What's It Going to Take?

What’s it going to take? What’s it going to take to get rid of the losing stigma that has been prevalent in the Raiders fortunes for over 15 years? It’s a burning question that haunts the once-dominate, “Just Win Baby” franchise of the Oakland Raiders. Except for that 3 year period from 2000-2002, which culminated in a Super Bowl appearance, the Raiders have not had that long, dominate run of winning seasons that ruled the AFL/AFC in the 60s, 70s & 80s.

As a fan, it frustrates you.  I’m sure every player and coach in the McAfee Stadium locker room is frustrated. And, I’m definitely sure Al Davis is frustrated.

But, again I ask…what’s it going to take???

Rich Gannon, CBS announcer and former Oakland Raider QB, touched on it toward the end of the game he was broadcasting vs. New Orleans. I’m paraphrasing here, but, essentially, he said, someone in the Raiders organization is going to have step and do something to right the ship. He didn’t mention who, or whether it be a player, a coach or, even Mr. Davis.

Now I’d like to add my 2 cents to Gannon’s observation. Yes, someone has to stand up. Someone, through something he says in the Raider locker room or something he does on the field, must make “losing” unacceptable to anyone who puts on a Raider uniform, a coach’s shirt or works anywhere within the organization. Once someone does this and backs it up with consistent performance, a fine or just a simple, but glaring “THAT’S UNACCEPTABLE” stare…then great things will happen.

If losing becomes unacceptable, then the Raiders would score touchdowns on their first possessions of the games, they would score touchdowns instead of field goals when they’re in the Red Zone, they would not give up 4^th quarter leads, linemen would not jump off sides, they would not get called for other stupid penalties, ball handlers would not fumble, receivers would run routes correctly and catch the catchable throws, coaches would call the right plays, the right defenses, have the right players in the right positions, manage the clock properly, management would draft and sign the best-fitting players for the team and keep the ones who perform consistently…the Raiders would do all the things winning teams do and none of the crap losing teams do.

Once, losing becomes unacceptable to everyone in the Raiders organization… unacceptable…period…then, to take it to the next step, someone, again, a player, coach or someone else within the organization must lay down a “Lombardi-like” law…“Winning is the only acceptable thing!”

What’s it going to take? For the Raiders to right the ship, it’s going to take a lot.

But, it’s not impossible. Just win baby…because winning is the only acceptable thing!