Jim Fassel Sent A Handwritten Note And Box Of Cookies To Al Davis To Show Interest In Raiders Job

When Lane Kiffin got the boot from the Oakland Raiders earlier this season–and restarted a whole mess between Raiders owner Al Davis and the world–many pundits asked who the hell would be crazy enough to consider taking the job (after Davis fires the current interim coach Tom Cable, that is). The pundits should know better than to ask a question like that… they are pundits after all. There are 32 NFL head coaching jobs out there, and even one as dysfunctional as Raiders provides opportunity to say “Hey, traffic cop stop putting a ticket on my car! I’m the coach for your local NFL team!” without the metermaid calling the real police in. That is why former Giants head coach Jim Fassel–who was too much of a sad sack to get the job when he interviewed before Kiffin got the gig–sent Davis a handwritten note saying that he would love to be the Raiders coach, not that he should’ve gone that far.
“He’s the first to express any real interest” in being interviewed, one source said.
Well, aren’t we shocked.

Was Fassel’s note to Davis a bold reach by a coach who last worked in the NFL as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator from 2003 through ‘06? Not really, considering how Fassel maintains his relationships around the league… Fassel is well known for corresponding regularly with NFL owners and team officials through hand-written notes, e-mails and phone calls.

And his offensive play calling must be written in doctor’s chicken scratch because with him handling the O for Baltimore, the team scored so scarcely that his best friend Brian Billick fired him and took over calling the plays. Yup… sounds like exactly the guy the Raiders want leading the way.
Fassel tells Davis he’s available to coach Raiders [SFGate]
If Russell fails, Raiders are the blame [Contra-Costa Times]
Image [SI.com]