SEE YOU, OAKLAND RAIDERS 2.0

Thanks for the 24 years of memories (some good, some bad, some you simply had to witness with your own two eyes to believe)

BY CARL STEWARD

ith the Raiders approaching what presumably will be their final season at the Coliseum, it seems time to review their second go-round in Oakland, 24 seasons filled mostly with disappointment and some outright misery.

Sure, there were some highlights, but many more lowlights. Here is a look at what the Raiders might be most remembered for over the past 2½ decades:

Raiders fans, left, are loyal and often quite creative. Coach Bill Callahan, above, leads the team to the 2002 AFC championship.

ASSOCIATED PRESS (LEFT); GETTY IMAGES (ABOVE)

Best Moment Raiders Over Titans

On Jan. 19, 2003, as the Raiders put the finishing touches on a 41-24 AFC Championship victory over the Tennessee Titans, it was so loud in the Coliseum that it seemed Mt. Davis might come crashing down. But the feeling of euphoria would be short-lived. From the moment center Barret Robbins experienced a bipolar episode and went AWOL in the days leading up to Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, it was if the entire organization went south to Tijuana with him. The lone successful season since (12-4 in 2016) ended in disappointment after Derek Carr suffered a broken leg.

AH, YES, THE ‘TUCK RULE’

It was one year before that Super Bowl season when Walt Coleman made history. He, of course, was the official who made the infamous “Tuck Rule” call in the Raiders’ divisional round game in Foxboro, Mass. Charles Woodson swooped into the Patriots backfield and knocked the ball out of Tom Brady’s hands as he sacked him. The Raiders recovered with 1:50 left, clinging to a 13-10 lead. The game, and possibly a long successful NFL future, was theirs. And then it was all taken away. The Raiders still would have had to go through Pittsburgh the next week to get to the Super Bowl. And they did get there the next season. But they might not have subsequently lost Gruden to Tampa Bay (which may qualify as the second craziest moment).

Best Player Charles Woodson

Woodson is the one player drafted by Oakland during this second run who almost certainly will make the Hall of Fame. Smart player, sure tackler, engaging personality, big-time winner.

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER

Rich Gannon

Rich Gannon was the only Raider to win an MVP during this second run, and his 2002 regular season was probably the best ever by a Silver and Black quarterback. It helped to have two future Hall of Famers, Tim Brown and Jerry Rice, as receivers.

Rich Gannon’s 2002 season may have been the best ever for an Oakland QB. Above, he leads the team in Super Bowl XXXVII against the Bucs.

GETTY IMAGES

Biggest Bust Jamarcus Russell

Russell’s selection as the No. 1 pick in 2007 might be the worst draft choice ever in pro sports. The Raiders paid him more than $31 million for 31 miserable games, and they missed a chance at drafting at least one of four potential Hall of Famers: Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis and Marshawn Lynch.

The Raiders have had some superstar players over the years and one big bust. JaMarcus Russell, left, was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft, but didn’t live up to his billing. Other players, like Khalil Mack, Jerry Rice and Warren Sapp, are some of Oakland’s all-time favorites.

SADDEST DEVELOPMENTS DEATHS OF TURNER, RUSSELL

The deaths of safety Eric Turner, of stomach cancer following the 1999 season at age 31, and Darrell Russell, the No. 2 pick at defensive tackle in 1997, who died in a high-speed car crash at age 29. Russell was All-Pro his second season before failing seven NFL drug tests that led to his indefinite ban from the league.

ONLY-WITH-THE-RAIDERS MOMENTS ‘DUMBEST TEAM IN AMERICA’

Bill Callahan calling the 2003 club “the dumbest team in America.” Jeff George signing a contract five years after he’d played his last game, then being cut a week later. Amy Trask setting up a handshake meeting of Al Davis and Darth Vader, and Davis snarling, “Who the (expletive) is Darth Vader?”

ABSOLUTE WEIRDEST MOMENT THE PROJECTOR, OF COURSE!

Al Davis’ overhead-projector 2008 news conference in which Davis tried to delineate — with grease pencil onto a big screen above — all the ways ousted coach Lane “Lance” Kiffin had defied and deceived him. Hilarious and sad.

Who can forget 2008’s overhead projector news conference! Owner Al Davis had a few things to point out.

WHAT IF?

THE PAYTON ERA THAT WASN’T

Sean Payton came close to succeeding Bill Callahan as coach in 2004 but turned down the job at the last minute on advice of Jerry Jones, Bill Parcells and others. Payton said he even had Raiders clothing hanging in his closet.

FAVORITE RAIDERS, ROUND II THE OTHER WOODSON, AND...

Joining Gannon, Brown, Rice and Charles Woodson on the list: Rod Woodson, Napoleon Kaufman (who retired at his career peak to enter the ministry), Charlie Garner, Steve Wisniewski, Tyrone Wheatley, Lincoln Kennedy, Sebastian Janikowski (pulled himself together after some shaky early years), Eric Allen, Nnamdi Asomugha, Shane Lechler, Warren Sapp, Donald Penn, Khalil Mack, Marcel Reece, Bill Romanowski, Jon Ritchie, Derek Carr.