http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/al_davis/73405 Recent articles about Al Davis en-us If you had told former Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis in 2010 that Rolando McClain would retire as a Baltimore Raven at the age of 23, it's safe to say that Davis would not have rolled the dice on McClain with the 8th overall pick in that year's draft. Unfortunately, no one could have predicted that McClain would call it a career just 37 months after being drafted, in large part due to the absurdity of the concept. Lo and behold, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome announced Tuesday that McClain is retiring from the NFL. "Rolando let me know that he plans to retire from the NFL. We have placed him on the Reserve/Retired list," Newsome said. There is plenty of reason to be skeptical of McClain's alleged "retirement," as there was a good chance that he would have been released by the Ravens anyway, and may have pulled this move to save face. McClain was given a non-guaranteed contract after being released by the Raiders, and the general consen... Wed, 15 May 2013 13:45:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/rolando_mcclain_retires_at_the_age_of_23/13624136 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/rolando_mcclain_retires_at_the_age_of_23/13624136 Rolando McClain "retires" at the age of 23 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/rolando_mcclain_retires_at_the_age_of_23/13624136 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/c/fc6a38305b449e0b08fa1f5368b698538cb52fc5/mini/5047306.jpg The most powerful woman in the NFL is stepping aside. After 25 years, Oakland Raiders CEO Amy Trask has announced her resignation. Trask made history in 1997 becoming the first woman CEO in the NFL. In a statement sent to media on Saturday, Trask stated that she agreed to stay on during the transition period after Raiders owner Al Davis’ death in 2011. “Having honored a commitment that I made to effectuate a smooth transition and transfer of control, I no longer wish to remain with the organization,” Trask said “For over a quarter of a century, it was my honor and my privilege to work for the Raiders. I will forever appreciate the opportunity afforded me by Al Davis.” Trask joined the Los Angeles Raiders’ legal department in 1987. I had the honor of meeting Ms. trask last summer at a football 101 event put on by the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment commission. Trask shared a story about when she attended her first owners meeting with Al Davis. She as obviously the only woman i... Mon, 13 May 2013 10:02:54 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13605314 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13605314 Raiders CEO Amy Trask resigns http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13605314 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png According to the Oakland Tribune, Oakland Raiders CEO Amy Task resigned on Saturday.  She was the only CEO in the NFL. A fierce advocate for late owner Al Davis, Trask found her role reshaped under Mark Davis, who took over for his father upon his death in October 2011. Since the arrival of general manager Reggie McKenzie in January 2012, Trask’s primary duties were to generate revenue through marketing and ticket sales and help the organization in its quest for a new stadium.   The Raiders are in the final year of their lease at O.co Coliseum. Trask has publicly pushed for a new stadium on the current site, with no deal on the horizon. In an email to reporters, Trask said, “Earlier today, I informed Mark Davis of my decision to leave the Raiders. Having honored a commitment that I made to effectuate a smooth transition and transfer of control, I no longer wish to remain with the organization.   “For over a quarter of a century, it was my honor and my privilege to work for the Raide... Sun, 12 May 2013 16:54:15 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/raiders_ceo_steps_down/13601867 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/raiders_ceo_steps_down/13601867 Raiders CEO steps down http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/raiders_ceo_steps_down/13601867 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Amy Trask stepped down as the Oakland Raiders’ chief executive officer on Saturday, ending her tenure as the only female CEO in NFL and one of the highest-ranking women in professional sports.   She was a staunch supporter and trusted advisor to the late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, but found her role with the team drastically reshaped under the new owner Mark Davis, who took over after his father’s death in 2011.The new management restructured the shape of the entire franchise – including coaching staff, scouting department and changes at other key front office positions.   Since the past six months, word was in the air that former Madison Square Garden president Scott O’Neil and NFL executive Ray Anderson had been interviewed by the Oakland Raiders for undertaking a leadership role with the team on the business front. Amy Trask confirmed the interviews in January and said she’d been part of the process. So the move doesn’t come as a surprise as both sides had been searching... Sun, 12 May 2013 16:14:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/longtime_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13603598 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/longtime_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13603598 Longtime Raiders CEO Amy Trask resigns http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/longtime_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13603598 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Amy Trask stepped down as the Oakland Raiders’ chief executive officer on Saturday, ending her tenure as the only female CEO in NFL and one of the highest-ranking women in professional sports.   She was a staunch supporter and trusted advisor to the late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, but found her role with the team drastically reshaped under the new owner Mark Davis, who took over after his father’s death in 2011.The new management restructured the shape of the entire franchise – including coaching staff, scouting department and changes at other key front office positions.   Since the past six months, word was in the air that former Madison Square Garden president Scott O’Neil and NFL executive Ray Anderson had been interviewed by the Oakland Raiders for undertaking a leadership role with the team on the business front. Amy Trask confirmed the interviews in January and said she’d been part of the process. So the move doesn’t come as a surprise as both sides had been searching... Sun, 12 May 2013 16:14:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/longtime_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13603601 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/longtime_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13603601 Longtime Raiders CEO Amy Trask resigns http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/longtime_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13603601 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Amy Trask stepped down as the Oakland Raiders’ chief executive officer on Saturday, ending her tenure as the only female CEO in NFL and one of the highest-ranking women in professional sports.   