The organization messagetoal.com has purchased space on a billboard and it will be appearing along Interstate 880 near High St on Tuesday morning. On this billboard, they will be expressing their frustration with the current state of the Oakland Raiders, and calling on Al Davis to hire a general manager for the football side.
Mike Mitchell at the Raider Nation Celebration.
Photo courtesy of TFDSsports.com Photo by Patrick A. Patterson
This is strong statement coming from a pained fan-base. The Raiders have six consecutive eleven-plus loss season, and are only three losses away from a precedent setting seventh. The attendance at the Coliseum is dwindling. The Raiders have set two new lows for the Oakland Coliseum era.
It is hard to tell what type of response the Raiders will have to this message being displayed a mile from their home stadium. They could not be reached for comment on this story.
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Mike Mitchell is still looking to make an impact for the Raiders. With his rookie season nearly three quarters of the way through, he has been invisible. His selection was highly criticized during the draft, and he has been a bit frustrated in his attempts to prove them wrong. "There were some things that were said that I still don’t like and I’m still looking forward to proving myself right. Not necessarily proving them wrong, but just proving myself right, that I still need to do, and I’m not going to stop until I do that."
He has been working his way into certain packages, but with the stellar play of his teammate Tyvon Branch who is also an in the box type safety, he has not emerged as an every day starter. He doesn't begrudge his teammate at all, "He’s one of the best safeties playing right now. He doesn’t have much of a name because it’s only his second year, but you watch his tape, I mean, who’s really doing more than him right now?" Instead he compares his situation this season to red shirting, "I tell everyone back home, it’s like redshirting, except I actuall do play, but it is like redshirting, because every meeting, with a guy like Nnamdi Asomugha, and Michael Huff, and Tyvon, who’s only in his second year, but knows so much about football, just sitting and talking to those guys, I’m seeing the game through their eyes and not being necessarily be forced out there and do everything, even though I’d love to be out there and doing everything. It is a chance to let me grow and learn things at a slower pace and it’s been a lot easier."
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Darrius Heyward-Bey is not getting caught up in any hype after catching his first touchdown. "We lost, so the touchdown didn’t really mean much.” For all the criticism leveled at DHB, this shows that he does have his feet on the ground. In a league where diva receivers are the norm, there is something refreshing about one who puts the team above any personal accomplishments.
He also feels that the offense is not as far off from being successful as most think, “We’re an inch away from being a good passing offense. We understand that. We wish we weren’t an inch away. We wish we were hitting those. It’s positive. It’s a good thing to look at. Going into these last five games, we hope we just hit those big plays and go into the offseason with a good feeling.”
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Still no real progress on Nick Miller. Miler was an undrafted free agent camp sensation at wide receiver and kick returner. However, he broke his leg at the end of camp, and has been in a boot ever since. His injury was originally diagnosed as shin splints, but later diagnosis revealed a break. With the Raiders struggles at receiver and in the return game, it begs the question as to why the roster spot has been held for eleven games for him. They could have placed him on the injured reserve and kept his rights for next season, whilst still freeing up a spot for a player this year.
Rob Calonge contributed to this report.
You can also find Patrick Patterson on Thoughts from the Dark Side.
Comments
Wow. Kudos to the fans responsible for getting the billboard up. I personally didn't think it was possible. It should get some major play on the networks once word gets out.
Nick Miller needs to man up and get his ass on the football field. He had the same injury as Gallery and he's been back for a few weeks.
So theres a billboard going up? Do you not think Mr. Davis knows what's going on with this team? We had a GM and he went to Tampa Bay. I keep hearing about bringing back Gruden but what did he do in Tampa. What did his drafts do when he was there? He won a SB with Dungy's team. After that what? Lot of bashing on Mr Davis for bad drafts but there are some good players on this team so be fair and give some credit. Remember this team is one of the youngest in the league. Patrick please keep us updated on theis bill board thing.
I might do some good, for the fans to say how they feel about the state of this team. But will it affect the players, when they see that biilboard on thier way to the stadium? I think not, if thier coach cannot, and thier losing way does not, how is that billboard going to motavate anybody on that team??? Start with the Q.B., he is allready being labeled a DRAFT bust, but it does not seem to be bothering him to much, and it certainly has not affected his play at all. I mean he has his bonus money in the bank, so why should he try to improve any. This team needs a complete makeover from the top, to the very bottom, before they will win with any consistency!!!
There are a lot of players who need removed from this team Tommy Kelly,has a 50 mil contract, and 1 Sck , Javon Walker, who is always injured and also has a large contract, JRuss may not be a starter in the Nfl unless the Raiders get a good Staff (Here's and Idea Head Coach Marty Shotinhimer Offensive Cordinator Carlie Weis, Qb coach Rich Gannon, and a Defensive Coordinator Romeo Cornell ) last but not lease trade down in the draft to get more D-line and O-line help the secondary is solid, reciever corps is young and we got a trio of running backs fix thse two areas and the Raiders will be compete next season get rid of the dead weight and badd apples get quality players
Include in that message quality Offensive Linemen.
