Three years after Jon Grudens return Rai

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Mark Davis' six-year dream finally became reality in 2018, when, after multiple failed attempts, he persuaded Jon Gruden to leave the broadcast booth, where he'd been serving as an analyst for ESPN, NHL Vegas Golden Knights Men Jersey  and rejoin the Raiders as head coach. The reunion had been top-of-mind for Davis from the moment he took control of the franchise following the 2011 death of his iconic father, Hall of Famer Al Davis. The younger Davis tried to lure Gruden -- who first coached the Raiders as a fiery, 30-something wunderkind  Colin Miller Men Jersey from 1998 to 2001 -- in 2012, but the charismatic coach wasn't ready. Davis tried again three years later, but Gruden again rebuffed him. However, when the two had one of their informal talks during another disappointing Raiders season in 2017, Davis could sense that Gruden was ready to make a move.At the (re-)introductory pre s conference, Davis' voice seemed to quiver with emotion as he discu sed the moment. "I want to thank the Gruden family from the bottom of Keegan Kolesar Kids Jersey  my heart for making my dream come true," he said. "Raider Nation, this is a big effing deal. ... It is the biggest day of my  Cody Eakin Jersey life right now."The bad part about fantastical dreams is that sometimes you wake to a reality that is far different, and Gruden's return, to this point, has not been what Davis had hoped for, nor what a largely adoring fan base had anticipated. He tore down a club that was one season removed from the playoffs, trading away some of its pillar players seemingly without a plan  Paul Thompson Men Jersey for how to replace them, and now finds himself still searching for his first winning season. The Raiders have gone 19-29 over the past three seasons, with second-, third- and fourth-place finishes in the four-team AFC West. But more disturbing than the finishes is the perception that the team is no better today than when Gruden arrived, with some believing it might actually be worse.It pains me to write that last sentence. As a Bay Area  Tomas Nosek Women Jersey native, I believe the NFL is more compelling when the Raiders are good. From the moment I was old enough to understand football, I loved that the local team embodied the William Carrier Jersey  maverick spirit of its founding father, the late Al Davis. He was going to do things his way, and for decade after decade, that made the Raiders one of the winningest franchises in profe sional sports, not just football.But that contrarian spirit has become a curse for this Break Men Jersey  iteration of the Silver & Black. The Raiders, who have only one winning season in the past 18 years, continue to confound followers by going against the grain. They talk as if they're playing che s when the results speak to an organization playing checkers. The latest example was what the team did in the 2021 NFL Draft.