The Raider Nation is fed up with the state of the Raiders. There are various ideas floating around the Internet ranging from organized boycotts to long term fans jumping ship. However, unlike the ideas floating around various comment boxes and forums, the site messagetoal.com looks to build a coherent buzz that "Al Davis can't ignore."
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(AP PHOTO/ Paul Sakuma)
As part of their petition, they offer a four point plan that they feel are "the steps that need to be immediately taken to make them good again."
- We kindly ask Mr. Allen Davis to remove himself as general manager of the Oakland Raiders.
- We ask for a general manager to be hired with experience and success in the NFL.
- We ask for a new, Super Bowl Caliber Head Coach/Director of Football Operations to be hired replacing Tom Cable. Suggestions include Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden; or any other coach with similar credentials.
- We ask the Owner and new regime to give the new Coach substantial power in hiring Assistants, installing football philosophies and most roster decisions.
Those are four demands that seem to be common among those in the Raider Nation, but it seems to be common belief that the only way he will surrender control will be when he is lowered into the ground by the undertaker.
Site spokesman Jared Staszewski understands that Davis is not going to surrender his role as a general manager just because of a website. " We're not that naive." However, their goal is to garner 50,000 signatures on their petition as well as collect donations so they can purchase advertising in the Oakland Area with a tag-line showing that it is supported by a large number of fans. "We just want this to create a buzz around the Raider Nation and around the media and make this something Al can't ignore."
So far, they have 565 signatories representing nearly a dozen different countries demonstrating the global reach of which the Raider organization often boast. The international reach of the petition was a pleasant surprise for the operators,as their focus was on the football crazed US.
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Their primary goal is the growth of the petition, and to create that buzz. If they can raise the approximately five thousand dollars it would cost, they plan to purchase space on a billboard near the Oakland Coliseum. According to Staszewski, his initial contacts with CBS about the possibility of purchasing space was met with caution. "They seemed cautious about the idea because they didn't want to sour their relationship with the Raiders." If they can't get the billboard, their backup plan will be to purchase ad space from the Oakland Tribune.
"Our message is going to be respectful and classy." However, it is sure to be met with disdain from the Raider organization.
On the web: Messagetoal.com.
You can also find Patrick Patterson on Thoughts from the Dark Side.
Comments
yah the raiders need a new genral mgr. but we also need a couple of receivers that can acually catch a f***ing ball too ive been a raider fan for 35 years and i will die a raider fan and for all you people jumping the band wagon for another team may you burn in the black hole
I will be protesting by bringing back the grocery bag on the head gig. Not since the Saints of the 1970's, dubbed the Aint's has someone wore a bag on their head because the were so emabressed of their team. This is the level that Al Davis has brought this team down to. Yes Tom Cable will be blamed for Al Davis mistakes and will be fired, this is Davis' M&O. AL DAVIS NEEDS TO RESIGN FROM FOOTBALL OPERATIONS AN HIRE A FOOTBALL GM. THE GAME HAS PASSED HIM BY AND HE NEED TO SALVAGE WHAT EVER DIGNITY AND HONOR HE HAS LEFT. IF THERE IS A BUST IN THE DRAFT DAVIS WILL FIND HIM. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR J-WALRUS RUSSELL, McFUMBLE AND DHB, HGH WHAT EVER THE HELL HIS NAME, HE CAN'T CATCH. It is much about Davis bad karma, everthing he puts his hand to is cursed for much of how he has treated people and his many bogus law suits. THE RAIDER NATION IS SPEAKING CLEAR IN THEIR CALL FOR HIS RESGINATION AND VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN HIS ORGANIZATION WHICH IS NOW A NATIONAL JOKE.
I will be protesting by not renewing my season tickets. I've had season tickets for 12 years now, but enough is enough. There are better things in this life to spend my hard earned money on than the pathetic garbage Al Davis calls a football team. I'll renew my season tickets when Al has hired a GM and publicly stepped down from his position of Dictator for life.
