Las Vegas Raiders Dream Team

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of

the game being in constant change, conventional wisdom

suggests that players from different eras cannot be compared.

However, I have decided to defy that notion. 

I have taken on the daunting task of compiling an All-Time Raiders

team, whether it is Oakland, Los Angeles or soon-to-be Las Vegas. 

There are some rigid criteria. The player needed to have played at

least four seasons as a Raider. Since the free agency era began 30

years ago, that standard needs to be in place. While Eric Dickerson

is Hall-of-Famer, he does not get considered because he was only

a Raider for one year. However, if you are in the Hall-of-Fame and

played four years as a Raider, you are on the team, no questions

asked. The number of All-Pro seasons are a top consideration with

longevity also helping immensely. I understand it is hard to compare

eras and while one needs to take into account the eras, I’m not going

to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

The time from 1967-1983 was the Golden Age of Raider football,

during which time they won three Super Bowls and probably would

have won more if not for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins.

Just because a player was on one of those teams, that does not

guarantee a spot on this team. From 1984-present, the Raiders have

made the playoffs just nine times in that 36 year span. That stretch

also included seven straight years (2003-2009) of double-digit loss
seasons. Players from every era get considered. 

OFFENSE

Quarterback -- Ken Stabler. Honorable mention -- Jim Plunkett.

Stabler is in the Hall-of-Fame and led the 1976 team to the franchise’s

first Super Bowl title. Given up for dead by the 49ers and Patriots,

Plunkett was a reclamation project, leading the Raiders to two Super

Bowls. Many believe Plunkett should be in the Hall-of-Fame. Stabler,
however, gets the nod because he was at his best when rallying the

Raiders to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. 

Running back -- Marcus Allen, Mark van Eeghan. Honorable

mention Pete Banaszak, Clem Daniels. 

Allen remains the franchise’s leading rusher and is in the Hall-of-
Fame. He had great vision and quickness and was a complete player.
Daniels was a four-time AFL All-Star and AFL MVP in 1963. Banaszak
did not have spectacular stats but was money in short yardage
situations. Van Eeghan is the second-leading rusher in franchise
history and all-time leader in postseason yards. Bo Jackson was the
best on pure talent but his career ended prematurely to injury. 

Fullback -- Marv Hubbard. Honorable mention -- Marcel Reece. 

Hubbard’s 4.82 career yards-per-carry average is third-highest in

NFL history behind Jim Brown and Joe Perry. Reece played a variety

of roles for the Raiders but fullback was his true calling. 

Wide receiver -- Tim Brown, Fred Biletnikoff. Honorable mention --

Cliff Branch, Art Powell. 

Brown and Biletnikoff are Hall-of-Famers, no brainer for first team

status. Brown is also a member of the All-Decade team of the 1990s,

four-time All Pro and owns most Raider receiving records. Biletnikoff

is second in most said categories, three-time All Pro, two-time AFL

All-Star. Branch, who is a four-time All Pro, is one that many believe

should be in the Hall-of-Fame. Powell played before the Raiders’

Golden Age. He was only a Raider for four years but two were AFL

All-Star years. 

Tight end -- Dave Casper. Honorable mention -- Todd Christensen. 

Casper is a Hall of Famer, member of an All-Decade team (1970s)
and was squarely involved in two legendary plays -- Ghost to the
Post and The Holy Roller. Christensen was cut by two teams (New
York Giants and Dallas Cowboys) before becoming a five-time All
Pro for the Raiders. Side note, he pulled off the mustache/man perm
look like no other. 

Offensive line

Tackle -- Art Shell, Harry Schuh. Honorable mention -- Henry

Lawrence, Lincoln Kennedy. 

Shell is a Hall-of-Famer and in a select group of offensive tackles in

NFL history. When he and Gene Upshaw leading a running play --

good luck, opponents. Shell is a four-time All Pro and Hall-of-Famer.

Schuh was only a Raider for six years but an All Pro for two. Kennedy

was a two-time All Pro in eight seasons as a Raider. Lawrence was

an underrated member during the Raiders Golden Age. 

Guard -- Gene Upshaw, Steve Wisniewski. Honorable mention --

Wayne Hawkins, Charley Hannah. 

Upshaw is a Hall-of-Famer that formed a powerful one-two punch
with Shell. Upshaw played in a Super Bowl in three decades, was
an eight-time All Pro, one-time AFL All-Star. Wisniewski was an
eight-time All Pro, member of an All Decade (1990s) team and was
a tenacious player who got into opponents’ minds. Hawkins was a
five-time AFL All Star. Hannah was an underrated starter from 1983
-1986. 

Center -- Jim Otto. Honorable mention -- Rodney Hudson

I lost count of how many injuries Otto endured but Hall-of-Fame status

who exemplified the pride and spirit of the Raiders puts him at the
front of the line. He was also a member of an All Decade team (1960s)
and was a 12-time All Pro. Hudson, who is still active, surpassed Dave
Don Mosebar for honorable mention. Hudson is a three-time All Pro.

