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Aged like fine wine Veterans lead Raiders' juggernaut into Gruden BowlPosted: Monday January 20, 2003 3:22 AM
OAKLAND, Calif. -- All season long, all we saw when we looked at them were a bunch of old Raiders. Turns out we were almost right. On Sunday, they went out and played like the Raiders of old. Fighting the passage of time as much as any opponent this season, Oakland slightly modified its longtime motto, and it almost went without saying: "Just win now, baby." The future could wait. Next year was too late for a roster boasting nine starters age 30 or older, with looming salary-cap troubles. But in the wake of Oakland's 41-24 dismantling of Tennessee in Sunday's AFC title game, the Raiders season-long sense of urgency was transformed into a sense of accomplishment. Up next? The Raiders get to pay a visit to what was once a favorite old haunt: the Super Bowl. "This is an opportunity that very few people in this locker room have ever had and will ever have," said Oakland offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy, a 10-year NFL veteran and first-time Super Bowl qualifier. "This is what it's all about. All the work. "You're not remembered in this game unless you win a Super Bowl. It's as simple as that. You can go to Pro Bowls and be an All-Pro, but hey, look, if you don't have a ring on your finger, you're not going to be remembered." The Raiders can't be fitted for that make-or-break piece of jewelry just yet, but for the first time in 19 years, the Silver and Black are back -- and prepping for an appearance on the game's grandest stage. And they have all those touches of gray to thank for that. Like their 37-year-old MVP quarterback Rich Gannon, who threw for three touchdowns, ran for another and led Oakland in rushing. And 36-year-old receiver Tim Brown, who caught a game-high nine passes for 73 yards. And of course, the game's preeminent elder statesman, Jerry Rice, whose 79 yards receiving on five receptions led all pass-catchers. Sure, Oakland's old. But suddenly old is in. Old is cool. Old is, well, so very old school. "It's just a great feeling to know that after watching this for 14 years, and watching other people play in this game, to actually be on your way [to the Super Bowl], it puts you in a dream world," said Brown, the 15-year veteran who was 0-2 in AFC Championship Game appearances. "You have to catch yourself and shake your head a little bit, because this is why we do what we do." This time for the Raiders there was no "Snow Bowl" to stop them. No tuck rule. No Tony Siragusa smothering their chances -- and their quarterback -- beneath his beefy frame. Calling pass plays on a staggering 39 of their first 40 offensive snaps -- which covered the game's first three quarters -- Oakland kept up its season-long habit of taking the game to its opponent on offense and doing just enough to win on defense. That mentality should serve the Raiders and their No. 1-ranked offense well in their Super Bowl dream matchup against Tampa Bay's No. 1-ranked defense next Sunday. It's Bucs-Raiders, in a pairing that features pirates, eye patches and subplots galore. Ironically, for a team that was known for all things old, it took the Raiders' new head coach (Bill Callahan) to earn a much anticipated Super showdown against their old head coach (Jon Gruden). Understandably, Oakland's players weren't in the mood to delve too deeply into the topic Sunday night, knowing full well the Gruden-fest to come in the days ahead. "This is not about Gruden, and it's not about Tampa Bay," Kennedy said forcefully. "We need 24 hours to at least enjoy this moment. ... This is so much bigger. So much bigger than Gruden, than Al [Davis], than everybody. This is something we need to savor." But not for long. By the time both the Raiders and Bucs hit San Diego on Monday, the Super Bowl will double as a 24/7 discussion session on the merits of Gruden versus Callahan. "I know the NFL wished they could move this back a week so they could pump it up," Brown said with a smile. "It's unbelievable for this to happen the first year after he leaves here. I know there's going to be a lot of hype and there's not going to be any way to deflect it. We have to deal with and talk about it, but it should be a fun week." Like Kennedy, Callahan mostly ducked the Gruden storyline Sunday night, choosing instead to revel in his team's accomplishment. "I'm not even going to go there tonight," Callahan said. "I want to talk about our team and the guys that put forth this effort to get to this point. ... Words can't even describe how we feel about what we have just accomplished. It was an incredible journey and we still have one more game left." Leaving the past behind them when it came to Gruden's controversial departure from Oakland was easy for most Raiders. Reflecting on their own long journeys to the Super Bowl was more difficult. "It almost brought tears to my eyes," said Raiders running back Charlie Garner, of the team's emotional postgame on-field celebration. "It's been nine years [in the NFL for me] and I've been in the playoffs four years and been kicked out. And it's very difficult to get into the playoffs and then to get kicked out, it hurts, as a man. This time it just felt great to walk out with a W." A three-time Super Bowl winner with San Francisco, Rice personifies the Raiders' renaissance more than anyone. Many believed he should have retired as a 49er two years ago. "The old man is still running, and I'm just like fine wine and having a great time," Rice said. "I'm proud of the way this team hung in today. The Titans, they fought back, they came back, but we just kept moving the ball and we got it in the end zone." Gannon, another member of the Raiders' first-time Super Bowl club, was the driving force behind Oakland's impressive 375-yard offensive night. He was 29-of-41 passing, for 286 yards, three touchdowns and a 114.5 quarterback rating. He started the game completing 12 consecutive passes, including 10-of-10 passing for 142 yards and two touchdowns on Oakland's opening two drives. On the ground, his scrambling produced a team-high 41 yards on eight rushes, including a 2-yard fourth-quarter game-clinching touchdown. "Rich is the decision maker out there," Rice said. "He spreads the ball around. He does a great job and he was very composed out there. And also he had some big plays running the ball today. That's an extra threat right there." Minutes after finishing the biggest game of his career, Gannon already was looking ahead to an even bigger one. Having finally come this far, he and the rest of the old Raiders aren't willing to settle for close. "I didn't sense any satisfaction in that locker room," Gannon said. "I think our whole approach will be if we can't go out and play a solid football game next week, then it's all for naught. The exciting thing about it is, it's winner-take-all next week."
Don Banks covers pro football for CNNSI.com.
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