Raiders

Fans Not Happy With Job Mark Davis Has Done As Raiders Owner

Mark Davis inherited the Las Vegas Raiders when his father, Al Davis, passed away. Since taking control of the franchise in 2011, he’s only overseen a winning season once. Plenty of fans aren’t happy about it.

The Raiders haven’t had much success since they made it to the Super Bowl on January 26, 2003. In the 2000s, the franchise went through a spell of futility. Al Davis’s deteriorating health in the decade most likely played a factor in that. Things haven’t been much different in the 2010s with his son Mark at the helm.

Since 2011, the Raiders have failed to qualify for the playoffs every year but once. Most of the losing falls on Davis. Former general manager Reggie McKenzie failed to acquire talent during his tenure with the team. Currently, quarterback Derek Carr, linebacker Marquel Lee and guard Gabe Jackson are the only players remaining from McKenzie’s drafts.* Nevertheless, it was Davis who hired McKenzie, so he’s responsible for not getting the right person to replenish the team’s roster.

On the other hand, Davis hasn’t had a return from his most recent meaningful hire, head coach Jon Gruden. Back in 2018, Davis fired Jack Del Rio and brought Gruden to lead the team. That move has resulted in 11 wins in the last 32 games, not likely the result Davis expected when he gave Gruden a 10-year $100 million contract.

Related: Raiders GM Mike Mayock Had Overwhelming Support from Fans

Raiders Fans Opinion Towards Mark Davis

Losing will wear anyone down. For that reason, it isn’t surprising to see how Raiders fandom feels about the younger Davis. In a recent survey, Tashaan Reed and Vic Tafur of the Athletic ran, fans graded Davis somewhere around the middle. On a scale from zero to 10, almost half of the fans leaned towards six or lower.

While 20.9 percent graded him at a 7 and 19.8 percent gave him an 8, there was still 41.1 percent that graded him as a 6 or lower. The path toward more solidified support is best summed up in his late father’s famous slogan: Just win, baby. 

If the Raiders start winning in 2020, fan support to Davis will likely increase. One person that will surely help the franchise do so is Mike Mayock. As soon as the general manager got the job, a sense of direction and vision surrounded the team.

Also, working on Davis’ favor is the construction of Allegiant Stadium. After looking for a new stadium for years, the Raiders owner finally found financing in Las Vegas. The fact Allegiant looks to be cheaper than its counterpart, SoFi Stadium, makes Davis look smart in hindsight too.

Davis tenure as the Raiders owner has not been pretty. He’s had some misses, but he should be commended for the hiring of Mayock and the construction of the team’s new home. Even if fan perception of Davia isn’t positive right now, he’s placed the foundation of a better team in place. Eventually, that should help him gain some popularity among Raiders Nation.

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Top Photo: Justin Edmons/Getty Images

*McKenzie signed running back Jalen Richard as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

 

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18 thoughts on “Fans Not Happy With Job Mark Davis Has Done As Raiders Owner”

  1. This last draft is something that Mark Davis could be held accountable for. It was like one of his father’s drafts during his declining years starting from 2003. Mckenzie was a good contract negotiator but his drafts, with the exception of 2014, were mediocre to say the least.

  2. Bull s***! He hired Mayock and Gruden, he just signs checks. He’s been the perfect owner.

    1. Carlos Sanchez

      Good evening, sir. If you take only his last two years of work as an owner, he’s been exceptional. However, I suggest you take into account the years when he took over, the appointment of McKenzie and his failure to secure a deal in Oakland. Also, I would like to see Mayock more than one year on the job and whether Gruden can take the Raiders over the hump.

  3. Gabriel D. Martin

    This last draft was great! New stadium! Gruden and Mayock! The culture has obviously changed and is still changing. 8

  4. Mark Davis got us a new stadium, and is letting the professionals run the team. Al Davis is an all time great owner in all of sports but by the end he dug the Raiders a deep hole that we are still getting out of. Mark is doing what a good owner should, bring in good people to run the organization, sign the checks, and get out of the way.

    1. Carlos Sanchez

      Yes, but that wasn’t always the case. His first six, possible seven years at the job were less than stellar. Regarding good people to run the team, Mayock had one good draft. I would like to see sustain success. Gruden wise, I’m not so sure, but I get what you’re saying.

  5. Funny, the headline does not line up with the math. So 41.1% graded him a 6 or less. That leaves 58.9% left to grade a 7 or higher. Sounds like the majority of fans think he has done a good job. I’d also guess a large majority of the 41.1%, is a 6, which is still above average. I’d say he’s done a good job, and give him an 8.

    He hired Mckenzie under the guidance of some of the brightest football minds he had access to, because he was not a football guy by his own admission. He let Reggie run the football side. After it was proven Reggie wasn’t going to cut it, Mark made changes. Those changes are looking very promising.

