I couldn’t possibly address the Oakland Raiders without talking about the death of long-time owner Al Davis, who passed away on Saturday at his home. The divisive and controversial man added and detracted from the success of the Raiders franchise for nearly 50 years. Davis took over as head coach and general manager of the Raiders after the 1962 season, left in 1966 to become the commissioner of the AFL, which he promptly and aggressively attacked the NFL until a merger was formed in 1970. Davis then went back to the Raiders as the head of football operations, and assembled a team that would immediately win the AFL Championship.

The story goes on and on and I’m sure we’ve heard it all week so far, but the story moving forward is what becomes of the storied Raider franchise. My estimation, it’s winning. For years, I have been saying, “the Raiders won’t win a Super Bowl until Al Davis dies”. This was not in hopes of the death of possibly the most influential man in pro football history, but more a statement of the affect he had on the organization. When Davis was at the top of his game, both mentally and philosophically, the Raiders were one of the most successful and feared teams in the AFL/NFL. When Davis began to age, and refused to let go of the reigns (or at least loosen them), the team began to suffer.

I won’t harp on the questionable draft picks like JaMarcus Russell or Todd Marinovich. I won’t detail the early release of Ken Stabler, Marcus Allen, and Nnamdi Asomugha. I won’t drill on the early coach terminations of Lane Kiffin, Art Shell, and Tom Cable. What I will talk about is the fear Mr. Davis surrounded the organization with over his 48-year term.

Coaches that were looking for the perfect job, one that would offer them a chance to win a Super Bowl and get paid what they felt they were worth, were afraid of Davis. For an organization that had these things to offer, the head coach would still be forced to take unreasonable and unprecedented orders from the man in the dark owners box. Egos on both sides of the team would be clashing on the field, in the meeting rooms, and in the draft-day war room. It would not matter if a coach wanted to draft the dominant right guard to protect their prized quarterback, Davis wanted the speedy wide receiver he imagined would be open deep on every play. Third and eight from the Raider 48-yard line and the head coach wants to call a draw to the running back? Al Davis chimes in with a deep pass to Willie Gault (this action was a regular occurrence according to Warren Sapp, who played for Oakland from 2004-08. All the knowledge and experience in the coaching world wouldn’t stop Davis from over-riding the decision process of the organization, and no quality coach wanted to work under that umbrella of power.

Now that Davis has passed, and his son Mark, with the assistance of Chief Executive Amy Trask, will apparently be taking on ownership tasks, things may be looking up for the silver and black. Head Coach Hue Jackson will be given more control than any other coach in recent history, and many decisions will go through him. Ownership by committee may become the new way in Oakland, leaving the door open for multiple ideas and opinions. Instead of Darius Heyward-Bey in the first round, a three-pronged discussion may have come up with Percy Harvin, Kenny Britt, or Hakeem Nicks. Even deeper, maybe the Raiders would have ended up with Clay Matthews, BJ Raji, or Brian Cushing, all of whom were selected later than DHB.

Jackson’s emotional status after the Raiders’ win in Houston on Sunday was both shocking and telling. His apparent sadness showed both respect and admiration for Davis. This leads us to believe that these men were on the same page philosophically. We can gather that the Raiders recent success will continue in the direction that Davis would have wanted, with Jackson at the helm. This philosophy appears to be a commitment to Darren McFadden and the running game, with a pledge to improve on an already powerful offensive line. In addition, present defenses with enough of a passing threat to prevent them from putting eight defenders in the box.

Now that the NFL, and specifically the Oakland Raiders, has lost one of the most influential figures in all of professional sports, it is time to move forward. Although still overshadowed by the general philosophies of Al Davis, the Raiders have the freedom to deliberate and harmonize on a direction for the organization, without the looming fear of being jobless. The silver and black find themselves on the fast track to a return to the greatness they once knew. The loss of Davis for Oakland, has just become a bigger loss for the rest of the NFL.

Haven Barnes is an NFL Writer for the The Penalty Flag.