The Jokeland Raiders

The hits keep on coming for the Pirates of Penury. Read this about their rift with former QB Rich Gannon, and draw your own conclusions.

Regardless of whether they loved or hated Rich Gannon, now that he's a broadcaster they have to let him do his job. Even if he's leveled withering criticism at the Oakland organization.

First, he's far from the only one.

Second, the Oakland organization should listen to what people have said and allow for the doubting. Either they're geniuses and the rest of us just don't get it, or, alternatively, they've blundered mightily and for a while. I mean, how many GMs who seek to preserve their jobs would have chosen JaMarcus Russell, he of the million dollar arm and ten-cent head over savvy veteran Jeff Garcia? How many head coaches get into dust-ups that almost result in criminal charges with their assistant coaches? Is there something in the water?

Third, does it really pay to trash your alumni once they're gone? Many players will view such a public trashing this way -- that what's to prevent management from saying the same things about them once they're gone?

The Raiders created a tempest in a teapot, perhaps under the theory that even bad publicity is good publicity because without bad publicity most folks wouldn't pay much attention to the silver and black. This once proud franchise is now a shadow of its former self -- and it's been so for much too long.