The Oakland Raiders' responses to reports that they are on the verge of signing free agent Chris McAlister have ranged from outright denial to pretending that they have never heard of him.
"Who’s Chris McAlister?" Raiders' defensive coordinator John Marshall responded, when asked about the reports.
Marshall, whose defenses have played McAlister's Ravens only once in the player's 10 years in the league, quickly clarified that he was merely clowning. "Yeah I know who he is. I haven’t heard anything. He’s a great player,” Marshall told the Oakland Tribune.
Other Raider officials were a little less lighthearted when asked. "Totally untrue. It's nonsense," Raider executive John Herrera told the Chronicle's David White, when asked about McAlister.
It's always disappointing when John Herrera comments to the media without adding, "Get your ****ing facts straight."
When coach Tom Cable was asked about McAlister, he insisted, "I don't know anything about it."
Keep in mind, though, this is the Raiders public relations philosophy in action. Raiders' officials always deny everything until each detail is completed and Al Davis has officially announced the development at a press conference.
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Until that happens, the Raiders will continue to claim to think that Chris McAlister is that one creepy guy on the poker shows on basic cable.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who the Oakland Raiders have never heard of.
