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Last Hurrah? Raiders strike back after Oakland lawsuit

By Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange
An Oakland Raiders fan looks over the crowd at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on November 18. Photo by Art Foxall/UPI
An Oakland Raiders fan looks over the crowd at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on November 18. Photo by Art Foxall/UPI | License Photo

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- First there is an action -- legally speaking -- and then a reaction. And now we wait to see what happens as the Oakland Raiders home field for 2019 is up in the air more than ever.

The City of Oakland filed an antitrust lawsuit Tuesday against the Raiders, the NFL and all other clubs regarding the franchise's future move to Las Vegas. On Wednesday, the Raiders struck back.

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At the NFL owners meeting in Dallas, Raiders CEO Marc Badain said the team's $7.5 million lease offer for the 2019 season was rescinded, leaving in doubt where the team will play next year before moving to Las Vegas in 2020.

"We do not have an answer on where we're going to play next year," Badain said. "We have a number of options, and when we have an answer, we'll share it with you."

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In the meantime, Raiders coach Jon Gruden is trying to stay focused on the next game -- which is Sunday in Cincinnati -- after an upset win vs. the rival Pittsburgh Steelers this past weekend.

"It's always something every day here, isn't it?," Gruden said. "I want to play in Oakland and I'm real sensitive like you would expect. It's where I want to play. Let's see what happens."

Regardless, Raiders owner Mark Davis indicated that "all options are open," and included playing in Oakland as one of those options. Other sites being mentioned -- with varying degrees of plausibility -- include San Diego, Santa Clara, San Antonio and somewhere in Nevada.

Interestingly, Davis says he has an emotional attachment to the fans in Oakland.

"Emotionally, I don't want to pay for my own lawsuit, but for the fans, it's something I've got to think about," he said.

Still, Davis isn't exactly rolling over. He told ESPN the suit was "meritless and malicious," adding, "My feeling is we're 3-10 and we're still relevant."

Previously, Davis said, "Emotionally, I would say, why give them $3 million, $4 million, $5 million in rent that they're going to turn around and sue me. But at the same time, if they'll have us, I won't turn on the fans. I can't do it ... but if in fact this does get ugly, and can't be bridged, we do have options."

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This all gives new life to the idea that the Raiders' Christmas Eve matchup against the Denver Broncos may be the team's last in Oakland.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league must know the Raiders' intentions by early 2019 so the league can work out the 2019 schedule, which is usually revealed in March.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr weighed in by saying he has an attachment to the Coliseum, where a sloppy field aided a win over Pittsburgh on Sunday when the Steelers' kicker slipped while attempting what would have been a game-winning, 40-yard field goal.

"I've spent five years playing in that stadium," Carr said. "We have people talking trash about it and whatever they want, but I love it. It's ours. It's been fun. The fact that it could be the last one is crazy."

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