Oakland Raiders: Infected by losing

December 16, 3:00 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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Does the NFL grade on effort?
Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports.com

The Oakland Raiders woes go far deeper than just the poor play on the field. Six years of eleven plus loss seasons are not the problem. The record the Raiders set in relation to losing seasons is a symptom of an infection of losing. This infection is deep and widespread, and it is well beyond something that simple antibiotics can fix. In order to cure the infection, the Raiders need an aggressive and comprehensive treatment.

Looking at the numbers since the Super Bowl meltdown are bad enough. However, they don't tell the full story. The organizational dysfunction runs deep. Bill Calahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell, Lane Kiffin, and Tom Cable have all seen first hand how the infection that is losing is in the bloodstream of the Raiders, and ultimately has damaged all that it has come in contact with.

A perfect example of how bad the team is infected with losing is post game comments by the Raider players and coaches after they were systematically dismantled by the New England Patriots:

"I give myself an A for effort"

JaMarcus Russell

An A for effort? The great Vince Lombardi, who never tolerated losing said it best, "Winning is not everything, its the only thing." In fact, after looking at Russell's stat line of 17/31-242-2-1 and two fumbles, it would beg the question: If that was his "A" game, imagine his "B" game. Even if his numbers were better, he better have given all his effort thats why he has a $60 million contract. By the nature of his position, he is a leader of the team so he should be giving his A effort every single game.

It would be hard to imagine Kenny "The Snake" Stabler in the locker room after any loss saying that he deserved an A for effort. Stabler would be talking about all his missed opportunities to win the game. Of course, Stabler was a Raider before the losing attitude infected the team. In fact, Sean Connery's character in The Rock said it best, "Losers always whine about doign their best. Winners go home and (have sex with) the prom queen."

This quote, as innocuous as it seems gives some credence to the talk of Russell being a bust. He has a mediocre, at best, game and feels compelled to tell the world that he gives himself an A for effort. That is not a winning mentality. If Russell is going to be anything other than a bust, he needs to get treated for the infection.

There's a lot of good out there. Now, we just got our tails kicked. I'm not trying to get around that. But the fact of the matter is the quarterback had another week of progress. Offensively, we moved a step closer in terms of a unit.

--Tom Cable

"A lot of good out there." Neither John Madden, nor Tom Flores would find any good in a 49-26 loss. He got it right with the tails kicked part of that quote, but that is the beginning and end of it. The sad part is not that he followed up with a "We're better than we played" or "we could not get it done, and have to work harder" either of which would show that there is some urgency, or at least some wining attitude. Instead, "We moved a step closer in terms of a unit." WHAT? There are two games left in the season, and a positive is moving a step closer?

He is infected, horribly. In fact, he needs to be replaced. When the head coach is infected enough with the losing attitude to offer up that pablum after a humiliating loss, he needs to go. He is part of the infection, so he can not be part of the cure. There are no two ways about it.

The first thing that comes to mind is it's not fun at all, but you just have to keep battling. We did a good job. No one put their head down and was ready to fold the tent.

--Thomas Howard

Howard is definitely infected, but then that has been obvious since he thought it was cool to celebrate a tackle when the team was getting slaughtered earlier in the season. There is a baby step forward, in that he was still having fun when the Raiders were blasted by the Ravens. However, saying that a defense that gave up touchdowns on the first four possessions did a good job is a bad joke. The Raiders defense was horrendous. The Patriots moved up and down the field at will, and had Bill Belichick not called off the dogs, the Pats could have scored 70. Howard is a great talent, but he needs to have that loser infection removed.

Now that the near complete prevalence of the Oakland Raiders is clear, its time for radical and comprehensive action. The team needs overhauled from the top down. Al Davis needs help in the front office, and he needs to let go of the guys he hangs on to out of loyalty. Come on, Sam Williams hasn't shown anything in five years, let him go. The Raiders also need to bring in a whole new coaching staff, and allow them to change the culture, and eliminate ANY players who seem to be infected. Until that happens, the infection will continue to ravage this once proud franchise.