If former NFL quarterback Rich Gannon’s broadcasting career ever reaches the level of John Madden, Phil Simms, and/or Carrot Top, Gannon can thank John Herrera and the Oakland Raiders.
Gannon has received a credibility and visibility bump within the past day, thanks to the ridiculous decision of Herrera to attempt to ban Gannon from the team’s facility as Gannon prepares to work Sunday’s Broncos-Raiders game for CBS. (And, frankly, given that Gannon was assigned to work the Broncos-Raiders game, his career could use a bump. Or three.)
But the Raiders and Herrera wisely have relented, after unwisely picking a battle that they were never going to win.
The most unfortunate aspect of this entire ordeal is that it comes at a time when the Raiders are creating the impression (illusion) that, maybe, they’re moving in the right direction. But, frankly, as long as Herrera has a voice in the operation of the franchise, any success will come not because of Herrera’s involvement, but in spite of it.
We admire the fact that Herrera is loyal to the team that employs him, but Herrera has visited significant embarrassment on the silver and black shield twice in the last year. (For those of you who have forgotten Herrera’s profane encounter with Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, here’s a quick refresher.)
So while we don’t necessarily agree with Gannon’s alleged assessment that the Raiders should “blow up the building,” we think that Herrera politely should be asked to gather his things and then get the hell out.