AS THE FINAL, pointless minutes drained from the Raiders' 23-3 loss to
Denver on Sunday, even some of the blind loyalists, the Kool-Aid
drinkers, were wrinkling their noses and spitting it out.
They evidently had seen enough of their beloved Raiders, who submitted
perhaps their least inspired performance in 15 games under coach Tom
Cable, dating back to last season.
And they definitely had seen enough of quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who
ran to three his season-opening streak of faulty performances.
The exodus from the Coliseum began early in the fourth quarter and
gained momentum after Oakland punted from its own end zone with 9:19 to
play, thousands fleeing through every visible aisle.
Given the Raiders' encouraging start this season — a passionate effort
in losing to San Diego followed by a comeback win at Kansas City — this
was a throwback game. Back to the worst of 2006, when Raiders boss Al
Davis summoned Tom Walsh from his Idaho bed-and-breakfast to unveil an
offense that consistently tripped over its own ineptitude.
Even the Raiders, at least those willing to be honest, conceded this was
sorry display of NFL football.
"I can't explain it," linebacker Kirk Morrison said, shaking his head.
"Obviously, there are some problems that need to be fixed," cornerback
Nnamdi Asomugha said.
"We have to play better," Cable said. "The fans deserve a better
football team than what we showed today."
Those fans obviously thought so, as their response was harsh and
relentless, most of it directed at Russell.
The light shower of boos raining after the Raiders offense opened with
three plays and a punt intensified when the second series ended with
JaMarcus being intercepted by Broncos safety Renaldo Hill.
And when Oakland's third series ended with Russell heaving another pick,
there was enough disgust from the three-quarters capacity crowd (45,602)
to shake the stadium.
Soon enough, there was more fighting in the stands than the Raiders put
up on the field. As police rushed to make arrests, the Broncos rushed
(215 yards on the ground) because they could.
Though this was a team loss, coaches and players, the brunt of the wrath
landed upon Russell. He was blasted each time he came out to open a
series, fans alternating from vociferous booing to chanting "Russell
sucks." It was at least as loud as anything experienced by the likes of
Donald Hollas or Kerry Collins or Josh McCown — all failed Raiders
quarterbacks past.
That Russell represents the future makes it worse. He has Al's full
support — until further notice — and his salary is commensurate with
being a franchise quarterback. Moreover, there is no plan for change.
Does anyone really believe the answer is Bruce Gradkowski or Charlie Frye?
Is the venting upon Russell fair? Probably not. But one of the many
reasons quarterback is the most challenging position in sports is
because it receives a disproportionate share of blame, no matter how
much there is to go around.
And JaMarcus, with his buttery body and errant slings, is an easy
receptacle for a frustrated fan base to dump its emotions. He not only
is the leader of an impotent offense, he is a chief contributor to its
impotence.
But there is more at work here than fans disappointed with the
quarterback. There is growing disappointment with the general direction
of the Raiders offense.
This year's No. 1 draft pick, wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey, has started
three games and caught one pass. The 2008 No. 1, running back Darren
McFadden, lost one of three fumbles Sunday and has not consistently
produced. The 2007 No. 1 was Russell.
That's three identifiable offensive cornerstones, three reasons for hope
— and three players so far unable to sustain drives.
And when a spasm of relief like Richard Seymour arrives, it smacks into
several doses of bleak reality.
So the noise will be there as long as the Raiders roll out an inferior
product. Fans have varying degrees of tolerance, but turning on the team
so early surely goes back to the long-simmering frustrations that form
after six years of supporting a team that has given very little bang for
the buck.
Under these economic conditions, bang for the buck is important.
Oakland's largely blue-collar fan base will spend hard-earned money if
it buys a good time.
This particular good time ended with the tailgating.
