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Mark Davis

Raiders Coaching Rumors: Saturday

January 3rd, 2015 at 1:43pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Raiders’ coaching search continues, and while interim head coach Tony Sparano remains in the running, the team has reached out to outside hires as well. The team has already asked for permission to speak with Broncos’ defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.

Here are some other notes surrounding the team’s search:

  • Sparano has remained confident in his abilities to lead the Raiders, but that may not be the best course of action for him, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio compares it to Hue Jackson campaigning for the job three years ago when on the brink of being fired, noting that owner Mark Davis was turned off by his public comments.
  • Defensive line coach Terrell Williams has left the team to join the staff of the University of Florida, reports Steve Corkran of the San Jose Mercury News. Williams spent three seasons with the Raiders, and Corkran notes that other assistants are expected to leave the team soon.
  • Raiders’ assistant coaches are all signed for only ten more days, reports Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). Sparano is the only one under contract for 2015. Tafur writes if Sparano was to get the job, he would have the opportunity to hire a fully new staff to coach under him (via Twitter). Davis has made a habit of only signing assistants to one-year deals, and Sparano was the exception due to interest the Buccaneers had in him (via Twitter).
  • Cardinals’ defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is on the team’s wish list, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes that he could be very choosy in selecting a job (via Twitter). Rapoport picks Atlanta and Oakland as two jobs that he would be interested in taking.

 

La Canfora’s Latest: London, Finley, Raiders

September 28th, 2014 at 10:59am CST by Rory Parks

Thanks to a report from CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, we learned earlier today that the internal struggles of the Dolphins organization goes beyond head coach Joe Philbin‘s reluctance to affirm Ryan Tannehill as the team’s starter earlier this week. That report has since been supported by a similar article from Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, and La Canfora has a few other notes worth passing along:

  • La Canfora writes that the movement to put an NFL franchise in London continues to gain momentum, and he describes how the league would handle some of the logistical challenges inherent in such a a decision.
  • In a series of tweets, La Canfora notes that league commissioner Roger Goodell and Players’ Association head DeMaurice Smith met this week to discuss a new personal conduct policy, which they hope to have in place by the Super Bowl. La Canfora expands on those tweets in a full-length article.
  • In a separate piece, he writes that, although teams continues to explore the possibilities of acquiring free agent TE Jermichael Finley–the Ravens, having lost Dennis Pitta for the season, were the most recent team to monitor his progress–it is “99 percent certain” that Finley will not play in 2014.
  • In an article concerning the uncertainty of the Oakland front office, La Canfora writes that Raiders owner Mark Davis, who “has considered firing his coach and general manager several times in recent years,” continues to speak with his confidants about a potential shake-up. If Davis does end up firing current head coach Dennis Allen, offensive coordinator Greg Olson is a strong candidate to take over as interim head coach.

Cole’s Latest: Boone, Gordon, Los Angeles

August 11th, 2014 at 5:58pm CST by Ben Levine

Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole sat down with Yahoo Sports’ Adam Lefkoe to discuss some of the more intriguing NFL storylines heading into the second week of preseason. Let’s take a look at some of the key notes:

  • If the 49ers/Alex Boone saga continues to drag out, Cole believes the team will “eventually” be offered a third-rounder for the offensive lineman. Cole adds that the two sides are not communicating and that there’s been no discussion regarding a new contract.
  • So what teams would be interested in offering this supposed third-rounder? Cole has heard that the Buccaneers and Giants would certainly be suitors for the 27-year-old, along with a “truckload” of teams that currently need help on the offensive line.
  • Cole believes that the NFL “would like to find a way” for Browns wideout Josh Gordon to play next season. He first cites Ray Rice‘s suspension, saying a more severe punishment for Gordon would just be additional bad press for the league. He also discusses Ricky Williams‘ first positive test for marijuana and the subsequent lack of discipline.
  • Cole hears that Raiders owner Mark Davis is “circulating a proposal” to raise funds to buy land in either Inglewood or Los Angeles. He adds that the team has specifically been looking at the former Hollywood Park location, a spot that Al Davis eyed about 20 years ago.

AFC Links: Ravens, Patriots, Raiders

June 21st, 2014 at 8:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Since being cut by the Chargers in early March, fullback Le’Ron McClain has been keeping in shape, eyeing a return to the NFL. The 29-year-old told Andrew Gribble of Al.com that he’s shed 15 pounds and is at a “great weight.” As a result, McClain, who was listed at 260 pounds at the end of 2013, is looking to change up his game.

“I’m trying to evolve my game also and do more than just blocking and everything,” McClain said. “Just trying to evolve my game as in catching, running routes, just trying to be a difference-maker on the field. That’s what I’ve been working on this offseason.

“Whatever team calls me, they’re going to get that different type of player this year.”

McClain’s best season was with the Ravens in 2008, when he ran for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Let’s see what else is going on around the AFC…

  • Ravens rookie defensive end Brent Urban has been looking good in his recovery from offseason ankle surgery, writes Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The fourth-rounder was supposed to be ready by about training camp, but took plenty of snaps at minicamp.
  • The Patriots young receivers are going to have to make a jump this season, Boston.com’s Zuri Berry said on Comcast Sportsnet New England’s Sports Tonight (via CSNNE.com). “It’s going to be a lot harder for those guys to make those mistakes and get away with it because [the Patriots] have more receivers now,” Berry said. “They have other guys to go to.”
  • Raiders owner Mark Davis had previously been talking business about a new stadium in Oakland. Following initial talks with the real estate firm, Davis told reporters that communications have stalled. “All the talks we have with them are positive, but there’s no progress after the talks,” he said (via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com). “Everybody is trying. Whether it can get done, I don’t know.”