Oakland Raiders All-50 team: Quarterbacks

June 30, 12:05 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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As the Oakland Raiders celebrate their 50th anniversary, its a time to look back at the history of greatness that is the Raider Mystique. In celebration of this auspicious occasion, I am putting together the ultimate All-50 Oakland Raider 53 man roster. Today's edition will focus on the quarterbacks who are being considered, and as time progresses, will work my way through all the position groups.

The key for inclusion on this All-50 team is that the bulk of the player's success be with the Raiders. The Raiders have had several players over the years, who had Hall of Fame caliber careers before coming to the Silver and Black, only to have one or two mediocre years before retirement. The key to inclusion is what these players meant to the Raiders.

The Quarterbacks:

The men who have manned the quarterback position for the Oakland Raiders have run the gamut from awesome to awful. Here are the contenders to be named to the final 53 man roster:

Tom Flores: Tom Flores is better known for his work coaching the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories, but he was the first quarterback in Oakland Raiders history. The Raiders did not win often with him under center, but he was a fierce competitor who gave it his all.

Daryle Lamonica: The Mad Bomber came to Oakland from the Buffalo Bills in a trade for Tom Flores. Lamonica had the strong arm that head coach Al Davis coveted. Lamonica would go on to become an AFL Legend and lead the Raiders to Super Bowl II where they fell to the Green Bay Packers.

Ken Stabler: The Snake was as cool as the blood running through his namesake when the game was on the line. He amassed a Hall of Fame worthy career as he led the Raiders to be one of the most dominant teams of the seventies. He led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl win as they defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XV.

Jim Plunkett: Plunkett had a remarkable story. He was drafted first overall by the San Francisco 49ers, but could not find his groove as a Niner or with his next stop in New England. He spent the 79 season on the bench behind Stabler. Between the 70 and 80 seasons, Stabler was traded to the Houston Oilers for Dan Pastorini. Pastorini was injured early in the season, and Plunkett took over and led the Raiders to the Super Bowl win. He wouldlead them to another Super Bowl in following the 83 season.

Rich Gannon: Gannon was the shot in the arm that the Oakland Raiders sorely needed as the 20th century drew to a close. After the Raiders had languished in mediocrity for many years, Gannon was able to lead the team to an AFC Championship following the 2002 season, during which Gannon won the MVP award.

Three of these men will be selected to the team, with the other two still deserving recognition for the part that they played in creating the greatness of the Raiders.