10-1-08 D&H Discuss Al Davis and Chris Landry

I understand. It is the first day of the playoff season you woke up like I woke up this morning thinking about the playoff game tonight. Thinking about Jon Leicester and John Lackey and can Michael all play in his J. D. Drew all right you thought all the same things I thought first thing this morning and we're going to spend. 99 point. 5% of our time today talking about that with with great baseball gas. But just for a couple of minutes at the top we gotta talk about the greatest reality TV program I've ever watched.

Well you speak for yourself okay you that you woke up the about the playoffs I woke up thinking about Davis. What to bet that I'll eyes it's hilarious it -- I have has seen it yet if you went out battling most entertaining press conferences you'll ever see maybe top five all time. Bill Parcells in his heyday at his best couldn't stop what Al Davis brought to the table yesterday and it looked like the crypt keeper. But he would bring it last night and yesterday and -- tell -- what. He wasn't even. On his game. During the press conference that we're talking about so -- Apparently the behind the music after David yeah where -- accused Patriots to tampering. -- and the Denver Broncos and the Broncos said both their Super Bowls and an asterisk beside them. It is continued calling -- from a liar.

It was an and an amazing -- an amateur now I have to admit I had I had certain expectations. For Al Davis based on the fact you never see him in never really hear from him. The the decisions that he made that he has made our -- curious at best at times. So I had a certain expectation that there was some slippage of some mental acuity and can you see the letter of that title yet have that ultimate. Yeah I I I have certain expectations so in that regard. He performed. Above and beyond my expectations. Wasn't -- on on himself didn't sound like an idiot you know he sounded shark.

And not a I don't I don't know why anyone we think he's at that stage -- reasons he's. An interesting personality but. I'm no one has ever accused them of being in articulate or not being able to express himself.

I can't say that I said. Look let's be honest most of that but the general impression of Al Davis around the football world right now is. Some doctoring old fool stuck in some penthouse apartment somewhere you know no -- and -- on on himself.

Plus it I think that's -- not know what it is he's crazy he's crazy and he wants control of the team. He doesn't think anybody can coach at the way he would but -- he's a smart guy. And this is it it seems so obvious. That he's got to lose this case -- Lane Kiffin. But in the past it looked like Al Davis is going to loosen up and he has.

He's lost these cases against coaches in the past he's just it's -- up and anyway. I did paid -- view. When he lost that case is still -- Shanahan he still hasn't paid Shanahan when he lost that case I'm not tournament seed Davis sees himself as one of these.

What are these old mobsters. You know I got a vision for something in if -- in my way I gotta take Cuba. Back in the day he he became invincible. In his own mind he became invincible when he wanted to move the Raiders from Oakland to Los Angeles. -- Roosevelt didn't want him to -- the Raiders from Oakland to Los Angeles and he did it anyway. And they was the first guy he was the first guy who started this franchise shopping so he he felt like he beat the NFL. You can't tell him anything.

I I think because his performance net and that's exactly how -- consider to be using performance. Because his performance was pretty good performance was good. I think he's going to get way too much credit for truth. Because I think most of what he says it was a crock of crap. He knows that not everybody else knows most of what he says is just you don't want to hand bottom line is generally of mailing. And so his trial here soon or lie and get your ass off. I'm here here's a story on the -- in the -- highlighted the Atlantic by the way I don't picture. Al Davis be in a PowerPoint presentation and a guy I do picture ambien and overhead projector --

It was so funny I mean. I can't. I can't emphasize enough if you haven't seen it police over the past months. You have made a number of public statements if if that -- highly critical love and designed to embarrass. And discredit the organization. This is the latter players and coaches that he has written a little bit alone during training camp. The implication when you were doing these things in the hopes that we do you see Huard immature and destructive campaign.

I mean it was that tree and have page letter read at all a wreck he read the entire latter and Eric -- others -- a lot of members of the media. He he put it on a projector just so they can all read along with.

