Garcia was cut from the Eagles last month, weeks after he asked to be released by the Raiders, and while he waits for Tampa Bay to call him again, he is just out giving interviews about how promising young Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell sucks and none of the Raiders wanted to win as much as Jeff Garcia did.

"It was to a point where I felt like guys who walked through those doors that just were there to collect a check and not really interested in putting everything that they had within themselves on to the football field," he said. "And that was the frustrating thing for me to see.

"There were a lot of good young guys in that locker room who really want to do whatever it takes to win, but unfortunately it's not everybody," Garcia added. "In order to compete at this level in this game, everybody needs to be on board."

"Maybe it's because how things have been for a number of years now out there and they just don't see the hope," he said.

Garcia said the idea of spending an entire season in Oakland backing up Russell "broke my heart." After his release from the Buccaneers, Seahawks, Redskins, and the Los Angeles Vikings, Garcia is expected to lead the Calgary Stampeders to the 2013 division semifinals.

News of poor morale in the Raiders locker room should stun observers of that storied franchise. Reached for comment, owner Al Davis said "up, up, and away, in my wicked doom balloon!"

The former Raider said:

Meeting Al was pretty unique. I found out five or ten minutes after my first practice there that he hated African-American athletes from Notre Dame. And they literally told me that. They literally told me that because we're known for using our education more than our athletic ability that he thought that I would be one of these guys that would basically take the money and run. I don't know if that was a ploy to get me amped up, but it certainly worked.

Now Brown would like, as he puts it, "to give some face value" to his comments. In a statement to Sports Radio Interviews' Jimmy Shapiro, Brown clarifies:

If you read the statement carefully, you will see it says "they said", not Al Davis said. Early in my career , Al Davis and I may have had some contentious years , but none centered around him being racist.

I am fully aware of the history and Mr. Davis making moves over the years. I lived some of them. I have also seen Mr. Davis do things for his players, African-American players that only those in the Raider family would know.

Please, read or listen to the statement for what it is and not what everyone wants it to be.

In sum: "They" said it. Not Tim Brown. And Al Davis did "things" for the Raiders' black athletes, which is true. He did make Art Shell the first African-American coach to be hired, fired, rehired and fired again.

Just how did Crabtree fall into Mike Singletary's lap at No. 10, when Mel Kiper and the ESPN Super Friends had him locked in as a Top 5 pick?

Factor No. 1: Al Davis, still quite insane. Still living in some bizarre, Austin Powers 1960s world where the Fred Biletnikoff Award is given to the actual Fred Biletnikoff, Davis passed on Crabtree and instead used the Raiders' hard-earned No. 7 pick on something called a Darrius Heyward-Bey. The Maryland receiver, North America's fastest land mammal, is proof that Tom Cable is no more in charge than any of his predecessors. Davis thinks the West Coast Offense is for pantywaists and doily enthusiasts, and that will never change. He wants to stretch the field, the Raider way. Hey, why mess with a philosophy that's worked only sporadically since 1985?

Factor No. 2: Crabtree is, evidentally, a dick. From Tony Grossi's blog in the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The Texas Tech receiver brought a diva attitude on his visit to the club facility last week and did not impress coach Eric Mangini and others, the source said. In fact, Crabtree was described by some in the building as "not nice."

Not nice? Oh heavens, I do believe I've got the vapors. You Browns fans be sure to pick some nice wildflowers to give to Brady Quinn before each home game this year.

Factor No. 3: His foot sets off airport metal detectors. OK, this may be a legitimate concern. Crabtree was found to have a stress fracture in his left foot at the scouting combine in February. The injury was surgically repaired when a screw was inserted to permanently strengthen the area on March 4. He has been cleared to run and is expected to be back to full strength by the start of training camp. Of Crabtree's speed, Singletary said: "I don't know how fast he is. I just know when he catches the ball, there's separation there." The Rams passed on Crabtree at No. 2, even though they needed a receiver, and that may have been why. Or perhaps they suck.

Anyway, Crabtree's father, also named Michael, is not amused.

"It's their loss," he said of the Raiders. "It was the same way with Adrian Peterson (No. 7 overall to the Vikings in 2007). He proved them wrong. It's Michael's time to prove them wrong."

