Oakland Raiders: The Franchise’s All Time Starting Team

Jun 17, 2014; Alameda, CA, USA; Los Angeles Raiders former linebacker Howie Long at Oakland Raiders minicamp at Raiders Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive End – Howie Long

It’s amazing now – in hindsight of course – to know that every team in the league passed up on Long, allowing the Raiders to snap him up in the second round of the 1981 draft with the forty-eighth overall pick.

Over his thirteen seasons with the Raiders, Long became one of the fiercest competitors to ever play the game. Long was an eight time Pro Bowler, a first team All Pro three times, a second teamer two other times, was named to the 1980’s All Decade team. Long won a Super Bowl with the Raiders (XVIII) and in 2000, was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Long’s career total of 84 sacks are still second in franchise history, behind only Greg Townsend‘s 107.5. Though he’s only credited with 84, Long has an actual sack total of 91.5 – sacks were not kept as an official statistic during his rookie season.

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