Having been a Raider fan my entire life, I've noticed quite a few things with this team and it's image in the media and perception among fans of the NFL.

We're seen as thugs.  We're seen as dirty, we're seen as that team that has a massive following, yet no one seems to like.  We don't allow the media around too much, and we don't allow too much access when we do allow them around.  As a result, we're universally panned when we do things because the people in the media don't understand the thought process from our organization.  How could they when they are not allowed inside?

I, for one, like that the media isn't allowed to all-access our team.  It's a part of the Raider mystique, the mythos behind the team to be a group that the media doesn't get to be around much, and as a result is inherently curious about.

The reason I bring this up is a discussion i heard on AM radio this week about owners and why the ones that were bad are bad, and what they're doing wrong.  Raider fans can definitely tell where this is going, because before long, they got started on Mr. Davis.  The usual things came out: he's old, ornery, relies on speed/physical talent more than football talent, etc.  But one of the hosts went ballistic in our defense, and I want to come to his aid using this blog.

The comparison that was used for owners was Al Davis and Jerry Jones, and by proxy, the Raiders and the Cowboys.  Of the entire NFL, these two teams I would assume have the largest fanbases of their respective conferences (it's possible).  Their teams have made some boneheaded decisions over the last few years, but the criticism on Jerry Jones' teams have been way way less harsh than the criticism on Al Davis, and that's where my prior point comes into play.  We don't let the media in, so when a guy like Jerry Jones, who does let the media in, makes a mistake, the media softpedals it.

We don't get that benefit of the doubt, despite having much more success in the playoffs in recent years than the Cowboys.  How quickly people forget about the early part of this decade, and when taking a look at the Cowboys and how they've fared in the post-season, there's no way one can deny that the Raiders have more success.  We went to a Super Bowl this decade.  The Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since 1996.  Ultimately, it is detrimental to be a losing team for 6 years straight, and we will need to be competetive this year, but eventually, I would like to see some criticism for other owners who have made mistakes.