So, Michael Crabtree: The next Jerry Rice or JJ Stokes? If it's the latter, you can be assured that he'll be on my fantasy team..

The Case For Darrius-Heyward Bey [SFGate]
Davis Draft Doctrine Lords Over Selections [San Francisco Chronicle]
Crabtree Says He's 'Still The Top Receiver' Despite Slide To No. 10 [USA Today]

We talk about the difference between a coach like Josh McDaniels giving a player the "my way or the highway" bullshit and a coach like Bill Parcells doing the same thing. The conclusion: you have to have earned enough coaching credentials to be able to be a real dick to your players.

Silver also ponders the possibility of McDaniels getting fired after one season on the job. And we talk about whether or not Cutler also deserves some blame for being a bitch. Because he is kind of a little fucking bitch. I also make a joke about Cutler's diabetes, only to find out Silver has a son with the same condition. Whoop dee! Almost worse than the time I made fun of people with Tourette's and people with OCD in front of a person who suffered from both. I am a good person.

We also talk about "Henry and June," the time I saw "Boogie Nights" in the theater with my folks, the sad state of the Raiders (Silver: "Al Davis has been a ruinous owner."), body surfing with Bobby Beathard (BRAH!) and more. There's a small flub at around the 30 minutes mark due to Silver's cell phone crapping out. Oh, and I say, "You know?" roughly 60,000 times. If it's not one hideous verbal crutch, it's another.

No Leitch this week. He's busy moving to a new apartment. Hopefully, he brought all his raisins with him. This week's podcast is available for your listening pleasure right here. You can also find the Deadcast in the iTunes Music Store here (should be up shortly). Special thanks to Dan Levy at On The DL for helping with tech support, and Liberated Syndication for hosting us. Got an email you want read over the air? Send it to me here. Now sit back, relax, and get your Deadcast on.

Eh, maybe not.

Yesterday it emerged, via CBSSports.com's Gregg Doyel, that the Raiders of Al Freaking Davis found Kiffin, former Oakland coach and current walking gift to sports blogging, a touch too Machiavellian for their tastes. Doyel had gotten his hands on a letter that the Raiders wrote in January to Kiffin's new employers at Tennessee. The letter accused Kiffin of undermining his old team and referred to his "personal agenda in his apparently on-going efforts to damage the Raiders," ignoring for a moment the Raiders' on-going efforts to damage the Raiders — not to mention the unseemliness of a company slagging its former employee in front of his new bosses. (Aren't there laws against this sort of thing? Why, yes. Yes, there are.)

Here's the letter:

Kiffin, who filed a grievance with the NFL over two months' pay, will be deposed Monday by the Raiders, and that will doubtlessly bring this whole episode to a quiet and sane close.

Raiders Depose Kiffin, Attack Former Coach In Letter To Tennessee [CBSSports]

Now you're coaching in the SEC. Think Al Davis and Norv Turner were formidable foes? As Ray Ratto said in the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday: The company around him is world-class fast — Nick Saban at Alabama, Urban Meyer at Florida, Mark Richt at Georgia, even Houston Nutt at Mississippi — and what he has proven as a head coach is mostly that he could irritate the boss.

The 33-year-old Kiffin is taking over a program that hasn't won an SEC title in 10 years, in a state that takes college football a bit more seriously than breathing oxygen. So we'll really see what he can do as a head coach, and more importantly, as a recruiter. The Vols had the No. 6 recruiting class in the nation, according to Rivals.com. After several players decommitted, the ranking dropped to 17th.

His background suggests Kiffin will be able to secure many of the remaining recruits, as well as bring in other top-notch players in the coming years. He spent six years under head coach Pete Carroll at USC. He helped lead the Trojans to back-to-back national championship games and had a hand in signing Heisman Trophy winners Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.

UT Taps Kiffin To Lead Vols Football [The Tennessean]
Kiffin May Be In Over His Head At Tennessee [San Francisco Chronicle]

When the Raiders released two-time Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall on Wednesday, all bets were off, apparently. Expect to see Al Davis set adrift in a dinghy with a sextant and a liter of rum by Saturday. From the San Francisco Chronicle:

"I'm not on board with what happened to DeAngelo," said Asomugha, a defensive team captain. "I don't agree with what's going on. ... You can only bite your lip and play football."

