ALAMEDA, Calif. (Jan. 26, 2004) -- Norv Turner was hired as the Oakland Raiders' head coach, taking over a team that went from the Super Bowl to 4-12 in just a year.
Turner coached the Washington Redskins from 1994-00 -- making the playoffs only once -- and has been the Miami Dolphins' offensive coordinator the past two seasons.
He went 49-59-1 with the Redskins, his only NFL head coaching experience.
The Raiders said they would have an afternoon news conference with Turner. He replaces Bill Callahan, fired after two seasons as Oakland's head coach and since been hired by Nebraska.
Turner, 51, who grew up in Martinez, Calif., has 19 years of pro coaching experience. He also has been offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers.
Turner began his NFL coaching career as an assistant with the Los Angeles Rams in 1985, and he was on Dallas' coaching staff from 1991-93, when the Cowboys won two straight Super Bowls.
The Raiders interviewed at least five coaching candidates during the past few weeks.
Oakland, plagued by injuries this season, posted its worst record since also going 4-12 in 1997. The Raiders tied with three other teams for fewest wins in the league in the biggest collapse by a team that reached the Super Bowl the previous year.
Turner will face many big decisions, including the status of four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson, 38-year-old quarterback Rich Gannon, 41-year-old receiver Jerry Rice and 37-year-old receiver Tim Brown. Gannon is coming off shoulder surgery.
"Make no mistake about it, 2003 was a year of defeat, and we intend to go through that mountain even though those rocks are coming down and bring this wagon through again. And we'll be there again," Raiders owner Al Davis said last week.
well, they didn't exactly have people knocking down the door to coach that team. It's crazy how they go from being in the Super Bowl, to where they've fallen presently....
If he can fis the O-line and keep Gannon alive the Raiders could have a decent season. It's not like they have no talent. Gannon if given time will excel and Garner should rebound as well. None of this will happen if Norv can't patch together a line, though. Raiders' players could be real sleepers next year. Gannon, Garner, and Porter all bear watching.
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moochman
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I think that this boosts Ricky Williams ranking a bit. Norv ran him into the ground, and then when it got to a goal line situation, he'd give it to Konrad or just have Fiedler run it in a lot of the time.
What should this do to Tyrone Wheatley or Justin Fargas' value in Oakland?
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by thelongestyard » Mon Jan 26, 2004 1:36 pm 
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