Post by TheShadow on Dec 26, 2005 22:32:19 GMT -5
www1.pressdemocrat.com
Team's deal with Coliseum runs through 2010 season
By PHIL BARBER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
DENVER - Raiders chief executive Amy Trask confirmed Saturday that the negotiating group representing the city of Oakland and Alameda County declined an offer from the team to extend its lease at the Coliseum.
The Raiders' current lease runs through the 2010 NFL season, and team proposed adding three years.
On Nov.2, the team, the city and the county announced an agreement that ended all existing litigation between the parties and scheduled an end to the personal seat license structure in 2006. Many fans hoped the announcement would also include a lease extension, effectively keeping the Raiders in Oakland past 2010. The team proposed just such an inclusion during the year-long negotiations that preceded the agreement, but the joint powers declined the offer.
Trask insisted the Raiders were in no way offended by the public entities' demurral.
"The joint powers articulated a business rationale as to why it was a more intelligent decision on their part not to extend the lease," she said. "They didn't want to do that now. But they said, 'Let's keep talking.'"
YES, MOSS
For all their faults Saturday, you can't say the Raiders didn't try to get the ball to Randy Moss. Kerry Collins threw 13 passes to his generally under-utilized wide receiver, completing five of them for 72 yards. It was the type of plan many Raiders fans have been waiting for.
"We obviously threw more when we were down," Collins said. "We saw they would give us more one-on-one coverage on the outside. .. . when you're behind like that, you want to put the ball in the hands of your playmaker." Moss made one spectacular catch, a one-handed grab working against safety Curome Cox along the right sideline.
LONG DIVISION
In losing to Denver, the Raiders failed to win a game in their division for the first time since Al Davis took control of football operations. The Raiders were swept by the Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs in 2005, going 0-6 in the tough AFC West. The last time they were winless in the AFC or AFL Western Division (it was called the AFL Western Conference in 1960) was 1962, when they finished 1-13. Davis joined the organization as head coach and general manager in 1963.
INJURY UPDATE
LB Grant Irons left with a strained hamstring and did not return, though Irons said after the game he did not believe it to be serious. LB Danny Clark left with a stinger in his neck, but did return. "Every time I made a tackle, I had to go get cleaned up a little bit," Clark said.
EXTRA POINTS
With five catches for 91 yards, Denver's Rod Smith set career records in both categories among Raiders' opponents. His career totals against Oakland now stand at 99 receptions for 1,291 yards. Curiously, he has never had a 100-yard game against the Raiders.
Shane Lechler booted a season-best 64-yard punt at the start of the second quarter, and he finished with a 59-yard average on five punts.
Jake Plummer completed 15 of 18 passes in the first half. One of his incompletions was a throwaway with Clark in his face, and another went through Smith's arms and was intercepted by Stuart Schweigert.
It was a balmy 52 degrees at kickoff.
Denver finished 8-0 at home in 2005.
Jerry Porter, Randal Williams and Justin Fargas dropped passes.
DE Derrick Burgess recorded his 15th sack of the season, and now is only one-half sack short of Sean Jones' team record.