"This is a soap opera over here," Wilson said. "I've never been in a situation where you cut one of the best players. That's strange to me. It's almost like you're throwing in the towel."

If the place doesn't burn to the ground before the end of the season — no safe bet — prepare for the reins of power to be handed over to ... Jim Harbaugh. That's according to Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury, who says it's a good chance that the current Stanford coach will take over next season.

My source, who has been very reliable in the past and yesterday repeated the Harbaugh-Raiders talk I’ve heard for almost a year now, only had one caveat: “Everybody knows Al loves Harbaugh, but why would Harbaugh want that job? He could wait at Stanford a little longer and get a real job.” But here’s where I can add: Harbaugh loves Al. That’s what makes this magic.

Of course I was hoping for Jerry Glanville. Oh well.

Raiders Halfway Through A Nightmare [San Francisco Chronicle]

We all remember Davis' press conference last month, in which he alleged that Kiffin was an incompetent jerk, didn't know football, and was also possibly responsible for the Mortgage crisis. It was Davis' little way of saying "You ain't getting the rest of your money." Raiders executive John Herrera — yeah, that guy — issued a statement from Davis today, saying: "Mr. Kiffin was terminated for cause. The grievance is without merit."

From The Football Wire:

He goes on to add that it "completely ignores the fact that Mr. Kiffin repeatedly made reckless statements that attacked players, assistant coaches and the owner of the team and were damaging to the Raiders organization." Davis and Co. are hiding under the premise that Kiffin's actions demonstrated an act to "embarrass, discredit and disgrace" the Raiders organization. The matter will ultimately be up to Roger Goodell to decide.

Hmm, I should probably live blog this thing.

Former Oakland Raider Coach Lane Kiffin Files Grievance, Al Davis Strikes Back [San Francisco Examiner]

"Al Davis knows football — it's just '60s and '70s football," Sapp said. "That's what it is. He's thinking that Cliff Branch is outside and [Jim] Plunkett is dropping back and you can throw it 80 yards down the field — deep ball, deep ball, deep ball."

The rumors are true, Sapp said: Davis is not above overruling the coach and calling plays.

"Nobody tells you how bad it is. Any person that calls me on the telephone, (I tell them) do not go anywhere near Oakland. I remember the first two weeks I was there, we played a preseason game," Sapp said. "Somebody came up one time and said, 'We're going deep right here, dog.' I said, 'how do you know?' He said, 'The phone just rang.' "

However, at least Davis has never thrown "a hissy fit" during rehearsals for Dancing With the Stars.

Sapp Spouts Off About Raiders' Al Davis [NBC-5]

And, right there on stage, Davis disclosed his own dark, vindictive soul. He revealed himself as an owner willing to torpedo his team's season to build a case against Lane Kiffin so he wouldn't have to pay Kiffin. Davis' news conferences are always high drama, but what happened Tuesday at the Raiders facility was off the charts. It was Theater of the Absurd, in two acts, with — I'm not kidding — a 10-minute intermission.

They introduced interim coach Tom Cable following that intermission, and nobody cared. The thing was all about Al and his public dismembering of Kiffin, whom Davis accused of wanton buffoonery, to say the least of it. Kiffin was also, according to Davis, a "liar," and a "disgrace," and might very well be responsible for the nation's financial crisis. It was all of course a bald-face opening gambit in Davis' strategy to establish cause, therefore freeing himself of having to pay the coach the remainder of his contract. To Davis, such machinations are more important than football, or life, itself. But knowing the reason doesn't make it any more palatable.

After seeing Davis' performance, Kiffin's attorney advised his client to keep mum, which he is doing, except for an interview with ESPN's Trey Wingo. "I just had a real sick feeling watching that," Kiffin said. "I was kind of embarrassed for (Davis) to be honest with you."

Having followed the Raiders and been a fan for most of my life, I have to say that I can relate. Davis' performance was character assasination of the lowest form, unworthy of even the vilest comic book villain. When Davis produced a three-page letter that he had written to Kiffin earlier in the season outlining the coach's faults, and placed the document on an overhead projector, I actually cringed. What next; seizing a female reporter and tying her to the railroad tracks?

