I read the article, frankly I am elated.  It sounds very much like Kiffin will be here this year, good to see him giving a little talk.  It appears that Ryan wanted to take the Jets job but Al nixed it.  It also appears that this might be Ryan's last year here if he in fact wanted to go somewhere else.  
Now that Kiff has given a news conference I expect to hear a lot more about him in the future.  I always enjoyed his banter, and his fire.  I liked the fact that he mentioned that no one was happy with a 4 win season.  Also that he was involved in all the off season transactions to some extent or other.  Now, let's get down to getting ready for this season, it has been a long off season.  Expect to read in the next few days all the sportswriters explaining to us that Kiffin lied all through this conference, and to not believe anything we just read.

About McFadden....

What, you all think the Raiders would come out and admit their draft strategy?  No, no my friends!  The reality here is the Raiders want to keep leverage in Pre Draft contract negotiations with possible draft picks.  If McFadden and his agent know that the Raiders are crazy about McFadden, then they have all the leverage.  

Instead the Raiders can say, "take this contract at #4, or slip a few picks down the board and make a ton less money!"

Don't you all remember how much love Kiff and the Raiders gave Brady Quinn before the draft last year?  Its all about misdirection, and leverage, and Kiff is not about to tell the world the Raiders real plans.  The reality hear is still obvious to me.

Al's Mandate is McFadden!!

OakFoSho

Oakfosho you realize we draft them 1st. Then we talk about a contract with them after that not during the draft. So as far as him slipping a FEW more picks or accept our quick contract, not so much. So we gain 0 leverage. Hell even using the misdrirection you speak of if we spent so much time on Brady Quinn as you say. How much did that drop Jamarcus's contract with us?

 The only time I've ever seen a team have talks about a contract pre-draft was when you have the 1st overall pick Reggie Bush and then signing Mario Williams predraft.

I agree with your misdirection idea. Because regardless of what Kiff says, Al has the last say on what Al wants. The idea that it gives us leverage in any way is ridiculous. To get into those talks. We'd of already drafted him. And if he wanted to hold out by then. WE'd then have leverage as we have a solid rotation. So if he wanted to sit out so be it until his price dropped. That or trade him.

He is a top 5 talent. He simply isn't going to have his agent take a discount because he fears dropping 3 spots. His agent will get him an extremly lucrative contract being the 1st RB off the board and on top of that skilled positions GET PAID.

is true, why put a spin on it? The one thing I have liked about Kiffin is his honesty.  It is true when you said that Brady Quinn was hyped last year by Kiffin.  Rumor has it he wanted Quinn but Al wanted JaMarcus, that I believe is true.  Quinn seems more like a Kiffin QB, JaMarcus is an Al QB.  In this draft Kiffin might want a defensive lineman, and Al might want McFadden, guess who we will draft?
I can't remember a single thing Kiffin said that I looked back later and thought he had lied.  You have to remember that this is Al's team and Al will always win out in a pissing match.
I am just happy that Kiffin has emerged from hiding,  I think he knows he will be coaching the Raiders this year and for two more if Al wants him.  Remember, Al has 2 option years on Kiffin.  I doubt he will exercise though.

there are no reasons to play games.  The Raiders know there will be two or three over hyped players left when they draft.  Anything they say has no effect on the teams in front of them, nor the teams behind them.  

Of any over-riding issue that highlights last year's weakness, it was the D-line. Let's hope Davis doesn't do something stupid and draft in an area of perceived strength.

Of any over-riding issue that highlights last year's weakness, it was the D-line. Let's hope Davis doesn't do something stupid and draft in an area of perceived strength.

say before the draft, Miami, St. Louis and Atlanta are going to draft the player they want and need.
The fact the Raiders say they want a D lineman has no effect on those three teams.  If the Raiders said they want McFadden, or Gholston it would still make no difference to those teams.  What Miami does does make a difference.  Last year if the Raiders had drafted Calvin or Quinn, that would have changed the draft dramatically.  None of those 3 teams care a whit what Oakland wants, they will draft to their needs.  By the way, the Raiders just signed a free agent center, I wonder if that means that Newberry is gone.  Kiffin mentioned that he liked the center in his little talk, so possibly Newberry will not be back, interesting.

Sorry been without computer for a bit. 1st you are right the example of the Texans talking about a deal was ABSOLUTLY right because they had in fact the 1st overall pick. They had no one picking ahead of them that could of screwed up their pick. We in fact have 3 people ahead of us. No point in talking with someone who could possibly not be there.

I don't disagree with your idea that people use tatics and lies to get the player they want. Every year you hear about things from teams injuries, character issues, ect. The draft is much like cards no one wants to give up their hand.

My point was simply pretending we don't want darren wont make his contract any less expensive.

One could argue both ways that the D-line has a lot of cash invested into it as they could argue how much depth and cash we have invested at RB. Bush, Jordan, Rhoades, Fargas anyone?

When Al traded for Hall it showed he had no problem in overstacking at a position. Was CB our deepest need on defense? No it was stopping the run. Aside from Schwagart fucking up everything. Our CB's were one of our few bright sides on D. The one big problem I've seen for years and years is how teams just RUN on us and continue to keep doing so.

Right now we are looking at a WANT vs a NEED. We need to stop the run. But people WANT Mcfadden. On scoring touchdowns it isn't like our Passing game has been doing the job the last few years finishing near the end of the league. With J.R. and our new WR increased TD's will help our running game. Also with Zach with another year under his belt. It will help balance our team which had a lot of close games last year. Especially with our running game having a breakout season last year under cables system.

Putting Mcfadden behind our line would be nice to watch gain yardage but... watching our division rivals TOP BACKS like Larry Johnson, Ladanian Tomlinson, and hell Travis Henry as well pick a dirty d-line and just CHURN out a 1,000 yard back. We need to beat our division 1st. Then move on to the rest of the league until we can do that no point in putting points on people when they will just do the same thing to beat us and win the game.

Obviously DE is not an O-Line position, and Kelly's contract accounts for all the RBs on the roster minus Lamont who will be trade shortly.

Al's mandate is McFadden!!

OakFoSho