In 1978 the New York Giants fans were so disenfranchised with the losing ways of the team that they would burn game tickets in the parking lot and even went so far as to hire a plane towing a message reading, "15 Years of Lousy Football. We've Had Enough." The commissioner, Pete Rozelle, went to the owners, Jack and the late Wellington Mara, and told them to hire a general manager to run the team so the Giants could be good again for the benefit of the league and fans. The owners listened to him and hired George Young. They then went on to win two Super Bowls over the next 13 years.

Roger Goodell needs to stop fining and suspending players and do something about the actual integrity of the game. The Raiders under Davis are worse for the sport of football than all players with off-the-field problems combined. Al Davis is the worst owner in professional sports and the biggest problem in the NFL. The commissioner needs to visit Mr. Davis and remind him why he has enough money to run the team- the fans. He owes everyone who watches the game of football to put the most competitive team on the field. This is what we pay to watch, not a team that is annually uncompetitive.

The Raiders have some of the best, most loyal fans in all of football, but there comes a time when even loyal fans can't bear to follow a team that doesn't care about it's fans. Mr. Davis, if you really want what's best for this team listen to the fans. Sell the team. It may be all you have but if this keeps up it won't matter. The Raiders are sinking more and more into irrelevance every week that you continue to fail to realize that the game has passed you up. Like any good player there comes a time when you can no longer do it, when you have slowed down and can't do the things you once did. The Raiders were a proud franchise once, and you were responsible for that. But this is no longer a pround franchise, and you are also responsible for that. Do the right thing.

11/04/08