expects and demands secrecy. There's stuff you don't talk about in front of the media. Kiffin is talking too much and few clubs value talk more than action. Kiffin's recent remarks are borderline betrayal. It's insulting to hear Kiffin take subtle shots at the Raider organization.
Al is pissed. The Raiders don't normally let their coaches talk to the media like Ryan did.
I see Kiffin fired soon and James Lofton as interim coach and maybe Tim Brown or Fred Biletnikof come on board as WR coach, while Kiffin joins the broncos as a glorified spy.
It's too bad this got ugly, because is better to strive to resolve NOT dissolve.. ...
BadBoyBerto
Raider Raza
More importantly, the Raiders operate different than other clubs. AL has had much success and is uniquely qualified to be coach, owner and GM, while Kiffin is an inexperienced, unproven coach who's biggest asset is being chosen by Al , as a potential good coach. Kiffin has barely won 27% of his 18 games. There are much smarter, more experienced people who spend their entire careers chasing the opportunity to be a head coach. He needs to shut his mouth and earn his stripes. He has done nothing. Al has forgotten more than Kiffin knows. Al had a SuperBowl win, before Kiffin floated around in his daddy's balls.
Al expects and demands secrecy. There's stuff you don't talk about in front of the media. Kiffin is talking too much and few clubs value talk more than action. Kiffin's recent remarks are borderline betrayal. It's insulting to hear Kiffin take subtle shots at the Raider organization.
Al is pissed. The Raiders don't normally let their coaches talk to the media like Ryan did.
I see Kiffin fired soon and James Lofton as interim coach and maybe Tim Brown or Fred Biletnikof come on board as WR coach, while Kiffin joins the broncos as a glorified spy.
It's too bad this got ugly, because is better to strive to resolve NOT dissolve.. ...
BadBoyBerto
Raider Raza
posted by Raider Raza at Sunday, September 14, 2008
1 Comments:
At the outset of a stunningly candid press conference regarding the team’s decision to fire coach Lane Kiffin, Raiders owner Al Davis explained that Kiffin was fired for “propanganda” and “lying” that had gone on for months. Kiffin was “bringing disgrace to the organization,” Davis said, calling Kiffin on multiple times a “flat-out liar.”
One thing is clear to us: The 79-year-old Davis still seems to be as sharp mentally as he ever has been, and we tend to believe every word he’s saying.
He claims that Kiffin at some point got the idea in his head that he could get out of his contract and still get paid, and that Kiffin tried to accomplish it by complaining regularly about his situation.
Davis went on to read from a three-page letter given to Kiffin on the Friday before the Week Two game against the Chiefs, which letter was prompted by Kiffin’s comments that he has no involvement in the defense, and that coordinator Rob Ryan works directly with Davis on this point.
Also, Davis said that Kiffin called every play on offense during his time with the team, and that he split the play-calling duties with an unnamed assistant coach on Sunday against the Chargers.
After the Week Three loss to the Bills, Davis said that he asked Kiffin point-blank why he didn’t use his final two time outs. “He takes exception when you question him,” Davis said.
Davis then made a snide remark regarding the 76-yard-field goal attempt at the end of the first half of the Week Four loss to the Chargers, which prompted us to question whether Kiffin was trying to get himself fired.
Asked whether Kiffin was daring Davis to fire him, Davis said, “That’s a good question.”
The rift apparently arose seven months ago. Davis said that Kiffin wanted to his father, Monte Kiffin, to run the defense — and that Monte Kiffin wanted to do it. Davis claims that the Raiders opted not to pursue the elder Kiffin because he was under contract with the Bucs.
Davis claims that Lane Kiffin wanted to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan after the 2007 season. “I can’t win with this guy,” Kiffin supposedly told Davis.
Davis said that Kiffin didn’t want to draft quarterback JaMarcus Russell, because Kiffin thought he’d be the “overweight guy” and the “uninterested guy.”
Said Kiffin after the 2007 season (per Davis), “We can’t win with this.”
Davis also confirmed that Kiffin wanted the Arkansas job, which Kiffin previously denied. Lane was “upset as hell” about it when Bobby Petrino left Atlanta to get the job. Kiffin then supposedly targeted another college job.
As to reports that Kiffin was presented with a letter of resignation, Davis said that the document was an attempt to resolve Kiffin’s situation if he were to get another job, at the college level. Davis said that Kiffin, whom he called a “professional liar,” then turned that into a claim that Davis had presented him with a resignation letter.
Davis ended his remarks, before fielding questions, by stating unequivocally that the team will rebound from this, and that the Raiders will win.
Frankly, we were riveted by the press conference. Davis rarely speaks publicly, but when he does he brings the heat. And we get the sense that he treats his people well, if they are willing to treats others well, too. Particularly compelling to us were comments from Davis regarding his desire that long-term players not simply be discarded, and that Kiffin take care of ex-Raiders.
Davis has a clear passion for his team, and we have a newfound affection for Davis, and for the Raiders. Though there are problems with the franchise that need to be addressed, Davis deserves our deference and respect, and we’re more than happy to give it to him.
From Florio,PFT
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