Al Davis hires coaches to coach his (Als') system, with his (Al's) assistant coaches, and his (Al's) players. This is why most who coach the Raiders are doomed to failure. Great coaches have to be their 'genuine selves' to succeed. Somehow, Madden Flores, and Gruden were able to figure out how to work with Big Al. I suspect they all had the stones (in some capacity) to do it 'their way' and then endure the verbal and painful 'beat down' on Monday mornings. I'm sure it took a combination of guile, finesse, and sometimes an 'FU' attitude for all three of these men. Regardless, working for Big Al is likely a mentally exhausting experience. Add that to the already difficult job that coaching is and you can see why it is so hard to work for the man. It's sad because Big used to know what he was doing. We all understand that...more than Big Al knows. Nevertheless, it's time to take the keys from Grandpa and tell him to sit on the porch. It's not pleasant for any of us.
This sounds like fair-weather fan hood. We are the Raider Nation and have seen the pinnacle of greatness. Why should we call for the head of our leader in times of dispair. No, we stay the course,keep searching for soulutions and stop asking for a quick fix that will produce another clammouring for change when times get testy. So dissappointed in the attitude of the so called "Nation", we are a proud bunch but not disloyal. And this is Mutiny! I will never sign a petition embarrassing or dismissing the legend who is Mr. Al Davis! For he is the Raiders he is one of us.
AL Does have to go,that is a no-brainer!!! Cable and russell are both no-brainers 2,Since I have been a raider fan (1975) I have never seen such a pathetic QB with or without a line,a D,wrs.. If anybody thinks this qb is the answer,you reallllly need to go in for a cat-scan.. People want to blame the (rookie) wrs for JRs mistakes is 2 funny to me.. Those are the people who support jr because is he young,but blast the wrs wide-outs because they suck..haha So I guess the wrs arent young huh???
why cant Al trust someone else to drive ? after all fidel handed the keys over to his brother !
With all due respect Lyfraider--- most of the younger fans have not seen the your so-called pinnacle of greatness..ha Unless you are 33 years old or older,then yes we have seen greatness..But you have also witnessed AL DAVIS ruin this team for the better part of 27 years because of his eeegggooo!!! You can't get a bigger more loyal fan than me bro,but when enuf-is-enuf something has to be done and theres only ONE MAN IN CHARGE.. And os far as AL being one of us..hahahah He is ther only raider fan to make millons of dollars watching this crap team,,Giver me millons and I would too,but until then Im supporting a change at the top!!!
sounds like Patrick is part of this uproar too...does any Raider fan like the losing??? a resounding NO would be my guess...why would a longtime fan like it??? should long time fans be jumping ship only to return when Al Davis is dead??? please don't come back if you do...that would be like disowning your family until your Father is dead...I will boo you ship jumpers at the stadium if you do...
should they be doing something that makes them look like Cleveland fans??? HE LL NO!!!
whine about firng the HC and getting another some more ok??? all that does is set the curve back yet again...
why did I even read this garbage??? I should know better by now...bloggers, phfft...;
Mob mentality, what's up with that? Why don't you just petition to burn Al at the stake while you're at it, that way you can expel all the evil demons that prevent Raider players form executing and and making plays. Respect is let Al do what he wants; if he fails he fails and if by chance he succeeds its to his credit. If you're that disgusted don't watch, go cheer for the 9ers. If you don't like the product don't buy it, if Al doesn't wise up then it's on him. To force someone, who built an organization from the ground up out is wrong and isn't going to happen. The only hope for suffering Raider Fans (vs) A very stubborn man is to let him fail his way to success.
Instead of petition for Al Davis to fade into OBLIVIAN I say sign a petition to bring JOHN MADDEN in as the new GM of DA' RAIDERS........... I think that is most constructive and has a chance to become real, the current proposed petition is a pipe dream.
I also have been a long time fan since 1971. And I hate the way things have been going for the team. But to jump ship and support another team that will never happen. As for hiring Gruden back remember he wanted to leave. Yes he won a super bowl with Dungy's team and knowing our playbook. After that what did he do in Tampa? He was fired for a reason and so was Allen. But good luck with that petition to get Mr. Davis to stepdown. Hahahahahahaha!!! Thats like asking me to give up my Harley.
