Restless Raiders pick a fight with NFL Network - The Orange Mane

PatsWin2002 · 07-09-2007, 01:18 PM

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/a...ork090707.html

Restless Raiders pick a fight with NFL Network

Things can get a little boring during the summer months of the NFL offseason. Once the draft is over with and all the major free agents have been signed, things tend to slow down a bit as fans eagerly await for training camp to get underway.

This year, though, the NFL Network has tried to make things a little more tolerable by premiering new shows like NFL Classics andNFL's Top 10over the past few months. The latter program, in which a top-10 ranking is amassed based on a particular topic -- for example, the top 10 mobile quarterbacks or the top 10 draft trades -- has spawned plenty of discussion since it began airing in April.

But as it turns out, NFL fans aren't the only ones debating the show's selections. After a recent episode of NFL's Top 10 that ranked the best single-season performances in league history, the Oakland Raiders put out a press release to complain about their lack of representation on the list.

"The Oakland Raiders were once again disregarded by the NFL Network," the team's statement began. "Omitted from the show are a number of single-season performances by great Raider players that have been hailed everywhere as being the best in NFL history."

The release went onto specify several examples of Raider performances that the team felt were worthy of consideration. Among them were the 1970 season of quarterback/kicker George Blanda; Lester Hayes' 18 interceptions in the 1980 regular season (13) and postseason (5); and the MVP campaign of QB Rich Gannon in 2002.

But the Raiders didn't stop there. After getting their displeasure over the NFL's Top 10 episode off their chest, they switched gears and criticized the retrospective NFL Network series America's Game for not ranking the Silver and Black's two Super Bowl teams high enough on its list. Quoting former head coach Tom Flores, the statement claimed the rankings were a disgrace and that the Raiders' 1976 and '83 championship squads should be placed among the top three teams in history. Flores was directly quoted as saying, "The 1983 Raiders could beat any Super Bowl team from any decade, any league and under any circumstance."

The NFL has made no response to the Raiders' complaints. At least not officially. Although it may be nothing but a coincidence, this week's airing of NFL Classics -- in which some of the league's best games are re-aired in their original form -- will feature the 41-7 drubbing the Green Bay Packers gave Oakland in 2003.

Although the circumstances were certainly memorable, coming just one night after Brett Favre's father unexpectedly passed away, the game itself was not the kind of close, exciting contest that the show has typically featured. From the Raiders' perspective, it seems unlikely that they would find anything "classic" about a 34-point beating on their home field.

So what does all of this mean? Well, regardless of whether one agrees with the Raiders' position, the team's press release shows that franchises can get just as bored and restless in the offseason as the fans do. If the episode that raised Oakland's ire had aired in October, for example, it's hard to imagine the team getting worked up enough to complain amid the action of the regular season.

Here's hoping that the games get underway before other teams get antsy enough to object to NFL Network programming. And as for the Raiders themselves, they might want to stop taking shots at the league's network before the people there start to have a little fun with it. On a recent NFL's Top 10 list of the best feuds in the NFL, "the Raiders vs. the world" was given the top spot.

But "the Raiders vs. Rich Eisen" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

dbfan4life · 07-09-2007, 01:22 PM

That hilarious. Anyone who has ever watched a top whatever show know those lists are subjective. For an NFL organization to actually take the time to complain about something like that is pathetic. Really shows where their priorities lie.

Beantown Bronco · 07-09-2007, 01:23 PM

Al Davis will be filing the lawsuit against NFL Network any day now...

theAPAOps5 · 07-09-2007, 01:26 PM

Jesus I knew Al had to wear diapers now but I didn't think he had reverted that much into a baby.

DenverBrit · 07-09-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

Al Davis will be filing the lawsuit against NFL Network any day now...

Not if they do a 'Top 10 worst dressed NFL owners'

He'll take the top 4 spots.

brncs_fan · 07-09-2007, 01:32 PM

Steps to retaining season ticket holders upset with the teams play:

Step 1: Gripe about a network shows ranking of our history on their top ten list.
...
Step 256: Become a respectable football team again.

PatsWin2002 · 07-09-2007, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverBrit

Not if they do a 'Top 10 worst dressed NFL owners'

He'll take the top 4 spots.

Lawsuit? Maybe he meant "Leisure Suit".

BigPlayShay · 07-09-2007, 01:39 PM

Al needs to lay off the embalming fluid.

NaptownChief · 07-09-2007, 01:48 PM

The NFL Network should respond by having a Top 10 Worst Franchises in the NFL and rightly put the Raiders at the top of the list. They want exposure, they should give them exposure.

theAPAOps5 · 07-09-2007, 01:54 PM

Just make the Raiders the top 10, as in all of the spots being various down years of the Raiders.

cutthemdown · 07-09-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaptownChief

The NFL Network should respond by having a Top 10 Worst Franchises in the NFL and rightly put the Raiders at the top of the list. They want exposure, they should give them exposure.

Raiders have done so much more then the pathetic Chiefs you shouldn't really talk.

Hogan11 · 07-09-2007, 02:17 PM

It's kinda funny that the Riaders are complaining about such things when the NFL Network is only seen in about 1/4 of the homes in the USA at best.