She was a staunch supporter and trusted advisor to the late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, but found her role with the team drastically reshaped under the new owner Mark Davis, who took over after his father’s death in 2011.The new management restructured the shape of the entire franchise – including coaching staff, scouting department and changes at other key front office positions.   Since the past six months, word was in the air that former Madison Square Garden president Scott O’Neil and NFL executive Ray Anderson had been interviewed by the Oakland Raiders for undertaking a leadership role with the team on the business front. Amy Trask confirmed the interviews in January and said she’d been part of the process. So the move doesn’t come as a surprise as both sides had been searching... Sun, 12 May 2013 16:14:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/longtime_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13603595 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/longtime_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13603595 Longtime Raiders CEO Amy Trask resigns http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/longtime_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns/13603595 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png     In an unexpected move, Oakland Raiders CEO Amy Trask has stepped down from her position within the organization after 25 years with the team. Per Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune, she sent out the email to the media. Earlier today, I informed Mark Davis of my decision to leave the Raiders. Having honored a commitment that I made to effectuate a smooth transition and transfer of control, I no longer wish to remain with the organization. For over a quarter of a century, it was my honor and my privilege to work for the Raiders. I will forever appreciate the opportunity afforded me by Al Davis. The Raiders as a team subsequently released this statement afterwards. Mark Davis, Carol Davis and the rest of the Raider family would like to thank Amy Trask for her valued contributions to the Raiders over the past 25 years. The Raiders wish her the very best in her future endeavors. It has been reported that since the Mark Davis regime took over, that Trask’s role in the organization had diminished cons Sun, 12 May 2013 12:30:27 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/oakland_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_steps_down/13601168 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/oakland_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_steps_down/13601168 Oakland Raiders CEO Amy Trask Steps Down http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/oakland_raiders_ceo_amy_trask_steps_down/13601168 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Longtime Oakland Raiders chief executive officer Amy Trask announced on Saturday that she has resigned after 25 years with the team. Trask, who took over as Oakland's CEO in 1997 under former team owner Al Davis, originally joined the club in 1987. She is considered one of the highest-ranking women in professional sports, while paving the way for the role of females within NFL front offices. Since Davis' death in October of 2011, Trask and current owner Mark Davis -- Al's son -- have been involved in much overhauling of the entire franchise, including coaches, scouts and other front office executives. "Having honored a commitment that I made to effectuate a smooth transition and transfer of control, I no longer wish to remain with the organization," Trask wrote in a statement released to the media. "For over a quarter of a century, it was my honor and my privilege to work for the Raiders. I will forever appreciate the opportunity afforded me by Al Davis." Sour Sat, 11 May 2013 19:58:45 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns_after_25_years_with_the_organization/13598363 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns_after_25_years_with_the_organization/13598363 Raiders CEO Amy Trask Resigns After 25 Years With The Organization http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/raiders_ceo_amy_trask_resigns_after_25_years_with_the_organization/13598363 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Longtime Oakland Raiders chief executive office Amy Trask resigned her position on Saturday, ending the tenure of the NFL's only female CEO and one of the highest-ranking women in American professional sports. Trask spent 25 seasons with the Raiders, starting during their time in Los Angeles and continuing after the move to Oakland in 1995. She became CEO in 1997 and was one of late owner Al Davis' most trusted advisers before his death in October 2011. ''Earlier today, I informed Mark Davis of my decision to leave the Raiders,'' she said in an email statement. ''Having honored a commitment that I made to effectuate a smooth transition and transfer of control, I no longer wish to remain with the organization. For over a quarter of a century, it was my honor and my privilege to work for the Raiders. I will forever appreciate the opportunity afforded me by Al Davis.'' Mark Davis took over the Raiders following his father's death. He hired general Reggie McKenzie to Sat, 11 May 2013 19:22:48 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/raiders_executive_amy_trask_resigns/13598195 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/raiders_executive_amy_trask_resigns/13598195 Raiders executive Amy Trask resigns http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/raiders_executive_amy_trask_resigns/13598195 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The NFL lost a little more of its diversity today. Oakland Raiders CEO, Amy Trask, stepped down as head of the organization on Saturday after more than 25 years with the team, according to Pro Football Talk. She was the only female CEO in the league. Trask informed Raiders owner Mark Davis of her decision today saying in an e-mail to the media, “Having honored a commitment that I made to effectuate a smooth transition and transfer of control, I no longer wish to remain with the organization. “For over a quarter of a century, it was my honor and my privilege to work for the Raiders.  