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The real reason Stabler did not get in HOF earlier was due to Stabler being friendly with some Mafia figure….due to gambling

The story out there; but I have not heard about it for long time; maybe some you might have heard about it

The Real-Life Controversy (1981)In August 1981, The New York Times published a high-profile exposé revealing that Ken Stabler had a long-standing, close association with Nicholas Dudich, a convicted bookmaker. Law enforcement officials identified Dudich as an associate of the Simone DeCavalcante organized crime family based in New Jersey. [1] (https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/07/30 ... 491544000/), [2] (https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/30/spor ... mbler.html)The Warnings: Executives from the Oakland Raiders had repeatedly warned Stabler during his final four seasons with the team to cut ties with Dudich. Stabler ignored the warnings, and his persistent association ultimately influenced the Raiders' decision to trade him to the Houston Oilers in 1980. [1] (https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/30/spor ... mbler.html)The Allegations: Simultaneously, an NBC News broadcast accused Stabler of intentionally losing games to benefit a gambling ring controlled by the Mafia. [1] (https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/07/30 ... 491544000/)The Aftermath: The NFL launched a thorough investigation but cleared Stabler of any rule violations or game-fixing a week later. Federal law enforcement agencies also found no evidence that Stabler threw games. In response to the damage to his reputation, Stabler filed a massive libel lawsuit against NBC and its affiliates for the broadcast. [1] (https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/07/30 ... 491544000/)

raidersince63 wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 11:08 am Wish I had the answer but it seems to me the whole voting system needs to be overhauled, starting with who gets to vote, what percent of the voting is required, etc. But again, who should get to decide that? ...Sportswriters?...Coaches?...Players?...Fans?

Unfortunately, I don't believe any of those 4 groups can be completely objective/unbiased, so I dunno.

Speaking of bias, I can't speak for everyone here but I honestly believe that even after all these years, there is still some "anti-Raider bias" in the NFL. Am I just being paranoid?...maybe, but maybe not.

Not in the HOF and thw seniors ballot, while Stabler and Branch got in after they passed, they get to include Guy as a senior add as well. We have a huge percentage of recent senior adds. If you include Flores, that is quite a group of recent adds. Other than Hayes, Plunkett and Tatum, who is worthy from our team that is not in. As for the NFL? I doubt they care enough about a suck ass team like we have been for decades now. The guys who hated Davis are all mostly gone. i doubt anyone hates Dufus. And the team in Vegas is making the league serious bank. As for other teams, for years they have circled our game on their calendars with a big red W on it. And mostly, they were not wrong. So who knows, maybe a few hate the Raiders but not guys in power. We either make them money or give them cheap victories.

Attyla wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 1:46 pm Not in the HOF and thw seniors ballot, while Stabler and Branch got in after they passed, they get to include Guy as a senior add as well. We have a huge percentage of recent senior adds. If you include Flores, that is quite a group of recent adds. Other than Hayes, Plunkett and Tatum, who is worthy from our team that is not in. As for the NFL? I doubt they care enough about a suck ass team like we have been for decades now. The guys who hated Davis are all mostly gone. i doubt anyone hates Dufus. And the team in Vegas is making the league serious bank. As for other teams, for years they have circled our game on their calendars with a big red W on it. And mostly, they were not wrong. So who knows, maybe a few hate the Raiders but not guys in power. We either make them money or give them cheap victories.

Fair enough, but in my defense, I did cite possible paranoia. And that might be the case.

After being screwed over so many times over the years, old habits can be hard to break...the Rob Lytle play, the "reception" play vs the Steelers, the tuck rule game, et al.

I still ascribe to the "Us vs the NFL" mantra...again, "old habits".

Attyla wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 1:46 pm Other than Hayes, Plunkett and Tatum, who is worthy from our team that is not in.

As fans we are in for a long wait if these guys get in because from say 1990 till now? Lechler is about it (off the top of my head) for players who could get in.

Attyla wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 1:46 pm As for the NFL? I doubt they care enough about a suck ass team like we have been for decades now. The guys who hated Davis are all mostly gone. i doubt anyone hates Dufus. And the team in Vegas is making the league serious bank. As for other teams, for years they have circled our game on their calendars with a big red W on it. And mostly, they were not wrong. So who knows, maybe a few hate the Raiders but not guys in power. We either make them money or give them cheap victories.

Agreed. The Raiders being feared and "against us" ended somewhere in the mid to late 2000s if not sooner. We haven't been relevant enough to matter.

