2003
1 31(31) Nnamdi Asomugha S California
1 32(32) Tyler Brayton DE Colorado
2 31(63) Teyo Johnson* WR Stanford
3 19(83) Sam Williams OLB Fresno St.
3 32(96) Justin Fargas HB Southern Cal
4 32(129) Shurron Pierson* OLB South Florida
5 32(167) Doug Gabriel WR UCF
6 31(204) Dustin Rykert OT BYU
7 32(246) Siddeeq Shabazz S New Mex. St.
7 48(262) Ryan Hoag WR Gustavus Adolph
2002
1A. Phillip Buchanon, CB, Miami
1B. Napolean Harris, LB, Northwestern
2A. Langston Walker, T, California
2B. Doug Jolley, TE, Brigham Young
5. Kenyon Colemand, DE, UCLA
6A. Keyon Nash, SS, Albany State (Ga.)
6B. Larry Ned, RB, San Diego State
7. Ronald Curry, QB, North Carolina
Al
Davis, The Man Behind the Silver & Black By
Jay Morano
Al
Davis began as the offensive end coach for the then Los Angeles
Chargers from 1960-1962, before being hired as the Raiders head
coach and general manager. Davis, then 33 years old, guided
the Oakland Raiders to a 10-4 record and was named coach of
the year. A season removed from one win inadequacy the nine
game turn around by the rookie head coach is still considered
to be one of the greatest coaching accomplishments in pro football
history. The year was 1963 and the Raiders organization would
never be the same. Al Davis, unbeknownst to the rest of the
professional football world, would eventually epitomize the
heart and soul of the franchise for better and for worse. The
marriage of the Raiders franchise to Al Davis would develop
into both a fruitful and bitter relationship throughout the
years.
Three
years later, in 1966 Davis was elected Commissioner of the American
Football League (AFL) and would begin to pave his legacy in
the annals of football history. Al Davis is widely considered
the ordinate catalyst for the historic merger of the NFL and
AFL into one consolidated league. Later he would participate
in a vital role on the NFL Competition Committee and the NFL
Owners Executive Committee. Davis' influence on the NFL was
becoming notably apparent among the other luxuriant cynosures
of the league. In many ways this was exactly what the newly
formed league desperately needed, direction, and Al Davis would
provide that direction. Not only had he turned around a struggling
franchise in its infancy, but also he ignited a drastic progression
of events that would mold the NFL into arguably the greatest
in sports.
Al
Davis, though often the hub of criticism and angst among discussions
for such transgressions as legal actions against several circles
of power, including the NFL itself, is still an eminently well
respected individual. Known for doing things his way, the Raiders
way, Davis has never been a person affected acutely by the solicitude
of others. His greatest duty has always been and always will
be to the Raiders. Al Davis bleeds Silver & Black. Responsible
for coining such phrases as 'Just Win Baby' and 'Commitment
to Excellence', Davis pours his every exertion into the franchise.
No coach, no player, no individual is above the team, not even
Davis. For this loyalty Al Davis has been elected by a record
eight Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees to introduce them
at the induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio. Such Raiders greats
as Jim Otto, Willie Brown, Gene Upshaw, Fred Biletnikoff and
George Blanda have chosen the greatest Raider for that honor.
Al
Davis is the heartbeat of the Oakland Raiders and to an extent
the NFL. Under the reign of Al Davis the Raiders have played
in four championships winning Super Bowls XI, XV and XVIII.
If not for the efforts of young, innovative and eccentric Davis
neither the Raiders nor the NFL would be what it has become
today. His efforts transformed a failing franchise into Pro
Football's winningest team and metamorphosed the game of professional
football.
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Al
Davis began as the offensive end coach for the then Los Angeles
Chargers from 1960-1962, before being hired as the Raiders head
coach and general manager. Davis, then 33 years old, guided
the Oakland Raiders to a 10-4 record and was named coach of
the year. A season removed from one win inadequacy the nine
game turn around by the rookie head coach is still considered
to be one of the greatest coaching accomplishments in pro football
history. The year was 1963 and the Raiders organization would
never be the same. Al Davis, unbeknownst to the rest of the
professional football world, would eventually epitomize the
heart and soul of the franchise for better and for worse. The
marriage of the Raiders franchise to Al Davis would develop
into both a fruitful and bitter relationship throughout the
years.