Tag: Al Davis

Ex-Raiders QB Jason Campbell: Al Davis once told him to ‘Throw the ball deep’ mid-game, leading to a TD

Ex-Raiders QB Jason Campbell tells incredible Al Davis story

The legend of Al Davis is well told. The late, great owner of the Raiders did it all in pro football and revolutionized the sport, helping it become the powerhouse it is today.

But there are some stories about Davis that have yet to be revealed.

Former Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell recently told an incredible tale about Davis during an appearance on Next Round Live. Campbell remembered a time when Davis called an unconventional but successful play from his upstairs perch at the venerable Oakland Coliseum.

The date? Halloween, 2010. The opponent? The Seattle Seahawks. The Raiders shellacked Seattle that day, 33-3, and one touchdown was a direct result of Davis’ demand to “throw the ball deep.”

Take a listen below, thanks to the Raiders’ official Twitter account.

 

That is simply sensational. Davis’ demand wasn’t entirely practical given the coverage on defense, but Campbell, his coaches and his teammates executed the play for a deep touchdown to Davis’ speedy wide receiver, Darrius Heyward-Bey.

There are many stories about Davis calling plays from upstairs, but this one is interesting because of the timing. The Raiders were on a roll for the first time in years, having dismantled the Broncos the week before, 59-14. Davis was definitely feeling himself, and his roster, during the Seahawks game.

His confidence was well-founded. The Raiders, under head coach Tom Cable, went undefeated in the AFC West that year and outscored their opponents by 39 points during the campaign. The Raiders offense was 10th in the NFL in yardage that season and the defense ranked 11th in yards against.

They ultimately finished 8-8, however. Still, it was the first sign of life from the franchise since it lost to coach Jon Gruden and the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Davis famously said he doesn’t want to take what the defense gives him, he’d rather take what he wants. That spirit was in full force when Cambell chucked the football downfield, against all odds. Now, the Raiders have to recall another Davis classic — Just Win Baby — as they attempt to make a run to the Super Bowl with the Al Davis Memorial Torch on display inside Allegiant Stadium.

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The Raiders made pick that would’ve made Al Davis proud

Will Henry Ruggs follow in the path of speedy Raiders wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey?

The late Al Davis, who owned the Oakland Raiders, loved speed. The Las Vegas Raiders made a pick that was basically an ode to Davis’ need for speed. The team picked Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs with the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Ruggs came .05 seconds short of setting an NFL combine record for the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.27 seconds.

Ruggs’ production (40 catches 746 yards, 7 TDs) didn’t wow at Alabama, where he was the third receiver on the team’s depth chart. In fact, Jerry Jeudy, the team’s second receiver was also in the 2020 draft. But the Raiders made Ruggs the first receiver selected, surely in large part because of his explosive playmaking abilities. You can’t coach speed.

Here’s what Twitter had to say about the Raiders’ pick.

Will Ruggs follow in the path of speedy wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey? Or will Ruggs help usher the Raiders into an era of success, much like they had when they favored speed in the 70s and 80s?

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One of Al’s guys: Lamarr Houston retires as a member of the Raiders

Defensive end Lamarr Houston says he had his best years with the Raiders, and he’s thankful he was drafted by the great Al Davis.

The Raiders are a professional sports organization like no other. One of the reasons for that is a familiar saying.

Once a Raider, always a Raider.

It started with the late, great owner of the club, Al Davis, and his admiration for his players. The tradition continues with Raiders Alumni Weekend during training camp, which includes a highly-attended dinner in Napa, one of the world’s premier dining destinations.

So when former Raiders defensive lineman Lamarr Houston, who was drafted by Davis, decided to retire, he came back to Oakland, where his career began with the newly re-named Las Vegas Raiders.

“Today is a great day. I’m retiring a Raider,” Houston said, according to the Raiders’ official Twitter account. “It was a blessed career—I had a great career. But my best days were here in Oakland with the Raiders.

“I really take pride in being one of the last hand-picked players by Al Davis. For that reason, I wanted to retire a Raider. Once a Raider always a Raider.”

Davis drafted Houston in 2010 in the second round out of the University of Texas. He didn’t miss a game in four seasons in Oakland and tallied 16.5 sacks and 37 tackles for loss, with 228 tackles (171 solo).

Houston’s first two years in Oakland were entertaining for fans, with the team winning as much as they lost, a rarity in the decade preceding Houston’s arrival. The Raiders almost rallied and made the playoffs after Davis’ death in 2011, but they fell short down the stretch and finished 8-8, just like the year before.

It was the last Raiders team built by Davis, and the team’s deconstruction under new general manager Reggie McKenzie began in 2012, which ushered in more losing. After the 2014 season, Houston signed a free-agent deal with the Bears worth $15 million in guarantees.

Incredibly, he tore his ACL his first season in Chicago while celebrating a QB sack late in a blowout loss to the Patriots. Houston played just 31 games for the Bears in three-plus seasons. He finished his career in 2017, playing five games with the Texans.

But Houston is a Raider once again, and he always will be. Add one more of Davis’ draft picks to the alumni dinner reservation list — and perhaps clear a spot in Mark Davis’ owner’s box at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

This photo of Tom Brady and Raiders owner Al Davis has the NFL world wondering

Tom Brady and Al Davis were spotted laughing at UFC 246.

A mere appearance from New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady can start a conversation about NFL free agency.

Brady attended UFC 246 in Las Vegas for Conor McGregor’s fight against Cowboy Cerrone. At the match, Brady was spotted chatting with Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. With Brady scheduled to enter free agency in March, the quarterback’s meeting with Davis appeared notable, at first glance. In truth, the greeting probably wasn’t notable — largely because they aren’t allowed to discuss Brady’s impending free agency, per the NFL’s tampering rules.

So while folks started to freak out on social media about the conversation, it was probably just two NFL influencers exchanging pleasantries.

But if you like a good conspiracy theory, then I’m here for you. Just hours before Davis and Brady met, general manger Mike Mayock was asked about Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who Mayock said had made improvements in his second season under Jon Gruden.

“My job is to evaluate every position and try and make us better. And if I can, I will, and if I can’t, I won’t,” Mayock told The Athletic.

Las Vegas isn’t not in the market for a quarterback.

What’s more, UFC president Dana White, who spent some time with Brady before the match, took time to hype up the quarterback’s connection with the Raiders. White also admitted: “I have no [expletive] idea what I’m talking about here.”

Even though the moment was probably nothing and White’s opinions have little value, NFL fans — particularly in Oakland and Las Vegas — were excited about seeing Davis and Brady together.

Brady will spend the next few months under the microscope until his decision comes.

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