The league only cares about one thing: $$$ and Vegas is making serious money even with a crap team and an owner who's only real world accomplishment was being the fastest swimmer on the Fallopian swim team.

raidersince63 wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 2:40 pm Fair enough, but in my defense, I did cite possible paranoia. And that might be the case.

After being screwed over so many times over the years, old habits can be hard to break...the Rob Lytle play, the "reception" play vs the Steelers, the tuck rule game, et al.

I still ascribe to the "Us vs the NFL" mantra...again, "old habits".

I do get that, many fans blame the NFL for the failed deal for Elway. There is sufficient evidence that supports the bears just getting cold feet and that has been born out. We just keep the old narratives alive. We blame Brady for the tuck rule. He had zero to do with that and actually if you watch the footage, you see him walking off the field with his head down.

But we have far more often been our own worst enemy. Callahan not changing the audibles, us not bothering to get a competent backup for Carr etc. There a reason we are the stupidest team in sports. Some do make some sense, Davis destroying our salary cap in an effort to get one more shot. We found out that he knew he was dying. His autopsy definitely lets us know he knew he was on his way out. That one I give a pass for. I would have done the same thing.

Willmark wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 3:31 pm As fans we are in for a long wait if these guys get in because from say 1990 till now? Lechler is about it (off the top of my head) for players who could get in.



Agreed. The Raiders being feared and "against us" ended somewhere in the mid to late 2000s if not sooner. We haven't been relevant enough to matter.

The league only cares about one thing: $$$ and Vegas is making serious money if with a crap team and an owner who's only real world accomplishment was being the fastest swimmer on the Fallopian swim team.

And I can assure you that Lechler ain't getting in. We not only do not have any modern day guys, the guys from days gone by are going to get lost in the mix. Mack is one of ours but Gruden did not value defensive players so completely ignored our best player. What a f[raiders_icon]cking douche

Willmark wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 3:31 pm the fastest swimmer on the Fallopian swim team.

lol...I gotta write that one down. ...kudos.

Attyla wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 3:47 pm And I can assure you that Lechler ain't getting in.

If he doesn't get in it wont be because of stats because by any measure he was as good if not better than Guy.

Trust me, I'm a fan of Guy. But the fact that Lechler got to punt for us for the years he did was a huge boost. In other words our suckage helped him.

If Guy belongs, and he does, so does Lechler...they are widely considered the 2 best ever.

raidersince63 wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 4:27 pm If Guy belongs, and he does, so does Lechler...they are widely considered the 2 best ever.

What about Marquette King? j/k

Attyla wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 10:38 am ...Madden should have let him go into that room to talk to Stingley.

It was my impression that Madden tried to get Tatum to talk to him. In the end Tatum tried to go on some talk show with Stingley but Tatum was just there to promote his book, so Stingley declined.

raider_kin wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 6:08 pm It was my impression that Madden tried to get Tatum to talk to him. In the end Tatum tried to go on some talk show with Stingley but Tatum was just there to promote his book, so Stingley declined.

I never fully understood the particulars of the situation but I seemed bush league that Tatum would use an opportunity to reconcile with Stingley to promote his last book.

The one guy not being mentioned with the others, ie Lester, Plunkett,

is Steve Wisniewski.

Durability: Played in 206 games with 206 starts, missing only two games during his entire 13-year career.
Accolades: Named an eight-time Pro Bowler and a two-time First-team All-Pro (with six Second-team All-Pro honors).
All-Decade Team: Voted to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

Wiz during his playing days was one of the most dominate offensive linemen. I loved watching him play till the last sound of the whistle, blasting opponents all over the field. The thing that holds him back and will probably keep him out is the fact the Raiders weren't very good during his 13 year player career. and it shouldn't matter he was that dominate and stood out on those not good Raider teams. He needs to be voted in along with Lester Hayes and Plunkett.

Wisniewski should have been in years ago. I don't understand the omission.

raider_kin wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 6:08 pm It was my impression that Madden tried to get Tatum to talk to him. In the end Tatum tried to go on some talk show with Stingley but Tatum was just there to promote his book, so Stingley declined.

After the game, Tatum went to the hospital. Madden told him to leave, that it was not the time. Tatum did as Madden instructed. Tatum did write a book, three in fact, and he did invite Stingley to talk on TV about the accident. HBO had set up some kind of interview, but Stingley did not want to be part of it because he saw it as a cash grab by Tatum. I don't think the two ever met up again. But Tatum did make an initial effort to see Stingley and was sent away, and that is directly from Madden's first book.