DEFENSE

Defensive end -- Howie Long, Ben Davidson. Honorable mention --

Khalil Mack, Greg Townsend. 

Long is a Hall-of-Famer with 84 career sacks, not including the 7.5 he

had as a rookie when it was not an official stat. Five time All Pro

and member of an All Decade team (1980s). Davidson bounced

around the NFL before finding a home in Oakland. He personified

the Raiders nasty image, leading the “11 Angry Men.” He was a three-

time AFL All-Star. Before trading him to the Chicago Bears, Mack

recorded 40.5 sacks in four years with very little help. He was a three-

time All Pro as a Raider and could fit either as a 4-3 end or 3-4

linebacker. Townsend is the franchise’s all-time sack leader. 

Defensive tackle -- Chester McGlockton, Bill Pickel. Honorable

mention -- Otis Sistrunk, Tom Keating. 

McGlockton was a strange dude but I can’t deny performance. He

was a four-time All Pro. Pickel is the franchise’s fourth all-time leader

in sacks and was an All Pro in 1986. Sistrunk was a versatile player

in his six seasons as a Raider (1972-1978) and was an All Pro in

1974. He was also one of the few players of his era not to play

college football. Keating played six years as a Raider, earning AFL

All-Star honors twice. He anchored a Raider defensive line in 1967

that allowed the fewest yards rushing. 

Outside linebacker -- Ted Hendricks, Rod Martin. Honorable
mention -- Phil Villapiano, Gus Otto. 

Hendricks was nicknamed “The Mad Stork” because of his long
arms. The Hall-of-Famer is a member of an All Decade Team
(1970s) and NFL 75th Anniversary team. Villapiano was an
intimidating hitter and four-time Pro Bowler. Martin holds the record
for single-game interceptions in a Super Bowl. The two-time All Pro
made plays despite lack of size. Otto was a four-time All Pro in his
eight seasons. 

Inside linebacker -- Dan Conners, Matt Millen. Honorable mention

-- Greg Biekert, Jerry Robinson. 

Conners was a three-time AFL All-Star in his ten seasons and was

the first draft pick Al Davis signed. Millen was a ferocious tackler and

leader, also a two-time All Pro. Biekert did not have an All Pro resume

but was a consistent performer for nine seasons. Robinson was

versatile and played both inside and outside. Though he was a better

fit for the latter, he was pretty solid at the former.  

Defensive back

Cornerback -- Willie Brown, Charles Woodson. Honorable mention

-- Mike Haynes, Lester Hayes. 

The Raiders have an embarrassment of riches at this position. Brown

is a Hall-of-Famer and member of two All Decade Teams (1960s/
1970s) at a demanding position. He remains the franchise’s All-Time
leading interceptor. For Woodson, the Hall-of-Fame is just a matter
of formality. He gets the nod over Hayes and Haynes for versatility as
he excelled as both a cornerback and safety. Hayes and Haynes are
among the best cornerback tandems ever. Haynes is in the Hall-of-
Fame. Both Hayes and Haynes are on the All Decade 1980s team. 

Safety -- Jack Tatum, George Atkinson. Honorable mention --

Dave Grayson, Van McElroy. 

Receivers going over the middle against Tatum and Atkinson risked

getting beheaded. Some say they were dirty but one of the best

safety tandems in NFL history. Tatum has the most interception

yardage in franchise history. McElroy was a hard-hitter and two-time

Pro Bowler. Grayson is second in AFL history with 68 interceptions. 

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker -- Sebastian Janikowski. Honorable mention -- George

Blanda.

The Raiders took a lot of flack for spending a first-round pick on

Janikowski in the 2000 draft but for many years was one of the few

bright spots for the franchise. He was very accurate and dangerous

from long distance. Blanda was a luxury being both a quarterback

and kicker. He also played long enough to celebrate a silver

anniversary. 

Punter -- Ray Guy. Honorable mention -- Shane Lechler. 

Guy became the first punter in NFL history to be inducted into the

Hall-of-Fame. Thanks to Guy, Lechler may get there some day. 

Returner -- Tim Brown. Honorable mention -- Neal Colzie. 

Brown was not a full-time returner but still the best in franchise

history and made the Pro Bowl as a returner. Colzie returned 170

punts for 1,759 yards. 

Head coach -- John Madden. Honorable mention -- Tom Flores. 

Madden was an emotional leader with great player relationships.

Madden had a 112-39-7 record with eight playoff appearances and

a Super Bowl title. Flores’ personality was the polar opposite of

Madden but led the Raiders to a pair of Super Bowl titles and was

the offensive coordinator on the 1976 Super Bowl champs. 

Team -- 1976.

Breezed through the AFC WEst with a no-holds-barred defense,

going 16-1. This is perhaps one of the more underrated Super

Bowl champions. They dominated both lines of scrimmage in a

32-14 demolition over the Minnesota Vikings.