Raiders Reportedly Planning to Fire Shell

The NFL Network reported during its broadcast of tonight's Packers-Vikings game in Green Bay that the Oakland Raiders plan to fire Art Shell as their coach after the season.

The Raiders issued a statement ridiculing the report, saying it did not come from a reliable source and indicating that no decisions had been made about the team's future.

Shell is in the first season of his second stint as the Raiders' coach. He wasn't the club's first choice last offseason, being rehired by owner Al Davis after the team offered the job to a college coach, Bobby Petrino of Louisville, but was rebuffed.

The Raiders have a record of 2-12 and Shell has feuded with disgruntled wide receiver Jerry Porter, suspending him at one point for conduct detrimental to the team. Shell has demoted the offensive coordinator that he brought out of retirement, Tom Walsh, and he said an unnamed club official was undermining his efforts with critical comments made anonymously to media members. Reports have said that Shell was referring to front office executive Mike Lombardi.

If the Raiders do fire Shell, they would be looking for their third coach in three seasons. Norv Turner was fired last offseason after two seasons in which he went a combined 9-23.

By Mark Maske |  December 21, 2006; 10:12 PM ET  | Category:  Raiders
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Posted by: Jawja | December 21, 2006 11:03 PM

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