The Time is Now for Al Davis

Photo from AP Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez

Regrets? Lane Kiffin has a few, like consecutive come-from-ahead losses. But…

“Can’t look back now,” Kiffin said Sunday after the Raiders won the first three quarters against the Chargers 15-3, then lost the fourth quarter 25-3. Kiffin can’t look back because, to paraphrase Satchel Paige, Al Davis might be gaining on him. And might catch him today.

Today, Davis must either fire Kiffin or grit his teeth and announce his unqualified support for the head coach he can’t stand to talk to. Failure to act decisively by Davis, today, at the start of the bye week, would be a sucker-punch to his players, his front office, his coaching staff, his fans and his own legacy.

One more day of sitting on his hands and Davis convinces the world that he has lost not only his fastball, but also his curve, slider, change-up, spitball and eephus pitch. It’s been kinda fun so far, but how many more episodes of “The Three Stooges in a Submarine” can the players take before they demand some kind of leadership from Davis?

The team isn’t hopeless or hapless. There are 12 games remaining. Plenty of time to get some stuff going, with an interesting new quarterback, a peppy (for three quarters) defense and a loyal-beyond-sanity (no offense, Black Holers) fan base.

But Davis must act. Enough, already, of Al as drama queen.

Full Story: San Francisco Chronicle