AFS traitor rough draft
American Football Spectacular: At Least These Enemies Stay Close, or "Guess Who, OAK Edition"
O, those Oakland Raiders. A team so historically shot through with internal strife that we just expect it at this point. It's ordinary.
But as of Wednesday, the Raiders' 2006 regular season strife is on some next-level Shakespearean tragedy stuff:
At a press conference yesterday, Head Coach Art Shell claimed that there is someone inside the Raider organization who has been speaking maliciously about the franchise to the news media.
As the Tribune reported from the scene, Art "accused the dissenter of making derogatory statements to 'cronies in the news media,' about him and his staff, particularly [recently demoted former offensive coordinator Tom] Walsh."
Shell "quiver[ed] at times with anger" as he made his case.
"I'm a fighter and I refuse to allow anybody to try to take away from what I'm trying to do here," Shell said. "I expect everybody in this organization to be on the same page with me. Right now, everybody's not."
The media quotes that Shell referred to are still unknown.
Who is the person that Shell believes made these backstabbing comments?
Art refused to name the accused.
Then he named off a bunch of people that he said it couldn't be: chief executive Amy Trask, executive officer John Herrera, special projects guy Jim "00" Otto, his coaching staff, and the players.
Of course, even before that list was said, a game of Guess Who began for the Bay Area media to figure out whom Shell suspects.
Both the Tribune and the Chronicle had "multiple sources" inside the Raiders pointing the finger at senior personnel executive Michael Lombardi.
Lombardi has been with the Raiders for eight years. He does the personnel-handling duties that an NFL General Manager is usually tasked with. Of course, the Raiders don't have anyone who carries the title of General Manager. We know who calls those shots.
Lombardi refused to answer questions today from the media.
Was it him? What's going on?
Well now Art, since you're talking about this to the media, you have already dealt with the person you suspect of this, right?
Back at Wednesday’s press conference, this was his response:
"Asked if he had confronted the person involved, Shell said 'Not yet ... if it continues, I will.'"
What? Unbelievable. Ridiculous. So much for being a fighter, hmm? Art, you're the most passive-aggressive, least hands-on Head Coach we've ever seen. What do you actually do?!
You don't do anything on the sideline. You don't deal with your players. You don't deal with someone whom you've just labeled a "fox in the henhouse?" What do you do, Art?
Imagine Coach Shell's office in the Raider HQ. It's tidy and wide. The desk is clean. The walls are adorned with framed pictures of past Silver And Black glories.
Art enters the room, closing the door behind him. He sits down at his desk. He stares straight ahead impassively. He does not answer the phone. He does not touch a computer. He does not consult with visitors. He sits and stares straight ahead.
He is coaching.
Next up on your American Football Spectacular:For the rest of this season, the Oakland Coliseum will be referred to by this column as the Oakland Henhouse/Coliseum. Coming up on Friday will be your AFS Week 13 previews. And also, more about the "San Francisco" 49ers; no longer just foolish inept jerks, the Niner ownership are now apparently foolish inept lying jerks. Stay tuned.
O, those Oakland Raiders. A team so historically shot through with internal strife that we just expect it at this point. It's ordinary.
But as of Wednesday, the Raiders' 2006 regular season strife is on some next-level Shakespearean tragedy stuff:
At a press conference yesterday, Head Coach Art Shell claimed that there is someone inside the Raider organization who has been speaking maliciously about the franchise to the news media.
As the Tribune reported from the scene, Art "accused the dissenter of making derogatory statements to 'cronies in the news media,' about him and his staff, particularly [recently demoted former offensive coordinator Tom] Walsh."
Shell "quiver[ed] at times with anger" as he made his case.
"I'm a fighter and I refuse to allow anybody to try to take away from what I'm trying to do here," Shell said. "I expect everybody in this organization to be on the same page with me. Right now, everybody's not."
The media quotes that Shell referred to are still unknown.
Who is the person that Shell believes made these backstabbing comments?
Art refused to name the accused.
Then he named off a bunch of people that he said it couldn't be: chief executive Amy Trask, executive officer John Herrera, special projects guy Jim "00" Otto, his coaching staff, and the players.
Of course, even before that list was said, a game of Guess Who began for the Bay Area media to figure out whom Shell suspects.
Both the Tribune and the Chronicle had "multiple sources" inside the Raiders pointing the finger at senior personnel executive Michael Lombardi.
Lombardi has been with the Raiders for eight years. He does the personnel-handling duties that an NFL General Manager is usually tasked with. Of course, the Raiders don't have anyone who carries the title of General Manager. We know who calls those shots.
Lombardi refused to answer questions today from the media.
Was it him? What's going on?
Well now Art, since you're talking about this to the media, you have already dealt with the person you suspect of this, right?
Back at Wednesday’s press conference, this was his response:
"Asked if he had confronted the person involved, Shell said 'Not yet ... if it continues, I will.'"
What? Unbelievable. Ridiculous. So much for being a fighter, hmm? Art, you're the most passive-aggressive, least hands-on Head Coach we've ever seen. What do you actually do?!
You don't do anything on the sideline. You don't deal with your players. You don't deal with someone whom you've just labeled a "fox in the henhouse?" What do you do, Art?
Imagine Coach Shell's office in the Raider HQ. It's tidy and wide. The desk is clean. The walls are adorned with framed pictures of past Silver And Black glories.
Art enters the room, closing the door behind him. He sits down at his desk. He stares straight ahead impassively. He does not answer the phone. He does not touch a computer. He does not consult with visitors. He sits and stares straight ahead.
He is coaching.
Next up on your American Football Spectacular:For the rest of this season, the Oakland Coliseum will be referred to by this column as the Oakland Henhouse/Coliseum. Coming up on Friday will be your AFS Week 13 previews. And also, more about the "San Francisco" 49ers; no longer just foolish inept jerks, the Niner ownership are now apparently foolish inept lying jerks. Stay tuned.