Rich Gannon, who won a league MVP award while playing quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, spoke about the situation in Oakland during a visit with Bruce Murray and Gil Brandt of Sirius NFL Radio. Echoing recent criticisms of the team, Gannon elaborated on his perceptions of the environment there. “From a guy that has been in the organization, that’s been around it, I know just how difficult a place it can be to work,” Gannon said. “And they have problems, there’s no question. It’s an organization that is going through a very difficult period. It’s an organization, in my opinion, that is dysfunctional. They have a lot of issues. “This is not something that I haven’t discussed publicly and privately before with the owner. I’ve talked to Mr. Davis at great length about our philosophical difference of opinion. I believe that you need to have discipline, structure, a system in place, organization. He is a guy that is not a big believer in having too many rules and that’s one of the reasons why that team, in my opinion, hasn’t had any real leadership and hasn’t had any real direction.” Gannon was then asked by Brandt whether the tendency of owner Al Davis to make strategy suggestions makes it difficult for the coach. “I always said it’s not a tough place to work, it’s an impossible place to work,” Gannon said. “I left there on a high note. I went to four straight Pro Bowls, was league MVP. I don’t have any bad feelings about the place. I just know how difficult it was for me and I just look at the people that have left. Mike Shanahan leaves and wins two Super Bowls. Jon Gruden leaves and wins a Super Bowl. Norv Turner is having success in
GANNON CALLS OAKLAND AN “IMPOSSIBLE PLACE TO WORK”
Published October 1, 2008 12:57 PM