Amen! I have been a member of the Raider Nation since 1972. Living in Tennessee, I made numerous road trips to see my beloved Raiders and have bought hundreds (thousands) of dollars of merchandise over the years. I will not spend one more nickle until Mr. Davis steps down or turns over control of the franchise. His desire to one-up the NFL and show everyone that he is smarter-than-they-are have resulted in DHB, J-Russ and so many wasted picks that I cannot even begin to count. The offensive and defensive schemes are so basic and vanilla that USC and many other college teams could probably pick us clean. I use to live and die by the Raiders and my Mondays were often colored by how my Raiders played on the previous Sunday. No more. Folks, it will not change until Mr. Davis steps aside.
Fantastic. I will sign AND donate money. I tried to do this a few years ago myself, but $5K was too much. All of you nay-sayers are a big part of the problem. Once Al no longer has control and we restructure as a real NFL team, you will have had absolutely NOTHING to do with it.
I lovwe all of these "im a die hard" Fck the resat,Im a raider for life and just because you dont like 25 yrs of losing go rout for someone else..ha If u can't see this team has been ruined for years and years because some old man doesn't want to give up the ship then you could be the raiders next head coach.. If AL was some kind of genuis then he would have let someone else take the wheels long ago.. I want this team to win more than anybody in the WORLD,But its not gonna happen until the dude lets coaches coach and pick their own players..Atleast jimmy J in dallas givers his team a shoyt to win..AL DOESN'T!!! So please save this im a real fan and your not sh&&^ and wake up!!! The day that davis siad "J.Russell was a great players and get over it" was the day I knew for sure he needs to be in a home and not the owners box.. Al never bought the team,he isn't really the owner of the team either!!! Bringin gru back would save this team, Gru was trarded - he didnt leave on his own!,
I would definitely participate in this. Also, think if atleast every person who signs gives 25 cents, it is all good. GO RAIDERS! get gruden back, fire cable and trade russell
I was going to put the Raiders on the back burner for awhile which I never thought I would say after 30 years of being a fan. But after reading this I am back onboard, I never really was off board just very ticked off, but when I hear this kind of crap I have to back my boys and my home, RAIDER ROCK
Why not just leave the Raiders all together? You sign that thing, you might as well be a Texan fan. Think what you want but will out Mr. Davis, there is no Raiders. He is the Raiders, you are with him or against him. Jump ship and swim somewhere else. If we get health and Cable has a little more time and the Raiders come back - I hope those in the water stay away.
-Maverick
Now we see who the true Raiders fans are. Right now being a Raiders fan is about loyalty, either you are or you aren't. You can take your petition and stick it. I will be at each and every game as I have been since my Raiders returned, as will most other fans that I see at every game.
Take the time to learn about the issues. Ticket revenue is not as much as people think. Each team receives approx. $8 million/game from TV. Ticket revenue is split 60/40 after 15% of take is subtracted for costs. I will do the math for you.
30,000 unsold tickets @ $70ea= $2.1 million - 15%= $1.585 million - %40= $1.07 million. I will do my part to make up that money, extra been and hot dog. Go Raiders!!!
Make that beer and hot dog
are some of you really this stupid???
do you really want change??? do you really want Al Davis out???
so rather than RENTING some stupid billboard, pool your fool money and buy him out...then I can talk about how badly you run a NFL franchise and how much you suk..ok??? thanx...
On another note or maybe to co-sign what has been said previsouly, If? and thats a big If? you as a RAIDER fan really love the RAIDERS as much as you proclaim!!! and you spent all that money!!! and you spent all that time!!! and you beleive that the in the RAIDER NATION we are all Brothers!! and just like FAMILY!!!
Why in the world would you abandon, bash, and wish someone dead
Would you really do that to your own family? sister, brother? uncle? dad? mom?
In the time of crises, families come together. We all have faults and egos, so maybe instead of the negative, maybe the FANS should make lemon aid out of this lemon.
