The Raider Way. Al's way. Once a Raider always a Raider. They do it with their own. They take care of their own.

It seems that many in Raider Nation have forgotten that. They have become NFL fans and want to root for just another good NFL team.

How else could you describe the joy that some have at the sad report that Greg Biekert and Rod Woodson would not be retained?

Makes me sick. These are Raiders. Raiders that Al brought in.

Does this represent the end of other characteristics that I cherish about the Oakland Raiders? What other beloved character traits of the team will go next?

I'm not a Raider fan because they have more rings than some other team. I'm not a Raider fan because I think we will be in the playoffs every year. I'm a Raider fan because of what the Raiders represent. They are not part of the cookie cutter teams that are all over the NFL. They are the team with the AFL logo on their rings. They are the team that believes players are people...beyond that...they are family. They are the team that will take on conventional wisdom, challenging what some see as honorable and honoring what some see as outdated.

Now, it seems, that the tradition of the team is giving way to the NFL businessman mindset. I fear there is only more to come.

I hope not though. I hope that Mark Davis takes over as dictator and honors the character of the Raiders. I hope that he, Amy Trask, Reggie McKenzie, and Hue Jackson will not destroy the very thing Al set out to build. Honestly, if we don't win the Raider way - I think I will feel cheated.