Whack in Black: The Raiders Hit Rock Bottom

By Sean Vernacular

The chants started mid-way through the second quarter and only got stronger as the game continued. It started in one section, but spread and crescendoed until about a quarter of the stadium was chanting “Walter, Walter, Walter.” The fans were calling for Andrew Walter, the backup quarterback for the flailing starter Jamarcus Russell.

I am a die-hard Raiders fan, but had not attended a game in roughly 4 years, so this was supposed to be a fun day with the family. It turned into a massacre. The Raiders played one of the worst games I have ever seen and never even threatened the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have a winning record and have a decent squad this year, but the Raiders managed to accrue negative offensive yards in the first half. That is a feat no other NFL team had “accomplished” since 1976.

Although the game was officially a sell out, there were plenty of empty seats, and by halftime a quarter of the fans in attendance had left. The game’s only bright spot was the fact that the Raiders’ defense held the Falcons scoreless in the second half. Unfortunately, by that time Atlanta already held a 24-0 lead and had mostly second stringers in. If this game’s meltdown were an anomaly it would not be that big of a deal, but us Raider fans have been putting up with this for nearly 5 years. It’s time for us as the fans to put a stop to it.

Al Davis controls this team with an iron first, from the coaches to the players, and has even been rumored to call plays from the owner’s box. The man was a great coach and a maverick in another era, but times have changed. Raiders fans need to stop praising him as the successful rebel he used to be, and start recognizing him for the old wash-up that he is. The man is not in touch with football anymore and the Raiders will never be competitive as long as he lurks. I am tired of watching the Raiders getting smashed every week, while Al Davis continues to preach his “Commitment to Excellence” slogan. No one wants to play here and nobody wants to coach here because they know they will only be set up to fail.

Today the Raiders cut DeAngelo Hall who they signed in the off season to a 7 year $72 million contract. I admit he wasn’t playing well, but he only played eight games for the Raiders and it is a system that is designed to make players fail. On the “offensive” side, Jamarcus Russell shows some glimpses of hope, but he needs someone else to help him shoulder the load. All our receivers are terrible and our running game that is supposedly so strong has fallen short because everyone knows that’s our only option.

The bottom line is that things need to be shaken up because this is our hometown team and they represent us even if they don’t want to. I love the Raiders and will always love the Raiders, but it is time for us to get out of this black hole. I was embarrassed to be a Raiders fan on Sunday. Our biggest highlight was a blocked punt that resulted in no points. The fans were more into the halftime show of the junior Raiderettes then they were of our own team. But can you blame them?

Al Davis has pointed the finger at a lot of head coaches (Bill Callahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell, and Lane Kiffin) but when will Mr. Davis point the finger at himself? I don’t know if he is in good enough health to pick his finger up, but either way he must realize that football has changed and that it is time for the Raiders to get a facelift.

This game was not what I wanted it to be, but it proved to me in person that the Raiders have hit rock bottom. Changing the quarterback or the coach is not going to cut it. It’s time to off the pompadoured big man upstairs. Lets bring back that Oakland spirit, the Raider mystique and good old fashioned hard-nosed football. This Fall has witnessed Oakland fall, but let us always remember that "the autumn wind is a pirate . . ."