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Commitment to Embarrassment

Matthew Hill, Special to the News

Published October 17, 2006 at midnight

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Commitment to Excellence – the phrase that came to represent the philosophy of the Raider organization and its owner Al Davis – has become nothing more than false advertising. After several seasons of brutal play and a teamwide absence of both pride and poise, it’s time for Al and his boys to stop living a lie . . . it’s time to update the slogan.



If Al can no longer boast of his team having a Commitment to Excellence without having to worry about his nose growing or fear the spontaneous combustion of his sweatpants, what then should be the new team mantra? Perhaps the best way to answer the question is to examine the current Raider commitments.

Commitment to Being the Kid Brother of the AFC West – The Raiders’ record against the AFC West from 2003-2005 was 2-16. A team cannot be committed to excellence when it is the laughingstock of its own division.

Commitment to Letting Your Quarterback Get Hammered More Than Mel Gibson on Payday – While NFL offenses have moved in the direction of passing attacks that emphasize short timing patterns, the Raiders remain handcuffed by Al’s love of the "vertical game." Forcing his quarterbacks to throw deep throughout the game makes the man behind the center a marked man. Twenty sacks through the first four games is a direct result of a line unrealistically expected to keep the defense off the quarterback for the time needed to repeatedly "go vertical."

Commitment to Hiring Head Coaches That Are Nothing More Than Al’s Figurehead – Current head coach Art Shell is the perfect example. Shell’s last head coaching job came in 1994, and he has been out of coaching altogether for the past five years. Al only pulled him out of retirement because he knew that he could force him to "go vertical."

Commitment to Being the Team of Choice for Gangbangers, Jobless Alcoholics and People Whose Turn-ons Include Torturing Puppies and Kittens – I know that Al and his organization can’t be blamed for the behavior of Raider fans, but come on! Robert L. Ripley couldn’t assemble a greater collection of freaks than what’s on display in Oakland every game day.

Commitment to Getting Little Production From the Draft – When the punter is the only player selection from the 1999-2005 drafts to make a Pro Bowl, the team is not exactly excelling.

Commitment to Having Al’s Legacy Tarnished – Looking at the state of the Raiders, it’s hard to believe that Al Davis was once so respected that he was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame. Al was elected, in no small part, for his past success as a coach. The coaching victories of the past continue to bind the present and future hope of consistent success. Because he did win as a coach, Al will continue to ignore the changes to the game and continue to insist on employing the same philosophy that brought him wins decades ago. Until Al changes his mindset, the Raiders will have to be committed to living in the past.