Raiders fire Kiffin 4 games into second season

[DeclinetoState]

It was only a matter of time.ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders fired Lane Kiffin on Tuesday just four games into his second season, bringing finality to a situation that had been simmering for eight months.<br>
Kiffin had a 5-15 record since being hired last year, losing his final game 28-18 on Sunday to San Diego.<br>
The decision on Kiffin was as much about his frequent criticisms of owner Al Davis' franchise as it was the team's performance on the field. Those critiques reached a peak when Kiffin distanced himself from the defense after a blowout loss in the season opener, saying that was under coordinator Rob Ryan and Davis' control.

Link (http://www.comcast.net/articles/sports-nfl/20080930/Raiders-Kiffin.Fired/)

[Beowulf]

It's simple, if you don't win in Oakland, you get fired, regardless of how little talent the team has. It's pretty pathetice when your best player is the kicker, Sabastian Janakowski.

[DesertFox]

All of which begs the question: Do even Oaklanders care what happens to the Raiders? :question:

[DeclinetoState]

The problem is that coaches who do win don't get treated much better. Smart ones leave for greener pastures.

[RayChuang]

Here's the problem with the Raiders: Al Davis. He needs to retire and designate an appropriate replacement for him, one younger and have much smarter football acumen.

[DesertFox]

Al shoulda done that 30 years ago.

[DeclinetoState]

Till the day he dies, Al Davis and the Raiders will be tighter than a set of Siamese twins. Unfortunately, while that may have been the way things worked in the old AFL days (i.e., intense owner involvement in the day-to-day operations of the team), most successful teams now have owners that let general managers, team presidents, etc., hire coaches, make player-personnel decisions, and do whatever is necessary to succeed. The owners hire and fire the team presidents and a few other top execs, but let them make the other decisions.