No QB in the history of the NFL can last with that line!
The billboard is an embarrassment that should not go up, but freedom of speech insures it can.I'd rather see people wait now that we have made changes on the field. This should be addressed in the off season in my opinion. With 5 games to play let's see if something gels. But, we need to draft offensive and defensive line and if this billboard helps make that happen then that is a big thing. Holmgren?
The billboard is an embarrassment that should not go up, but freedom of speech insures it can.I'd rather see people wait now that we have made changes on the field. This should be addressed in the off season in my opinion. With 5 games to play let's see if something gels. But, we need to draft offensive and defensive line and if this billboard helps make that happen then that is a big thing. Holmgren?
I'm glad to know a sign is going up, I live in Houston, TX and I won't see it. I've been a Raider fan a long time. The problem is with Uncle Al, he spends the money, why not hire the best GM and get a good staff to run his team and put it back on the top where it belongs. I hate to see our favorite team at the bottom in the standings. So, memo to Al D., hire the best football people to work for you and let them do their job, RETIRE give it up and just sit back and watch them, just win baby. GOD bless Uncle Al.
I just have one thing to say to Al if he wants to see more Raider super bowl rings: G.M.
we should play a 3-4 and play trevor scott as a linebacker
Kudos to the fans responsible for getting the billboard up....AMEN
You can tell this is a kid(he is 22) that started this billboard. Everybody wants to do the media hyped thing and blame Al Davis. How about Thanking Al for his recent(really continual) efforts. He has paid top dollar(because he had to) for the best talent available over the last few years. Has it all worked out? NO...but he has via free agency, trade and draft gotten us a lot of talent. i.e. Seymour,Ellis, Bush, Fargas, McFadden(if he can stay healthy), Asomugha, Higgins etc.... Granted there have been his share of misses too. But the bottom line is we have an owner willing to give us the tools. Most teams would kill to have that. So to disrespect a man that built not only this team but was a huge part of creating the NFL is a slap in the face to him and Raider Nation. For people to say how bad Al is and how terrible he is to play for...we certainly have a lot of players that stay "in the family" when they finish their careers playing. It is easy and cheap to buy into the media hype!
Look We all appreciate Al for what he did to make this the storied franchise it STILL is... My only beef with all of this is simple. It Al is the architect of the superbowl rings then Al is the architect of the zings bings and dings!!!
ITs his baby so he brought it into this world and he is taking it out!!!You want to have it both ways but you can't.
If he is responsible for the GOOD then He's responsible for the BAD...
He hasn't had a GM for years now...What other franchise doesn't have one??? & if there is one who are they and how long have they been losers???
His ego is either out of whack or he's out to lunch. He always pays players a heap load of money even wasting it away but with coaches he's notoriously cheap. Had 02been coached by Gruden? we'd have @least 1moreRINg but NO, tightwad on coaches bends him over so ChuckyGoes 2the darkside & we got hammered...Yeah THANKS AL!
So makeUp U'rMind. RESPONSIBLE or NOT?!?!
It's a simple question but do you have the honesty
You know, Al Davis may have made some poor first round draft choices, but I think that some of his later round choices are ignored. Louis Murphy, Thomas Howard, Zack Miller, Tyvon Branch, Kirk Morrison, Trevor Scott, and many others are picks that few can argue were great value picks. Also, lets not forget that Asomugha was one of those size/speed picks that was about as big a risk as DHB (who many still thought would go in the first round). The Raiders have problems, and a GM isn't a bad idea, but Davis gets way too much flack for missing on some first rounders when the league average on first rounders isn't too hot either, especially with QB's.
LOL..to all of you raider fans who think its a bad idea...you guys need to thank this kid for having the balls to do this i swear to God you have to be the dumbest scum around how can you not be mad at al davis? do you like losing year after year? please shut the hell up and do what you can to get his old a## out!
The ones against this Billboard are happy and pleased with the losing and terrible drafting that has been happening year after year (~~~~~~~~~~> you disgust me
You got my Sig
Now those fans are showing true Raiders spirit. Even here in the Big Apple, Raiders fans applaud you guys. SOUNDS LIKE RAIDERNATION WANTS A SOLUTION.
Hiring a GM is a step but does not change meddling with offensive and defensive schemes which is really the issue (and that of course depends on the extent of powers for the GM which can vary). I have no issue if people think all of our players stink, then yes a GM is totally the answer, even if a strictly talent guy. However, if you think that there is talent on the roster and I know many think that, right or wrong, you can't have it both ways. If you think our players are good and you love Miller, Branch, Scott etc., then you cannot ignore who picked them. If you think Chaz is great and Murphy has potential, you cannot blame the person picking them, BUT you can blame whoever is making them play DHB before he is ready, and making them play single high safety man defense, or whatever, and that can come from the top or from the coach (probably both), but having a good draft guy is not going to change that unless they are given full control of all areas. Which would be nice, doubtful
Al, let my team goooo! or risk biblical like plagues upon you and your family.
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