    He landed a massive stadium to call his own. That’s a $2.5 billion dollar asset that the Raiders now own, and paid less than half for. I’d take that deal any day. They’re no longer leasing a scap heap in Oakland. I do love that scrap heap and have some hope it can continue to bleed silver and black. Maybe a museum in memory of the Raiders, build it around the black hole section.

    I know I love the current direction. Has it been rough under Mark? Yes. Does it look like this ship is heading the right direction with a sail full of autumn winds? Yes!

    1. Carlos Sanchez

      Thanks for engaging. I think most of the negative reaction is due to his early days as an owner, Reggie McKenzie and how he failed to secure a Stadium in Oakland. Of course, those three factors are now changing. He’s more experienced, Mayock is killing it and Allegiant looks great. So you’re right, sir. Things are heading in the right direction.

  6. This articles facts and mathematics are terribly flawed. As if written by a bitter ex lover:D

  7. So nearly 60% gave him a seven or higher? What percent gave him a six or higher? What percent of that minority are bitter fans from Oakland?

  8. Deborah White

    Mark Davis will never see the fan love like he had in Oakland and he should have never lied to us and say he was building a stadium in Oakland. Mark is a sellout, loser and if he has a winning season it will be pure luck.

  9. Francisco Barroteran

    Mark Davis has done a good job. This article is bullshit. That fact that he got the finance to finally build a stadium for the franchise and a new training facility for the team is something his father Al couldn’t do. I like Mike Mayock a lot. Give him time and he will bring top notch talent to the team. I’m happy with Mark Davis.

    1. Carlos Sanchez

      You’re only taking into account the last two seasons. While I agree that getting Allegiant Stadium built and hiring Mayock were a huge victories, it wasn’t long ago that the job Davis was doing was questioned by fans and press alike. He was in part responsible for not securing a deal in Oakland. Other than a good draft haul, Reggie McKenzie’s tenure with the team was subpar. Hue Jackson having cart blanche wasn’t good either, so a full body of work is necessary to have a clear evaluation.

  10. Christine Kenneday

    Carlos Sanchez (the author of this article) How was the survey conducted? I don’t know anyone who thinks Mark Davis is doing a bad job. As a season ticket holder I certainly did not receive a survey. None of the other season ticket holders that I know have received a survey. None of my friends or family received a survey. Plus, 58.9% of the surveyed population thinks he is doing a good job. Quit trying to start a fire with negativity. You’re just like all the other “journalists” out there making something out of nothing. You’re a pathetic, unethical representative for true journalists that want to get the story right, but there aren’t many of those left anyways.

    1. Carlos Sanchez

      Good evening, Ms. Kenneday.

      First of all, thank you for taking the time to read. I don’t doubt you are a season holder, but the fact you weren’t part of the survey doesn’t make it less true. The survey was conducted by The Atlantic and 1,278 people, a rather robust control group, partook in it. On the other hand, I don’t see the need to call me pathetic and unethical. Of course, you are free to do so. One my end, I promise you I didn’t let any prejudices blur my judgement when responding your message. Likewise, I won’t insult you, I respect you and all the readers at Raider Ramble. Whenever you want to an desire so, we can talk about all the points you made in depth.

      Have an excellent day, Ms. Kenneday.

  11. Christine Kenneday

    Carlos Sanchez, according to Google the Raider Fan Base from 2012 to February 2020 on Social Media is 3.33 million. A control group that you called “robust” of less than 1,500 is not enough to accurately represent a group that is larger than 3 million on just social media alone. Therefore, before publishing this article I would’ve done more research by going to multiple sources for information. I still feel that you did not do due diligence in your research for this article. Following up with multiple sources should be the norm for every journalist.

    1. Carlos Sanchez

      Good morning, Ms. Kenneday.

      Thanks for taking your harvest data and engage. Although 1,500 doesn’t seem like much when compared with three million, that’s not how polling works. Most survey contact 600-1,000 people. Let me share a few links about polls with you.

      https://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/polls/FAQ/polling.FAQ.shtml

      http://www.ncpp.org/?q=node/6

      https://m.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/about_us/methodology

      Now, my interactions with you helped notice something, which I’m grateful for. First, I omitted the hyperlink to the source, I just added it this morning. That was sloppy and shouldn’t have happened, I always link the sources to my work. Without you, I wouldn’t have found out. The other thing that I want to mention is that I wrote plenty of fans are not happy with the job Davis is doing. I didn’t state that the vast majority, most of them or more than half did.

      Happy fourth of July.

  12. Ur article is part of what is wrong with Raiders n world. Nobody tells the truth or is so delusional that they fail to see the truth. Davis deserves nothing n has not produced enough as owner to receive a 1 on scale to 10. Another mistruth is you stating that Davis hired Mayock n as such a foundation is set. Mayock is a straw-man nothing else. He is GM on paper-title only. Grudn hired him not Davis n Gruden makes every single decision for this franchise – PERIOD! To report otherwise is irresponsible n a complete falsity.

    Start reporting the truth n part of that is Gruden should be FIRED.

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