The Quote Board

The Raiders have notched an NFL-worst 13-35 record over the last three years, but the club still leads the league in hyperbole. Art Shell�s press conference is evidence of that. The greatness of the Raiders was on full display on Saturday during Shell�s re-introduction as head coach. All the greats such as John Madden, Todd Marinovich, Lyle Alzado�s corpse, and Cole Ford�s parole officer were all on hand to welcome the Raiders new coach.

It didn't take long for the bull to fly.

"It may take us a short while, but we'll get that nastiness of the Raiders back," Al Davis said.

"I have to show them the way, the 'Raider Way,'" said Shell.

Look for the Raiders to lead the league in cheap shots again. Combine that with the mental errors that plague the Raiders and the club could be looking at the all-time mark in penalties.

"I just want to get back to the point where when we walk into a stadium, they know the Raiders are in town," Shell said.

Madden added, "I haven't been around them for a long time because I've been away doing (TV) games (and I usually only show up for money). I know there used to be (mystique). Teams didn't like coming in to the (Oakland) Coliseum. They had that feeling -- they were a little nervous and they didn't enjoy it.

"Oakland wasn't a fun place to come and play, and every game was sold out. ... In those days, there was something to it. I don't know if it's still there now. It's probably not. If it's not, it's (Shell's) job to get it back."

It looks like the Raiders fans are going to get stabby again. Nice responsibility. Shell and Madden are endorsing the Raiders fans hooliganism. So much for those fans who claim that the Raiders fans aren't violent.

At least both Shell and Davis are on the same page offensively.

"We've got to run the football better," Davis said. "We've got to run it with toughness. This guy (Shell) knows what I'm talking about."

He sure does. "I want the ability, as always to strike from anywhere on the field. That's important to me," Shell said.

Oh well, it could be worse Raiders fans, your team could try something desperate such as re-hiring Tom Walsh. Oops, early indications are that it will be Walsh who served as the club's offensive coordinator from 1982-1994.

"Everybody has a way of doing things. The Raiders have a way of doing things. We're about winning. And we will win," said Shell.

The Raiders way has won 13 games in three seasons. The Raiders twice went outside of the family to hire two guys -- Mike Shanahan and Jon Gruden. Both were dismissed because they did not do things the Raiders way. Even the Bish knows how that turned out for the Raiders.

The players are excited. But you would be happy too if Norv Turner was your previous coach.

Linebacker Danny Clark said in a phone interview. "He has been in that locker room, played for that owner and knows what it's like to be in silver and black."

So in other words, Shell is already prepared for failure. Shell then went and put it all into perspective.

"We can get this done," Shell said. "But it starts with me. I have to set the tone.

"Words don't get it done."

But it is a start. Talk about it in the Hater Nation Forums.