I will forever appreciate the opportunity afforded me by Al Davis.” According to a tweet from SI’s Jim Trotter, Mark Davis, son of the late Al Davis, had informed Rask that she would have a subordinate role under his new ownership. The elder Davis was the principal owner of the Raiders from 1972 until he died in 2011. Trask interned in the Los Angeles Raiders legal department after enrolling at the USC G... Sat, 11 May 2013 19:16:36 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/amy_trask_resigns_post_as_ceo_of_oakland_raiders_after_more_than_25_years_with_team/13598156 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/amy_trask_resigns_post_as_ceo_of_oakland_raiders_after_more_than_25_years_with_team/13598156 Amy Trask Resigns Post as CEO of Oakland Raiders After More Than 25 Years With Team http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/amy_trask_resigns_post_as_ceo_of_oakland_raiders_after_more_than_25_years_with_team/13598156 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Al Davis was known for pulling some wacky picks out of his butt, most notably: Todd Marinovich among others. While every draft and every pick is a crap-shoot, there are some deals that just boggle the mind. In each war-room, they must make some kind of sense to the brain trust. There is no exact science to finding the next Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, Jerry Rice or Randy Moss.So, who made the biggest gaffs in the 2013 draft? Who took a reach when they should have waited for their guy to come to them? Time will tell, but here's my preliminary opinion anyways. Wed, 01 May 2013 10:41:48 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/5_wacky_picks_only_al_davis_could_truly_appreciate/13527287 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/5_wacky_picks_only_al_davis_could_truly_appreciate/13527287 5 Wacky Picks Only Al Davis Could Truly Appreciate http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/5_wacky_picks_only_al_davis_could_truly_appreciate/13527287 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png As every Raider fan, I sat with anticipation and waited to see what Raiders GM Reggie Mckenzie would do with his first full draft as the Raiders man in charge . Although I didn’t see the big splash that late former owner Al Davis would make, it did leave me scratching my head just the same. Like many Raider fans I [...] Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:59:38 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/in_reggie_we_trust_did_the_raiders_get_it_right/13508240 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/in_reggie_we_trust_did_the_raiders_get_it_right/13508240 In Reggie We Trust: Did the Raiders Get It Right? http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/in_reggie_we_trust_did_the_raiders_get_it_right/13508240 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The stories of how far behind the times the Oakland Raiders were in Al Davis’ later years are infamous. Last year, we passed along a story saying that new GM Reggie McKenzie asked the team to construct a modern-day “war room” for the NFL Draft because no such room existed at the team’s facilities. Now we’re learning that the team did not even have a full-time groundskeeper on staff under Davis, who died in late 2011. Sports Illustrated’s Jim Trotter spent a season with the Raiders and wrote an excellent article about it for the April 22 edition of the magazine. The feature, called “The New Silver and Black,” talks about some of the changes McKenzie made with the franchise and how power was passed from Al Davis, to his son Mark Davis, and on to Reggie. Early in the story, Trotter mentions that McKenzie was out for a jog around the practice fields at the Raiders’ training facility in Alameda when he noticed the poor field conditions. He said the footing was uneven and that there wer... Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:44:27 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/oakland_raiders_did_not_have_a_full_time_groundskeeper_under_al_davis/13477318 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/oakland_raiders_did_not_have_a_full_time_groundskeeper_under_al_davis/13477318 Oakland Raiders did not have a full-time groundskeeper under Al Davis http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/oakland_raiders_did_not_have_a_full_time_groundskeeper_under_al_davis/13477318 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The Oakland Raiders are known for delivering a tough attitude, mentality, speed, and always a threat to win on any given Sunday. The Al Davis era may be over, but the winning mentality of the team and the city of Oakland hasn't diminished one bit.Last season was a disaster for the Oakland Raiders, as they went from 8-8 in 2011, to the 3rd worst record (4-12) in the league. Aside from a big draft, the Raiders need to add some beef to their roster, and these five free agents may be enough to get the team back into playoff contention in the AFC next season. Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:17:16 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/five_free_agents_the_oakland_raiders_should_target_this_offseason/12948490 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/five_free_agents_the_oakland_raiders_should_target_this_offseason/12948490 Five Free Agents The Oakland Raiders Should Target This Offseason http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/five_free_agents_the_oakland_raiders_should_target_this_offseason/12948490 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png This season the Oakland Raiders will start a new regime. After the passing of longtime owner Al Davis, the franchise shifted its operations to first time general manager Reggie McKenzie, who was formerly the director of pro personnel for the Green Bay Packers. His first order of business was to fire Hue Jackson and hire first time head coach Dennis Allen. As the Raiders move in a new direction, the pair will have to succeed together. McKenzie comes to the Raiders, where he played linebacker, as a defensive minded general manager. He brought in Allen, who was an up and coming defensive coordinator in Denver, to change the franchise direction. The hires should improve the poor Oakland defense from a year ago, where they ranked 27th in the NFL in both passing yards allowed and rushing yards allowed. As the Raiders finish their first offseason workouts under Allen, McKenzie is impressed with the first year head coach. “I think he’s, from the standpoint of big picture, he gets it,”... Sat, 16 Jun 2012 13:18:37 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/oakland_raiders_gm_reggie_mckenzie_and_head_coach_dennis_allen_begin_new_day_in_raiders_football/11026829 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/oakland_raiders_gm_reggie_mckenzie_and_head_coach_dennis_allen_begin_new_day_in_raiders_football/11026829 Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie and head coach Dennis Allen begin new day in Raiders football http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/oakland_raiders_gm_reggie_mckenzie_and_head_coach_dennis_allen_begin_new_day_in_raiders_football/11026829 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png