Raiders Pay Al Davis Tribute In First Home Game Since Late Owner's Passing

The Raiders yesterday played their first home game since the passing of Al Davis and the late Raiders Owner’s “presence remained all over” the O.co Coliseum during their game against the Browns, according to Rusty Simmons of the S.F. CHRONICLE. From parking lot signs and “video tributes to T-shirts and an emotional halftime ceremony, a sellout crowd of 57,300 was joined by some three dozen former Raiders to celebrate Davis' life.” The “most stirring moment was the halftime torch lighting in the breezeway above the Black Hole” by HOFer John Madden. The team distributed a “simple black, glossy game program with two dominating, silver letters -- ‘AL’ on the cover.” Raiders staffers were “wearing a similarly designed T-shirt with ‘AL’ outlined by the team's shield on the fronts and backs” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/17). In Oakland, Monte Poole notes the Raiders in their video tribute “paid their respects to their leader with a simplicity he would have appreciated.” There were “no Lou Gehrig moments and no one addressing the crowd from the field.” The team held “a modest halftime ceremony during which about 30 former Raiders were introduced while ringing the team logo at midfield.” Raiders Chief Exec Amy Trask said, "It has been a wide range of emotions, from the time we came home Sunday night to such an outpouring of love from our fans and all through the rest of the week" (OAKLAND TRIUBNE, 10/17).

WHO'S GOT NEXT? ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Raiders “have reached out to trusted men like John Madden, Ron Wolf and Ken Herock, all who once played a major role in the organization, to lean on them for advice as to what the organization should do going forward" after Davis' death. All three "have pitched the name” of Packers Dir of Football Operations Reggie McKenzie “as a potential general manager for the Raiders." Schefter: "But the Raiders cannot hire a GM from another team in-season, and they’ll have to wait until after the season to do that. So in the interim, they will continue to lean on Madden, Wolf and Herock.” ESPN’s Chris Berman added, “Pretty good lean right there. Those are three people that know their football and then some” (“Sunday NFL Countdown,” ESPN, 10/16).

COVER TWO: SI’s Peter King discussed the issue of why NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson appeared the cover of the 10/17 issue of SI and not Davis. King: “I’m not far enough on the food chain to have any idea what the answer to that question is. I know that their decisions on the cover are often based what they think is the biggest story coming up in that particular week.” King said the reaction in the NFL to Davis’ death “was overwhelmingly positive because clearly there are some owners in the league who didn’t like Al and that Al didn’t like either.” King: “In general, most people remembered the good things” (“Chronicle Live,” Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 10/14).