Is the skin a little too thin in that organiztaion or what?

bronco militia · 07-09-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogan11

It's kinda funny that the Riaders are complaining about such things when the NFL Network is only seen in about 1/4 of the homes in the USA at best.

Is the skin a little too thin in that organiztaion or what?

some how, some way, it probably has something to do with Pat Bowlen

Darkdoc · 07-09-2007, 02:36 PM

They had the 10 Most Important Draft Trades ever on the NFL Network recently, but the Elway trade from Baltimore to Denver wasn't mentioned (the trades were considered if they were draft-associated, not just occuring on the day of the draft).

So go figure...as was already said, very subjective.

DukeWoody · 07-09-2007, 03:29 PM

And the commitment to being the NFL's bastard child continues on...

Killericon · 07-09-2007, 03:53 PM

The America's game rankings were done by a large panel of ex-players, coaches, and sports commentators, not just Rich Eisen sitting in a room laughing manically with Adam Schefter sitting behind him with a hunched back.

BroncoMatt · 07-09-2007, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigPlayShay

Al needs to lay off the embalming fluid.

DomCasual · 07-09-2007, 04:16 PM

It's embarrassing to be a Raider fan right now.

Paladin · 07-09-2007, 04:24 PM

When hasn't it been an embarrassment to be a Faiders' fan?

DomCasual · 07-09-2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paladin

When hasn't it been an embarrassment to be a Faiders' fan?

Oh, I don't know. There was a time when there could be some pride associated with it, in my opinion. They were winning more often than not. And they did march to the beat of a different drum, which their fans seem to thrive on. I've always hated them, but I could at least respect them. But starting with the Barret Robbins incident, it's been all down hill. It's to the point now where it's just humiliating.

When I was a kid, we had a beloved family dog. When the dog got old, and he couldn't see or hear very well, he became semi-vicious and unpredictable. If you pet him, he was just as likely to bite your hand as he was to lick it. He had a table he slept under, and you pretty much knew to stay away from it. And the thing was, it wasn't like we were afraid of him. We just felt sad for him, and realized he wasn't the same dog we had loved over the years.

That's Al Davis, with the exception of the once-beloved thing. He's just crazy and unpredictable. If they have any success while he's still alive, it will be in spite of him.

anthonypacino · 07-09-2007, 05:25 PM

Wow, but really is any AFC west team represented well on any of those shows? It's all a popularity contest anyway. NFL network is pure "fluff" and once they take total control of the NFL TV rights and highlights the league will SUCK.

It is a skewed point of view in Al's case but nobody can deny that he is the first and ultimate HOMER

bamanjam · 07-09-2007, 07:32 PM

The Raiders organization living in the past, just as there fans do. Put up bigger and better records, and give networks a reason to care about the baseless complaint...

07-09-2007, 01:18 PM	#1
PatsWin2002 Giggity Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: South of Boston Posts: 6,270	Restless Raiders pick a fight with NFL Network http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/a...ork090707.html Restless Raiders pick a fight with NFL Network Things can get a little boring during the summer months of the NFL offseason. Once the draft is over with and all the major free agents have been signed, things tend to slow down a bit as fans eagerly await for training camp to get underway. This year, though, the NFL Network has tried to make things a little more tolerable by premiering new shows like NFL Classics andNFL's Top 10over the past few months. The latter program, in which a top-10 ranking is amassed based on a particular topic -- for example, the top 10 mobile quarterbacks or the top 10 draft trades -- has spawned plenty of discussion since it began airing in April. But as it turns out, NFL fans aren't the only ones debating the show's selections. After a recent episode of NFL's Top 10 that ranked the best single-season performances in league history, the Oakland Raiders put out a press release to complain about their lack of representation on the list. "The Oakland Raiders were once again disregarded by the NFL Network," the team's statement began. "Omitted from the show are a number of single-season performances by great Raider players that have been hailed everywhere as being the best in NFL history." The release went onto specify several examples of Raider performances that the team felt were worthy of consideration. Among them were the 1970 season of quarterback/kicker George Blanda; Lester Hayes' 18 interceptions in the 1980 regular season (13) and postseason (5); and the MVP campaign of QB Rich Gannon in 2002. But the Raiders didn't stop there. After getting their displeasure over the NFL's Top 10 episode off their chest, they switched gears and criticized the retrospective NFL Network series America's Game for not ranking the Silver and Black's two Super Bowl teams high enough on its list. Quoting former head coach Tom Flores, the statement claimed the rankings were a disgrace and that the Raiders' 1976 and '83 championship squads should be placed among the top three teams in history. Flores was directly quoted as saying, "The 1983 Raiders could beat any Super Bowl team from any decade, any league and under any circumstance." The NFL has made no response to the Raiders' complaints. At least not officially. Although it may be nothing but a coincidence, this week's airing of NFL Classics -- in which some of the league's best games are re-aired in their original form -- will feature the 41-7 drubbing the Green Bay Packers gave Oakland in 2003. Although the circumstances were certainly memorable, coming just one night after Brett Favre's father unexpectedly passed away, the game itself was not the kind of close, exciting contest that the show has typically featured. From the Raiders' perspective, it seems unlikely that they would find anything "classic" about a 34-point beating on their home field. So what does all of this mean? Well, regardless of whether one agrees with the Raiders' position, the team's press release shows that franchises can get just as bored and restless in the offseason as the fans do. If the episode that raised Oakland's ire had aired in October, for example, it's hard to imagine the team getting worked up enough to complain amid the action of the regular season. Here's hoping that the games get underway before other teams get antsy enough to object to NFL Network programming. And as for the Raiders themselves, they might want to stop taking shots at the league's network before the people there start to have a little fun with it. On a recent NFL's Top 10 list of the best feuds in the NFL, "the Raiders vs. the world" was given the top spot. But "the Raiders vs. Rich Eisen" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

