Thoughts from the Dark Side

Useless Rumor alert: Bad Blood between Al Davis and Howie Long would prevent the Raiders from drafting Chris Long

Howie Long and Greg Townsend prepare for a game c 1990

Tis the season for useless rumors to begin popping up from the corridors of the NFL. Usually they are from the pen of Raider-Haters like Nancy Gay or Lowell Cohn. This latest truckload of fertilizer comes from the same source that said that JaMarcus Russell was over 300lbs. This time he says that supposedly Al Davis would pass on Chris Long because of bad blood with his dad, Howie Long.

Don Banks of Sports Illustrated, doing his best impersonation of Heda Hopper, now reports the following:

I’m still not certain if it’ll be Darren McFadden to the No. 4 Raiders or the No. 6 Jets, but if all the talk about bad blood between Al Davis and Howie Long is true — and I’ve heard it too many times this week for it to be bunk — then Chris Long isn’t going to be wearing the silver and black after next weekend.

All WHAT talk? Jerry MacDonald and Jason Jones who are both beat writers who cover the Oakland Raiders full time have speculated that Al Davis would love to draft Chris Long. J-Mac and JJ both have sources inside the Oakland Raiders headquarters and have had no such speculation.

I am thinking that it comes from the exact same talk that cause him to break the non-story of JaMarcus Russell being out of shape and near 300lbs, which has been thoroughly debunked. In fact, if you have ComCasSportsNet you can watch the Raider Report which shows Russell working out at the Alameda facilities.

Al Davis coined the phrase “false rumor mongerer” for Adam Schefter, but it is looking like Don Banks is trying to steal his crown.

16 Responses to “Useless Rumor alert: Bad Blood between Al Davis and Howie Long would prevent the Raiders from drafting Chris Long”

  1. Useless Rumor Alert: Bad blood between Al and Howie would affect Raiders draft - Oakland Raiders Forum | Message Board - Where the Raider Nation lives! says:

    April 18th, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    […] Rumor Alert: Bad blood between Al and Howie would affect Raiders draft Thoughts from the Dark Side | MVN - an Oakland Raiders blog » Blog Archive » Useless Rumor alert: Ba… __________________ "While there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a […]

  2. inonewordraider says:

    April 18th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    I heard Chris talk today about visiting the Rams and Raiders and that they are the only two teams in constant contact w/ them. Didn’t mention anything special about the Rams, did mention he really enjoyed meeting w/ the Raiders staff and going to the facility. He also said there would be no pressure because nobody can place more pressure on him than him and he’s had the pressure of living up to his dad all his career anyway. He won’t be there at 4 though anyway. Can we get Jarrod Allen?

  3. Thoughts from the Dark Side: Useless Rumor alert: Bad Blood between Al Davis and Howie Long would prevent the Raiders from drafting Chris Long | The RaiderCast says:

    April 18th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    […] Read more. Posted in Blog, Draft, Oakland Raiders | […]

  4. Patrick Patterson says:

    April 18th, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    I doubt Al will deal with the Chiefs

  5. Raider Ran says:

    April 18th, 2008 at 3:39 pm

    Thanks Pat…Don Freakin’ Banks what a douche bag.

  6. The 12th Man says:

    April 18th, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    Raider Nation dont listen to anything the idiots at SI say Don Banks is the same idiot who picked the ten must see games of 2008 at number 2 he has the whiners versus the lions as a must see game oh and and he also has the bills and dolphins on that list are you kidding me SI is a joke.

  7. Patrick Patterson says:

    April 18th, 2008 at 4:39 pm

    We have noticed, especially after the Russell weight BS.

  8. pat says:

    April 18th, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    Don Banks, Mel Kiper jr., and the rest of the SI are a bunch of idiots! I cant see Al passing on C. Long is he’s there! Thnks for clearing things up Pat

  9. Bill says:

    April 18th, 2008 at 5:31 pm

    I’m not a fan of Don Banks but there are some good people at SI like Peter King and Dr Z. As for rumors about the Raiders. There is always going to be something because Al is so closed door to the media. The haters have nothing better to do then make shit up.

  10. Raider Card Addict says:

    April 18th, 2008 at 5:41 pm

    SI’s been hurting because they don’t generate rumors nearly as well as NFL Network does regularly. After all, if the New York Post can muckrake, why not the sports editors?
    Banks needs to clean up his own act, before taking rumors as facts….even he said, if it’s true. 100 people talking about a lie doesn’t make the lie true.

  11. Rolni says:

    April 19th, 2008 at 5:57 am

    I really like the Saints trade talks…they trade with the Rams to get Dorsey…Atlanta will be pissed off cause Dorsey,but they won’t select C.Long with Abraham and Anderson on the roster, so C.Long would be a Raider in this scenario!!!

  12. Josh Mosley says:

    April 19th, 2008 at 6:20 am

    If you listen to anyone from Sports Illustrated, your dumber for it. don banks, paul zimmerman peter king, these guys wont vote for the likes of, cliff branch, jack tatum, ray guy, lester hayes, the list goes on, to get into the pro football hall of fame. they all hate Mr Davis, And everything that is the Oakland Raiders. i truly cant stand that group of people who would blackball our great players, and our great Owner. False Rumor Mongering is what sports illustrated is about. Winning is what Mr davis is about. Al would draft long is he was available. but mcfadden is the key.

  13. Bill says:

    April 19th, 2008 at 7:51 am

    Out of all the SI writers King is the only one left on the HOF commity. I agree Ray Guy needs to get in but Cliff Branch? I love my Raiders but I’m not saying just because they played for us they belong in the HOF

  14. ArtDog says:

    April 19th, 2008 at 10:53 pm

    Can he sack a Qb too?

  15. Apachejock says:

    April 20th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    Cliff Branch has WAY better numbers than Lynn Swann who is in the HOF- that’s why many feel he is being dissed simply because he is a Raider.

  16. Tex says:

    April 21st, 2008 at 7:40 am

    Its an interesting read b/c I do remember way back when that Howie renegotiated his contract the year b/f he retired to move the money of the contract forward and then a year later he abruptly retired joining FOX. I remember it was reported then that Al was not happy and felt used

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