With the only thing keeping them from an extended playoff run Derek Carr’s broken ankle, the (for now) Oakland Raiders have done what under deceased owner Al Davis would have been unthinkable. They’ve given their coach a new contract.
Jack Del Rio was given a new, four-year contract from the Raiders that will keep him on the sidelines through the 2020 season. Del Rio is the first Raiders coach to make it to his third season since Jon Gruden, a span of 16 years.
Grateful to be the head coach of my childhood team, appreciative of MD providing the resources necessary to ensure our #ReturnToGreatness https://t.co/RUmGkd2prX
— Jack Del Rio (@coachdelrio) February 11, 2017
Life’s been rough in Oakland, mainly from the team’s mismanagement by Al Davis. And though Mark Davis seemingly has no idea how to pick an adult man’s haircut, he’s already done a much better job than his dad with the draft and with personnel.
And it’s even more impressive when you see how far he’s brought the team since his dad took one giant final shit on them before he died.
Mark’s first draft in charge was in 2012. A draft where the Raiders, thanks to his dad’s dealings, had no first, second or third round pick. The first was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals for Carson Palmer, who promptly Carson Palmered all over the Raiders. The second rounder was traded to New England the year before and the third rounder was wasted in the supplemental draft on Terrell Pryor. Now, obviously since then Pryor has turned into a good player by switching positions to wide receiver, but as a quarterback Pryor was a bust and he busted all over Oakland before getting shipped out of town.
Congrats @coachdelrio ! Well deserved! Just the beginning!
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) February 11, 2017
So Mark was left with a late third rounder, a fourth, two fifths, a sixth and a seventh in his first draft. Not exactly a potential haul, but Mark didn’t do so bad. Four of the six players he drafted are still in the NFL and wide receiver Juron Criner (a fifth rounder) is playing for the Ottowa Redblacks in the CFL.
The best player Mark drafted, linebacker Miles Burris, was a starter for a couple of seasons before injuries ended his NFL career. He’s currently trying to come back and worked out for the Seahawks last season.
Since that draft, Mark has helped build one of the most talented young rosters in the NFL. A roster that put Oakland back in the playoffs after a 14-year drought this past season.
Mark didn’t have the same luck with his coaching hires until Del Rio. The first thing Mark did was fire Hue Jackson and hire Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Allen is a good defensive coach and he still does that job today for the New Orleans Saints. As a head coach, he was a disaster. He finished 8-22 with the Raiders and Mark fired him after an 0-4 start in 2014.
Very appreciative!! #RaiderNation #ReturnToGreatness https://t.co/hJkH38YFAY
— Jack Del Rio (@coachdelrio) February 11, 2017
That’s when he set his sights on Del Rio who, ironically, was the Denver Broncos’ defensive coordinator at the time and took over that job from Allen in 2012. In this case, Mark’s myopic coaching search paid off and Del Rio has been a key reason the Raiders are now legitimate contenders for not only the AFC West, but for the AFC for years to come.
“The Raiders have torn up Jack Del Rio’s original contract and rewarded him with a new four-year deal,” Raiders owner Mark Davis said in a statement. “We are excited to continue building on the strong foundation that has been established and this is a significant step in achieving that goal.”
Currently the Raiders sit at 20-to-1 to make it to Super Bowl LII. That’s a sweet payoff to a team, thanks to Del Rio, has every chance of making it.
Early offseason cuts keep coming
This week the Browns made some cap-friendly moves, cutting quarterback Josh McCown and cornerback Tramon Williams. McCown started three games for the Browns this season and played in five. He finished with a 54.5 completion percentage, 1,100 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions.
Williams started seven games and had a pick, five pass defenses and 36 tackles.
The Green Bay Packers cut ties with running back James Starks and the Baltimore Ravens set guard Brandon Fusco free.
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