Where Are They Now: Cole Ford

The Hater Nation will take a look at some of the more prominent Raiders of the past and what they are up to today. The first in our series is former kicker Cole Ford.

Raiders career: Ford was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 1995 NFL Draft, but dropped because the club could recognize talent�or lack of. That did not stop the Raiders from picking up Ford, who had problems with his accuracy. Although that lack of accuracy would help save the lives of two well-known Las Vegas performers down the road. Cole was eventually released following the 1997 season when he made only 60 percent of his kicks and missed two extra points on the season.

The Aftermath: Ford (pictured above) fired shots into the home of Siegfried & Roy on September 21, 2004. Ford, unrecognizable by a long beard and hair, shouted obscenities outside of the house before firing and taking off in a white van. Ford was arrested 11 days later at a Las Vegas Kinkos and was charged with numerous felonies, including being a one-time Oakland Raider.

Ford was examined and told a psychiatrist that while watching Siegfried & Roy he realized, "What was wrong with the world was linked to the illusionists treatment, dominance and unhealthy intimacy" with their animals.

Ford, who wanted to plead guilty, was ruled to be incompetent to stand trial and sent to a mental facility. Ford said recently that Siegfried & Roy were "some of the most dangerous people in our country." He was critical of the NFL, "NFL players are in the environment of the Roman Coliseum. Sacrificing takes place. It�s possible that I didn�t want to become a successful athlete because then I would have been sacrificed."

Ford then said that Lou Diamond Phillips will one day rise up to be president.

When a doctor was asked how a young man could make such a tragic fall, the doctor said, "Dude, he hung out with Raiders fans for a number of years, that will drive anybody crazy."

Talk about the life and times of Cole Ford in the Hater Nation Forums. There is a "Carolina Panthers cheerleader update" in the forums (with pictures). Check it out.