In a move that had everyone scratching their heads, and Mike Shannahan laughing his ass off, Al Davis introduced Art Shell as the new Raiders head coach. This is after Ken Whisenhunt decided that he’d rather be a coordinator Pittsburgh than work for Al Davis and Louisville Coach Bobby Petrino decided college was a better place.
Poor Grandma Davis, he can’t even hire anyone and now he has to go to Art Shell. This is like calling up your ex-gf from 10 years ago in a fit of desperation and getting married. I think if Art Shell turned him down, Al Davis would have propped Lyle Alzado up and coached the team himself, Weekend At Bernies’s style.
Here’s what the Raider Nation is saying:
[Raidersfans.net]: AutumnWind32: “This hire can be spun and rationalized into what ever anyone wants it to be. If you want to look hard until you find that silver lining then go right ahead. The bottom line is Al went back on his word. He has not done everything neccessary to get this team turned around. Instead he’s settled for a candidate that he projected as his 3rd or more likely 4th option. In other words, his fall back, desperation plan.”
[Raidertake] : While Art Shell hasn’t prowled a sideline lately, neither had Joe Gibbs, and he seems to be writing a fine second chapter for himself in D.C. Art Shell is a presence. Art Shell is a true Raider. Art Shell can anchor this team and instill a winning attitude from the top down. Welcome back to the helm, Mr. Shell.
[Oakland Tribune]: While the Raiders might have been better off with a dynamic individual who could inject a new urgency, they hired a good man who knows, above all, how to get respect, take command and capture the ear.
2 replies on “Al Davis hiring like it’s 1989”
Art Shell — Years Played: 1968-1982
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: 1989
Coaching Career:
Art Shell served as Raiders offensive line coach from 1982 until 1988. He was hired as the team’s head coach in 1989, and served in that capacity until 1994.
Art Shell also has the distinction of being the first African-American head coach of the modern NFL era
Shining Moment:
In the Raiders Super Bowl XI victory over Minnesota, Art Shell limited the Vikings highly regarded defensive end Jim Marshall to no tackles, sacks or assists during the 32-14 win.
College Highlights:
NFL Highlights:
This man isn’t worth having as a head coach? This man hasn’t deserved the respect as being a head coach?
Call it what you will but this 3rd generation die hard Raiders fan believes in my coach and believes he’ll get the respect from the players along with the best they have to offer out of them.
It will take time, he’s just starting to work with them and I am not expecting an over night miracle, but a long term achievement to bring the Raiders back up to a glory worth watching grow. He does have the respect of the team and he does know how they feel and their frustrations of not getting things accomplished as they would like.
I see a future with having Art as the Raiders coach and look forward to the years to come as they re-establish this team into a true powerhouse.
No doubt that Art Shell — has a distinguished career as a pro football player but has he really proved that he can be a SB coach in the NFL? Perhaps the Raiders are simply looking to get back to winning but the moves they made were terrible over the offseason. Aaron Brooks? I made fun of the Aaron Brooks signing when it happened.
It’s good you’re not looking for an overnight miracle cause it’ll take 5 years to see anything good happpen. The game changes quickly. Even Joe Gibbs had trouble for 3 years in Washington.