Along the performance of commitment here and I give you an example cause Chris Morton's and was referred to a lot -- I mean Al Davis wants Morton's and yeah it's like -- I mean just wants -- So he's talking about Morton's and because -- he said he'd buyers Lane Kiffin on the phone and five and five minutes later Morton's and as the story. But anyway. He told a story about you know how how he was Lane Kiffin as flat outline that I didn't talked. I talked to him after the Buffalo game I asked him why he still had two timeouts. While -- in defending. Is on ESP and the sporting he's talking about the story as he was told by in in his words. Several sources within the Raiders organization okay. There they're going to the airplane to -- out of Buffalo after the game approaching Al along in his wheelchair. He's raging about that bleep -- had two timeouts like. He doesn't realize kip and his walking behind him. It's a different goes up and -- that it says is there something -- need to talk to me about. And Al Davis does not I I I didn't value their not that's fun. He calls that the conversation he had blanket after the long doc lane lane talked back to the conversation right I guess in a sporting we hear all about sort -- that's a conversation. He is lie about. Everything. He lies. For summaries. I don't know his financial status on the right -- probably got some money you know he's probably you know got some -- away during for rainy -- periods like we're going through right now. He just keeps him the idea. He's going to pay a coach who inspired. And this isn't just the one time this isn't just Lane Kiffin. He's gonna lose he's trying it's all art I would like to AB's to four million dollars or British out of.

Over -- said how about that -- I would love the -- room for to a three month. It -- I think he's I think he's a fascinating guy even though he is crazy. It's it's at -- at least it's an entertaining crazy. I watched every minute of that pressed for 48 minute. -- future contract.

Well -- also think -- that little get over you just fair I realized that you did not want to draft Jamarcus Russell.

He has a great play. Get over the back --

It was like -- and lap -- At my office and -- allotment a.

And -- myself. Believe a lot of guys.

Article is that part and they -- great thing about them and this is something this this world. This makes him great if he's your neighbor but it makes them really an effective when it comes to running a professional football team. He truly loves ex Raiders. That means something I am here ax raider. -- Zach Crockett. -- Is like score a lot of touchdowns sports. It Lane Kiffin nicer that it is Crockett because he's -- means something. Okay that's great and that. At. It any easily loyal guy Eric and citizens are loyal guy. But if you're coming in to a franchise that has won a game or two or three. And you've been bad for awhile you follow up that the players. Even though you like them personally and that's something. Apparently Lane Kiffin. Ripe old age of 3132 to job got an Al Davis. Who was well it was an. If you if you on the silver and black -- over black around the world that means. Not do that. He thinks you're wearing uniform. Pretty good Javon Walker's.

Barely walk. I that the the letter of the three and a half page letter was was by the way it was like in delivered -- it was -- acts. Over a Lane Kiffin before the Kansas City. He was Ellis. Anybody with half a brain knows exactly what Al Davis was doing -- marte was building his case for the when he hired him he wasn't going to have to pay him. Which he is going to have to -- eventually. It was a setup -- and you know Lane Kiffin knows -- I know what you know Davis knows. So so we don't know what's going on here now -- think. Lane Kiffin was trying to get himself fired absolutely. I think he'd had enough feed to Allen had an -- he was an untenable situation. He wasn't going to walk away from millions of dollars. I wouldn't walk away from you wouldn't walk away from because 76 yard field goal it was a played a fighter I was.

Calling and he called out lane many times you'd like Jamarcus Russell you want to Brady Quinn. You came to me and you said we can't win and I certainly. Do the honorable thing. Read cost effective thing for me get over it it it really Royals don't I don't have to and resign but it it was. It was very entertaining one side of the NFL landscape optimist in -- cut out about this. Last night you probably did to our our interview with Chris Landry yesterday. Where Chris Landry. Came out and said flat out Scott pioli is not a good evaluate -- It's it's amazing. Four for anybody to say that about. Of about -- a product our front office person with a New England Patriots.

out all interject quickly here. I think he started to say it's it's Bill Belichick who was the evaluate or makes all the decisions I think it may be came out even more strident than he meant it all.

