'Classic' Raiders signings put a ton of pressure o

This is the ultimate place to discuss anything & everything related to sports and non-sports.

TSU WANTS YOU!!!

There are plenty of topics here to discuss. We cover all the major professional sports, which you see here. We also have a section for NCAA Sports, as well. For those that might be fans of racing, soccer, golf, or even wrestling, we have a place for you, too.

For all the gamers out there, you are free to chat about everything from the systems of the past to the consoles of the future. We deal with sports and non-sports gaming, alike.

Speaking of non-sports, don't be afraid to have a discussion concerning other things going on in the world today, including current events, the entertainment biz, and the ever-changing world of technology. If you have an artistic touch, check out 'GRAFIX WORLD' to request, discuss, and even show-off your own computer graphics. Plus, we have our official off-topic forum, 'The Outpost Lounge', to talk about anything you want.

So, if you would like to see more, come explore the 'Universe'!
Registering is quick, easy, and most of all, FREE!!
Start your journey today!!!
Remember...

...ACTIVITY STARTS WITH YOU!!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board (meaning that all forums are not visible) and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls.)

Click HERE to join & be an active part of our community today!!

If you're already a registered 'explorer', please log in to your account to access all of our features:

(If you have forgotten your password, please click HERE.)

'Classic' Raiders signings put a ton of pressure o
Topic Started: Apr 5 2008, 09:49 PM (25 Views)
Deb	Apr 5 2008, 09:49 PM Post #1
The resident Cowboys Chick Posts: 648 Group: SUPER MOD SQUAD Member #211 Joined: February 18, 2007	'Classic' Raiders signings put a ton of pressure on embattled coach Kiffin David White, San Francisco Chronicle Saturday, April 5, 2008 Raiders boss Al Davis just sunk some $180 million in the free agent market, signing anyone he could - functional ACL or otherwise - to turn around his floundering franchise and deliver his first Super Bowl ring in 24 years. Embattled coach Lane Kiffin knows what that means: all the more demand for him to produce an instant winner in his second season, if only because no coach this side of Jon Gruden has gotten a third-year chance in Oakland. "I'm sure that's the way it will be," Kiffin said of his fall-guy potential in a brutally honest interview at this week's NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. "You create high expectations by adding these players. In classic Raider fashion, four of the guys added are former No. 1 picks, and with that, you're increasing what is expected of the coach and what's expected of the team. "So, it's my job to figure out how to put them all together and get them to win." Kiffin was "very involved" in the personnel decisions, but it was Davis - who he described as the team's general manager - who had the final say on the playable deck. It's up to Kiffin to make sure Davis gets his money's worth no matter the risks attached to several big-money investments. Javon Walker, the Broncos receiver who missed half of last season with ongoing knee trouble, was given a six-year, $55 million deal with $16 million in guarantees. Kiffin said the knee injury "was a major concern." Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, who tore his ACL last season, was re-signed to a seven-year, $50.5 million deal with $18.125 million guaranteed, then the richest contract at his position in league history. Kiffin said Kelly's knee injury is "a major concern." In the biggest splash of all, Davis traded for Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall, a two-time Pro Bowler who feuded with his coach and criticized the organization throughout last season. Davis brokered the deal by giving Hall a seven-year, $66 million deal with $24.55 million guaranteed. Kiffin doesn't pretend this was all part of the offseason plan, rebuilding so aggressively through free agency. "I don't think anybody did, as far as amount of money spent, as far as number of players added," Kiffin said. Because not all signings come with red flags, the Raiders also re-upped standup running back Justin Fargas and nabbed Giants safety Gibril Wilson. All other signings were of little face-value consequence. With so many long-term deals, Kiffin thinks it could take years to know if this was a quality offseason or if the Raiders overspent - not that time is on his 32-year-old side any more than it may be with the 78-year-old Davis. "We have a very interesting and a very tough job ahead of us, to mesh all these players together," Kiffin said. "We have a bunch of different personalities, some guys who have had some issues in the past at their different places. So I look forward to the challenge." He might as well, because there aren't any other appealing options. Kiffin won't resign and walk away from $4 million. Davis won't fire him and pay him for work undone. With the free agent field all but spent, it's on to the NFL Draft they go, where Kiffin hopes to use the fourth overall pick to save a run defense that - as he pointed out - ranked last in the NFL in yards per rush last season. Arkansas running back Darrin McFadden is appealing, but Kiffin repeatedly said it doesn't address a need. Then again, neither did acquiring Hall. Whoever Davis drafts, he'll expect Kiffin to plug him into a 4-12 team and make wins happen. "We both look at it the same way," Kiffin said. "Or at least how I look at it is, we need each other to win right now. So we'll make the best of our relationship. And we've worked together to add some really good players this offseason to really help us win this next year, hopefully."



1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)


« Previous Topic · Oakland Raiders · Next Topic »