Other accounts can be found here, and here. And if you'd like to journey into the Heart of Darkness yourself, here's the video: Part 1 here and part 2 here.

The sad part is, all of this is bound to be repeated sometime in the near future, either with Cable or some other unfortunate soul. And the pattern will be repeated until Davis ultimately steps down, or is dispatched with a stake through the heart. Until then, enjoy the show, I guess.

Raiders' Ugly Way Put On Display For All To See [San Jose Mercury]
Al Davis Airs Out The Raiders Dirty Laundry [Bronco Talk]
Letter From Davis To Kiffin [Inside The Oakland Raiders]

Part of this a tactical move to publicly demonstrate some "cause" for Kiffin's firing that will allow Davis to get out of paying the rest of the contract, but a lot of it just feels like Davis showing off his scary old Nosferatu side to entertain the assembled reporters.

Davis has also accused Kiffin of not wanting quarterback Jamarcus Russell and pouting after he lobbied to push Ryan out to make room for his father, Monte Kiffin. But Davis is insistent that "he wanted to make this work" although it's pretty obvious that he wasn't going to take anymore of this snot-nosed little brat's whining to make it happen.

The leading candidate for the job according to multiple outlets is offensive line coach Tom Cable. Davis has yet to make that announcement, but that might not come until the end of this press conference which, at the rate he's rambling, might not end until Friday.

And, honestly, after seeing this press conference, I couldn't think of a worse scenario for Cable to enter.

UPDATE: Cable's got it. "Interim head coach." Good luck with that.

*****

Tonight: You'll have Deadspin contributor Dashiell Bennett live-blogging the Death Battle For The Central between the Sox/ Minnesota Twins right above here so go there and YELL about all the drama of game 163.

Tomorrow: I'll be cutting at out early to stand in Ashburn Alley at the Phillies game so you have to look forward to half-drunk bitching/rejoicing at some point when I get back.

Thank you for your continued support of Deadspin and all that stuff.

Go to PFT to get the Florio rundown of this whole affair.

Glazer's report says that Al Davis barked the latest command after yesterday's last second loss to the Buffalo Bills:

"Davis blamed Kiffin for the Raiders' 24-23 loss on Sunday to the Bills, and told his underlings that he will make the move on Monday. However, word was leaked out last week in a similar fashion and Kiffin survived. Players reached out to FOXSports.com to express hope that the move would not be made, and with Davis you can never be certain."

Right now, is there a more unappealing job in the NFL than the Oakland Raiders? Regardless of the surplus of young talent and the storied tradition why would anyone voluntarily put themselves in such a miserable situation. Granted, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan appears to have the best mental make-up to withstand the craziness of Al Davis, but Ryan's so volatile himself that he may just walk into Davis' office and suffocate the old man with his own hemorrhoid cushion the first time his job security is threatened. Although, he may be able to get off on a self-defense plea if he has great lawyer. To be continued...

Raiders' Davis To Fire Kiffin Monday [Fox Sports]

There is one difference between the Al Davis regime and that of Fidel Castro. In Cuba there's better cigars. Oh, and here's another one; when Castro became infirm and unable to properly lead the government, he had a brother to take over. Unfortunately, Davis' only living sibling was crushed by Dorothy's house at the beginning of The Wizard of Oz.

Things are so bad in Oakland that Davis actually has me feeling bad for Raiders fans. Take this guy, for instance. How can you not feel pity for someone who takes all the time and effort to fashion this costume, only to have to trudge back to the bus stop following the game with nothing for which to feel hopeful? It's just very sad.

Inside The NFL made its Showtime debut last night, and unfortunately for the Raiders, Warren Sapp is one of the hosts. In a conference call to promote the show, he had this to say about the team:

“As far as where the Raiders are going, they have unrealistic ideas about what their people can do,” Sapp said. “That was the experience I had in the four years I was there. They asked people to do stuff they were physically impossible of doing. They asked a guy who hadn’t coached for 12 years (Tom Walsh) to coach. They’re going to suck."