Russell is struggling yes! the coach is under fire from the media, the WR's are dropping balls, and we are losing, I think they need us more now then at anytime.
Show those HATERS we will not go quitly into the night.
One KRAKEN's humble opinion
I've read several comments and how it appears you either want Al's head or just support no matter what. One poster says, "leaving Raiders, like leaving family", true! I've started watching the Raiders after the second grade, it was the Silver and Black pencil that got me started... something about those colors, good on you Al. It wasn't more than 4 years later I "witnessed" the Raiders beat the Eagles in the big dance. I was hooked, then another party arrived when our Raiders beat down the Redskins! Now, even PO'd with the play that rarely resembles "professional football", I've hung in there. So... what to do? I think it would be prudent to not be blinded by our love for Raiders, standing idly by while they plunge further, destroying their legacy & embarrassing the organization and fans along the way. Like even Grandpa, no question a part of the "family", should know when he can no longer lead the company... and gracefully pass the reigns to his successor, we just aren't COMPETING.
it's the fans who live in oakland that are still drinking the kool-aid. davis has riuned this team and because of the unrealistic fans he continues to do so. The real fans are the ones fed-up with losing. Won't matter 2 years from now when the Raiders are in east LA in the new stadium. If you think Davis hasn't sabotaged this team in order to move then you are a fool. I say file a class action suit against Al Davis to get this senile monster out of the league. The REAL fans are the smart ones. Not the dressed for halloween wannabees who reside in the black hole. Those fans will still tell you Davis is still a genius, and Russell is a great QB. They are clueless to what's really going on. So all us smart raider fans lets put a stop to this bs!
In my opinion Tom Cable is the coach we need, and the coach we need to keep. He grew up a Raider fan, he wants to coach the Raiders, and more than anything he wants them to succeed. I am sure we could get another coach, but would they care as much? As for Al Davis, he's not going anywhere. I might not agree with every thing he has done, but noone can take away all he as done for both the Raiders and the NFL. Changing coachs every year or two won't right our ship. Stick with it, and we'll see change for the better. Defense is well on the path, a little more experience on offense will do wonders.
Excellent article, Mr. Patterson. I echo your sentiments in resounding fashion. I myself posted a similar statement on the FIB HomePort message board, and was met with an equal amount of support and disdain.
Essentially, you have 2 types of Raider Fans:
1) Those who blindly follow the Almighty Al like jack boot thugs, regurgitating mindless drivel like "loyalty" and "legendary" and "family", pounding the Jonestown Kool-Aid, sounding like brainwashed cult followers/gang members/prison inmates/fascists, while bashing any dissenters.
2) Those who demand success and domination of the competition, year in and year out, expecting elite status be achieved and maintained. Their support is garnered through earned respect derived from championship caliber effort and results, nothing less.
Those who fall into the latter category of elite performance expectations are part of the ultimate solution, while those who reside in the former category are clearly part of the embarrassing pro
We need to bring back Tom Flores. Raiders need a Hispanic running things again. Tom cable Hits Women, Tom Flores hits the books. Tom C is dumb Tom F is smart.
EEE don;t be so Stoopid! Come on holmes. I will see you at Viva La Raza park.
We need some Hot salsa again, not this hamburger apple pie eaten cable.
"it's time to switch from cable to Direct-Tvf(Tom Victor Flores)
best article i have ever read.. so refereshing to see this.. no contrived crap, just tellin it like it is.. this made me feel good...
lol @ san soo raider...and the reason you don't post there any more is??? I have seen your posts there, and you lack alot...
this has been done. a guy in buffalo did this earlier this season. jauron is still there... for now. if someone has connections, they should try to get interviewed by ESPN.
San SooRaider, I see where your going with this. But there is a thrid kind of Raider fan. The two you propose are both delusional. Number one bothers me and gives Raider fans a reputation of ignorance. The dudes you see on TV going nut and holering and screeming Raiders when we are losing by 35pts. Expect more for your money. You are being raped by your "family". But #2 is equally delusional. No team dominates every year. Every franchise has it's ups and downs. The Raiders down has gone on long enough. Al is the Raiders and I want him to stay. But hiring a GM and let the coaches get their personel for their system is a must. It worked when we had Gruden.