It it didn't it didn't Ramirez got engineered if it is almost angry. It was. He can't about a -- talent but it's. In everything he says and what -- against everything I saw. Now and I love having Chris Landry loves.

Scat or where that went Scots not the reason for the personnel success knowing. See that in the years not it's right that in other words -- the reason for the personnel success Scott snob but that that's an accurate. That's inaccurate. Not even argue with yeah I'm I'm just saying I don't think what he was saying it. Scott pioli candy value is actually not James yeah that there haven't you -- to -- eventually. Or what's that it's it's not. Reasons for personal success. It is it is it is Campbell the paperwork and he's not -- personnel. Great and I'll about -- you don't think that's a strong statement. Again I agree with you that I don't think he was giving pioli and a credit not. I'm not credit. I think he was trying time and didn't out that way. He was trying to make sure that ballot checked out more of the credit then he thinks he's getting right.

Let it through there there are few things going on here and and as dale said in the beginning I promise we will talk baseball and there's plenty of baseball talk about. But this is something I've talked about last week. Something that bothered me Mike Reese wrote a story. Is calling Mike Lombardi who Al Davis also ripped my Al just loaded -- art is calling Mike Lombardi. He's quoting I can't I don't know. Scouts former general managers former players in the league.

It is it is curious to me. You criticize someone. Who has achieved a level of success. That you haven't in the same industry. For example that would be like me. Saying. You know. Michael Lewis. And Michael. He can he -- In -- And guys had a number one national best seller and and I've never done that like his dad -- but but but that's all the editor. That's not Michael Lewis that the veteran. The ball you haven't had that success humid air so to being on this. And as I said I'm like I'm Chris -- on the show. But he's on the show because he's not an and it NFL front office and he he has not it was in front office he wouldn't really be on the show where. He won championship number 13. Executive of the year I didn't hurt a strategist. Handled the paperwork and stop he had. The more it is it does not make good old fashioned cents. I think. Is somebody. Can be the best coach in the league and the best personnel value later in the league you can't do it it's him pop so we said yesterday it it if you paid I object right I mean. What -- just a little busy from like July to January and what I saw. BP. As I've worked Patriot -- for a year and half. What I saw. Was Scott pioli training scouts with my -- line. I saw him jumping down some scouts throats. When they came up with a group with reports that he didn't like. I saw the dreaded red then that your English teacher had in the ninth grade. And he would just hear the reports what does this mean this doesn't make any sense to this guy -- back and look at that tape again. Trading this guy -- it was up there for months at a time now -- Absolutely has the final say and he would come up and look at the board and he'd like the way the board looked. Belichick would say to our -- challenging Thomas Demitra whose anonymous. It was player -- I see that shortly stump and I don't see them you can prove me wrong I listened to you but right now. --

And Belichick is the only person who could literally walk over to the board. And take this name off and -- not not going to put him there on the to put him there he he has that authority can do.

Did it would Deion Branch. I Deion Branch was on the backboard. That would mean you know not not not high priority he moved Deion Branch from the backboard to the front sport. And he said look this guy's production like its production now.

He all that stuff that that's the good stuff. What I witnessed with my own life he had to be. Talked in the game and open.

I think it was funny. I don't know who we want you want to somebody else. And -- the fifth round. And they have to say they they say they're picked to their guy in New York in so they say they're pick you know five minutes before it's announced on TV minutes -- So they got the Squawk Box there they got their guy Jimmy -- New York is their pick in the fifth round in Belichick says. -- and open so.

Now like Al Davis thought about Lane Kiffin. Has a pretty good player it's it's a back and forth right. But that but the suggest I'm almost. I am I am offended for pioli just because of that as I told him many times I hate when people don't get credit for stuff. That they that they deserve -- got hasn't made any of the personnel decisions -- as tough as developed at the top.