Things are worse in Raider land than they've ever been, and that's saying something. "It's such a toxic atmosphere over there, that no one is willing to go out and give that 101st percent," said Ray Ratto of CBS Sporstline and the San Francisco Chronicle. "The relationship between Davis and Kiffin is as bad as advertised. They don't even talk to each other. Davis wants Kiffin to quit, and Kiffin won't go. And that's surprising, because Oakland has become a really great place to leave."

Since losing Super Bowl XXXVII to Tampa Bay following the 2002 season, Oakland is 15-50, including 6-27 4-13 under Kiffin. But you can't really blame the coach; when he wanted to get rid of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and bring in his own guy, Davis vetoed the move. So now Kiffin and Ryan go their own separate ways on the same staff — roommates who can't stand each other, but are forced to live together for financial reasons — with the result being pretty much what we saw in the second half this past Sunday.

Being a Raiders head coach is not exactly a resume enhancer. Although the guy from Los Gatos High might want to come in next year and give it a shot.

This may be the first team in history that's actually trying to lose. Kiffin wants to be fired, Davis is stubbornly refusing, thus in effect throwing in the towel after Week 1. Many players, no doubt, want out as well. Anarchy reigns! But for now, Al Davis runs Bartertown, and that's the way things are. Every league needs its unruly, outlaw biker stepchild, I suppose.

Oakland Raiders: A Team In Crisis [San Francisco Examiner]

Because, honestly, who among us hasn't been overwhelmed by the powers of persuasion of Al Davis? Not that Raiders fans were that optimistic about this season to begin with, but the receiver you just signed to a six year $55 million dollar deal wanting to quit doesn't instill a lot of pre-season confidence.

Walker, who had a rough offseason what with the beatdown and robbery in Las Vegas, was supposedly upset with his performance in camp and offered to return his $11 million signing bonus. Al Davis persuaded him otherwise and all now claim that things are fine. But Lane Kiffin didn't get the memo. Telling ESPN:

"I worry a lot about it," Kiffin said. "For someone to discuss retirement, and then to come back and change his mind a day later. I'm worried a lot about it. I'm worried about where he's at mentally, because these things happen sometimes and they come back up again, because maybe they come back and maybe it isn't necessarily for the right reasons. So were going to continue to communicate with him and push him out there on the field and get him better."

At least Jamarcus Russell has proven himself.

Al Davis talked Raiders WR Walker out of retiring

Sunday, he sat in a Metrodome executive suite and talked about his refusal to retire until he wins two more Super Bowls. He is convinced he can accomplish that. He sang the praises of Culpepper and said his only regret was that some coaches persuaded him to trade Randy Moss. Otherwise he could have one of the best 1-2 punches in football back together and a winning franchise.

Those damn coaches; always pushing Al around. The Raiders would be winners if not for their constant meddling! Spock! Get me analysis of the Bengals!

Davis Thinks Raiders Can Win Two More Super Bowls [SportsbyBrooks]

Yes, yes, Lane Kiffin is the youngest coach in football (and somehow looks even younger in this photo), but in case you were wondering who's still, and always, in charge in Oakland ... why, it's the gnarled ogre that is Al Davis. Tell 'em Large Marge sent ya!

By the way, you know what's in that glass? The blood of Irish children.

In Kiffin, Raiders Are Putting Young Face In Tough Job [New York Times]

By latching on with the Raiders, Lofton would actually be taking over a team with a better record than the one for which he previously interviewed (Raiders 4-12, Stanford 1-11). And at the time he interviewed for the Bills post, Buffalo was coming off of a 5-11 season. Hey, you gotta reach for the stars.

But Lofton, an eight-time Pro Bowler who played in three Super Bowls with the Bills, has been well-liked wherever he has been. He played for Stanford before a 15-year NFL career with the Packers, Raiders, Bills, Rams and Eagles, ending in 1993. However, in typical Al Davis fashion, this is not yet a done deal.

Lofton, 50, who also interviewed with the Raiders after last season, could be named the team's coach as soon as Wednesday. However, one source cautioned, "You never know with these things." Lofton is almost certainly concerned about things such as how much control he will have under owner Al Davis and how many of the staffing decisions he will be allowed to make.

How about "none," and "see above." (By the way: He's also interviewing Denny Green. The Raiders are absolutely who we thought they were.)

Report: Lofton Set To Become Raiders Coach [San Diego Union Tribune]