I hope the Ponyboy is joking. Flores is the man, but he is like 80. If you think the race of our coach has anything to do with our success, then you are probably a racist. Good luck with that.
Anybody else think Al Davis looks creepy as hell in this picture?
Anybody else think Al Davis looks creepy as hell in this picture?
looks like i was late to this party! just started my own campaign against al at a new site: alnation.com
Fan, not a fan... I ask you. Would you be having this discussion if the team was OK? No. Those of you who have ever had to decide when grandpa needs his license revoked should see this debate as a truly "family" ordeal. Those that haven't should talk to their parents. Grandpa won the congressional medal but I don't want him driving the family Ferrari anymore. I certainly don't think he should be driving the team bus and God forbid he should fly anything. Doesn't mean I don't love him. I'll let him hug me at the door but letting him know I love him is where it ends. He should get good care and feeding among loving friends andn family.
I'm latino, and one of my most favored Raiders is Flores but please... he's tooo old and won't want to do it either.
Our only choice is Gruden but the old man would rather lose than allow Gruden to steal his thunder again...
Thats just the FACTS!!!!
SAd thing is Spanos won't make that same mistake and Gruden will be B-Slapping the Raiders twice a year while he coaches the Chargers.
The happiest man alive when Gruden left was Shannahan! because he knew Gruden had his number.
Until that happens this Fan won't believe Al want's to win no matter what anymore! The dudes transparent in hisobstinence to win but only if it's by him...
Sad... REAL SAD!!!!
The threat of boycott should bring him to his knees!!Gives us what we want and we wont boycott Al!!@!!!
Al needs to step aside then the Raiders will return to greatness.
How can any Real Fan of the Raiders be happy and content with the current state of affairs? I respect Al Davis and I fully understand what he has done for the organization, but it is time for him to step back and let some other people make the decisions if he wants a WINNER. I understand that he owns the team and has the majority controlling share of the Raiders, but he fails to realize its the fans who matter, who buy the merchandise, buy the tickets, and ultimately line his pockets with GREEN. Al's methods were proven successful some 20 odd years ago, but it does not work in todays NFL, and it has been painfully proven season after season. Iam one of those 565 signatures on that petition for the Message to Al and I don't regret doing it! Its my way of saying that I want things done the right way and not what Al deems to be the " Raider way" I want a Raider team that is at least competant and shows it is willing to fight. Raider Nation deserves a winner plain and simple.
It is sad to see the Raiders in this state, and Iam angered that Al Davis has let it come to this. I really do not understand Al's motives anymore other than he is paranoid and unwilling to adapt to how a franchise is supposed to be operated. Al wants all the glory, and is quick to push the blame on others when their hands are clearly tied behind their backs. Al supporters out there proclaim loudly we need to patient and that the wins will come. When? I believe the embarrasment of the past 7 seasons is enough patience on my part, especially when the same product is delivered on the field. Any Raider fan that believes that the organization is heading down the right path is fooling themselves! Real change is warranted and needed if this once proud franchise is going to survive. Change isn't hiring " yes men" or hindering a coaching staff season after season. Al Davis has every right to continue doing things the way he sees fit, but he is losing loyal fans along the way
Loyalty can only go so far. Al's children needs to petition the Court for conservatorship over Al's person and estate. It has become apparent that Al has lost his mental capacity to handle his affairs. A new coach ever 16-18 months; hiring staff but not allowing them to do their job. This is not micromanaging, this is paranoia.
i still have faith in the raiders.....but something definitely needs to be done.....a respectable football head with a good resume needs to be general manager.....al needs to pay a good gm instead of paying unproven college players big contracts.
29,037 petitions signed and validated
Thank you! I was starting to feel like I was the only Raider fan that felt ticked off at Al Davis and our current situation...Just say NO to Raider Yes-men!
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