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NAPA - Here in wine country, the most expensive NFL bottle ever opened was supposed to be down to its last drops.
A year ago Raiders owner Al Davis popped what was thought to be one last all-or-nothing cork by going an unofficial record $50 million-plus over the 2003 salary cap. All the Super Bowl experience Davis poured into the defense took the early focus off a passing attack that baffled opponents until the Super Bowl. But there, Jon Gruden's Tampa Bay Bucs shattered the vintage bottle, along with his former boss' future and vitality.
Or so lots of NFL observers thought, including this one.
So who was that ghostly figure in an all-white warm-up suit floating toward you after Tuesday morning's practice? This couldn't be Al Davis. This man was in too good a mood, trading quips and smiles with players. This man was looking and acting 10 years younger than his age of 74
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A year ago Raiders owner Al Davis popped what was thought to be one last all-or-nothing cork by going an unofficial record $50 million-plus over the 2003 salary cap. All the Super Bowl experience Davis poured into the defense took the early focus off a passing attack that baffled opponents until the Super Bowl. But there, Jon Gruden's Tampa Bay Bucs shattered the vintage bottle, along with his former boss' future and vitality.
Or so lots of NFL observers thought, including this one.
So who was that ghostly figure in an all-white warm-up suit floating toward you after Tuesday morning's practice? This couldn't be Al Davis. This man was in too good a mood, trading quips and smiles with players. This man was looking and acting 10 years younger than his age of 74
more
