Oakland Raiders: Mark Davis Considering “Sweeping Changes,” Pursuing Jon Gruden?

Jan 10, 2012; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis at press conference to announce his hiring of Reggie McKenzie (not pictured) as Oakland Raiders general manager at the Oakland Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

When Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis fired PR director Zak Gilbert a few months ago for unnecessary reasons, many viewed it as the Raiders reverting back to form, making rash decisions that are highly scrutinized by the public and the media.

Now, as stated in a terrific column written by Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports, Davis could be pondering upon more changes.

LaCanfora reports that Davis nearly hired former Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren to take over that some role for the Raiders last season. The Raiders currently do not have a president, and this offseason, more reports linked the Raiders to Holmgren. Their former top executive, Amy Trask, stepped down from her position as CEO of the team in May.

What’s more, in addition to Holmgren, Davis is very fond of former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, and “several well-connected NFL people believe Davis may try to woo Gruden to be his coach/team president soon enough.”

Gruden coached the Raiders from 1998-2001, compiling a 36-28 record in the regular season and 2-2 in the playoffs. Under Gruden, the Raiders improved from last place in 1997 to a legitimate contender in just two seasons. Oakland finished 12-4 in 2000 and lost to the Ravens in the AFC Championship.

Gruden departed to coach Tampa Bay in 2002, where he won a Super Bowl against the Raiders in his very first season with the Buccaneers. Since 2002, the Raiders have yet to have a winning season and have not made the playoffs.

However, these changes — if they were to be made at all — would come much further down the road. Dennis Allen and Reggie McKenzie have been in control for just two seasons, and considering the situation that they were handed, they deserve a lot more time to turn this franchise around.

But then again, the man at the helm of the Raiders is the son of the legendary Al Davis, and after a few seasons of mediocrity, he may be feeling a little pressure to fill the huge shoes left by his father.

Will impatience get the better of him, and will more rash decisions come to light? Or will he stick to the status quo and trust in the system in place, the system that one hopes will bring the Raiders back into glory?