Raiders Attempt To Keep CBS' Gannon Out Of Production Meetings

Raiders Back Off Of Demand To Ban Gannon From Facility

The Raiders Friday "backed off a demand" that CBS analyst and former Raiders QB Rich Gannon be "banned from the team's facility for production meetings" prior to yesterday's Broncos-Raiders game, according to Josh Dubow of the AP. The Raiders initially informed CBS that Gannon was not welcome at production meetings because of "constant criticism of the organization in recent years." Raiders Senior Exec John Herrera said Gannon, who called yesterday's game, "continually attacks the owner" and "continually attacks the organization in every way that he can." Herrera: "After listening to all of that for the last several years why would you want him in your building when all he does is attack the organization that made his career." Herrera later Friday said that he "stands by his criticisms of Gannon but that 'because of league rules, we have relented.'" Dubow noted Gannon "has been critical of the Raiders in recent seasons, especially after they fired Lane Kiffin four games into the 2008 campaign." Gannon last week also criticized Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell's "performance over the first two weeks, but had positive things to say about" Raiders coach Tom Cable (AP, 9/25). In S.F., David White noted NFL policy states that teams "must make the head coach and players available to the network television crew for production meetings." The Raiders also "asked CBS to remove Gannon from Sunday's broadcast crew but the network declined." That comes after the team last November asked CBS to remove Gannon from a game against the Chiefs (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/26). In San Jose, Steve Corkran reports Gannon ultimately did not attend the Saturday production meeting with the Raiders, as he "relayed word to the Raiders that he was unable to make it in time." Gannon worked yesterday's game for CBS but declined comment on the Raiders' attempted ban (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/28).

EYE FOR CRITICISM: In Oakland, Monte Poole wrote Gannon is the "latest victim of an organization becoming better known for displaying open contempt for unfavorable public opinion -- and sometimes even unflattering facts -- than for assembling quality rosters or winning games." Poole: "We suspect the way in which Gannon exercises freedom of speech is considered disloyal. The Raiders are mad and want you to know Rich is, like the sinister Marcus Allen, another ingrate committing yet another act of betrayal" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 9/27). In San Jose, Tim Kawakami noted yesterday's game was blacked out, and the Raiders "can't come close to selling out the Coliseum." But the team is "too busy trying to ban their former QB -- their last good QB -- to bother doing the work it takes to, you know, get fans to believe they're worth any investment" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 9/26). On Long Island, Bob Glauber wrote under the header, "Raiders' Sensitivity Turns Ridiculous" (NEWSDAY.com, 9/26).