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07-09-2007, 01:22 PM	#2
dbfan4life Ring of Famer Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 2,499	That hilarious. Anyone who has ever watched a top whatever show know those lists are subjective. For an NFL organization to actually take the time to complain about something like that is pathetic. Really shows where their priorities lie.

07-09-2007, 01:23 PM	#3
Beantown Bronco Athletic Supporter Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mass Posts: 19,039 Adopt-a-Bronco: Matt Prater	Al Davis will be filing the lawsuit against NFL Network any day now...

07-09-2007, 01:26 PM	#4
theAPAOps5 A new beginning! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 26,057 Adopt-a-Bronco: Watermock - RIP	Jesus I knew Al had to wear diapers now but I didn't think he had reverted that much into a baby.

07-09-2007, 01:32 PM	#6
brncs_fan How about some Tapenade! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The Coaches Cradle...Eastern Illinois University Posts: 5,489 Adopt-a-Bronco: Manti Teo	Steps to retaining season ticket holders upset with the teams play: Step 1: Gripe about a network shows ranking of our history on their top ten list. ... Step 256: Become a respectable football team again.

07-09-2007, 01:39 PM	#8
BigPlayShay Ring of Famer Novaking Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,236 Adopt-a-Bronco: Got Cut	Al needs to lay off the embalming fluid.

07-09-2007, 01:48 PM	#9
NaptownChief Donkeys Nightmare Football Pimp Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 7,490	The NFL Network should respond by having a Top 10 Worst Franchises in the NFL and rightly put the Raiders at the top of the list. They want exposure, they should give them exposure.

07-09-2007, 01:54 PM	#10
theAPAOps5 A new beginning! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 26,057 Adopt-a-Bronco: Watermock - RIP	Just make the Raiders the top 10, as in all of the spots being various down years of the Raiders.

07-09-2007, 02:17 PM	#12
Hogan11 Rock-N-Roll Historian Let's take these SOB's out!!!!!! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: W.NY.B.C. Posts: 21,300 Adopt-a-Bronco: Floyd Little	It's kinda funny that the Riaders are complaining about such things when the NFL Network is only seen in about 1/4 of the homes in the USA at best. Is the skin a little too thin in that organiztaion or what?

07-09-2007, 02:36 PM	#14
Darkdoc Bronco fan since '66 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Morrison, IL Posts: 420	They had the 10 Most Important Draft Trades ever on the NFL Network recently, but the Elway trade from Baltimore to Denver wasn't mentioned (the trades were considered if they were draft-associated, not just occuring on the day of the draft). So go figure...as was already said, very subjective.

07-09-2007, 03:29 PM	#15
DukeWoody Happenin Homer Homie Back to the drawing board Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In The Loft / Dog House Posts: 1,151 Adopt-a-Bronco: NEXT BIG STAR	And the commitment to being the NFL's bastard child continues on...

07-09-2007, 03:53 PM	#16
Killericon YES A DT!!!!!! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: From Calgary, in Halifax for School Posts: 7,730 Adopt-a-Bronco: watermock	The America's game rankings were done by a large panel of ex-players, coaches, and sports commentators, not just Rich Eisen sitting in a room laughing manically with Adam Schefter sitting behind him with a hunched back.

07-09-2007, 04:16 PM	#18
DomCasual The Dude abides. Shameless Homer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cocytus Posts: 13,167 Adopt-a-Bronco: Gus Frerotte	It's embarrassing to be a Raider fan right now.

07-09-2007, 04:24 PM	#19
Paladin Ring of Famer Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 9,149	When hasn't it been an embarrassment to be a Faiders' fan?

07-09-2007, 05:25 PM	#21
anthonypacino off season mode Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 2,283	Wow, but really is any AFC west team represented well on any of those shows? It's all a popularity contest anyway. NFL network is pure "fluff" and once they take total control of the NFL TV rights and highlights the league will SUCK. It is a skewed point of view in Al's case but nobody can deny that he is the first and ultimate HOMER

07-09-2007, 07:32 PM	#22
bamanjam Solid Starter Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Nashville, Tn Posts: 200 Adopt-a-Bronco: Eric Decker	The Raiders organization living in the past, just as there fans do. Put up bigger and better records, and give networks a reason to care about the baseless complaint...