Statement from Raiders owner Mark Davis

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The following statement was delivered by Raiders owner Mark Davis to open Tuesday's press conference introducing Reggie McKenzie as the new general manager of the Oakland Raiders.

Mark Davis
"Three months ago, on Oct. 8, 2011 at 3 a.m. I received a phone call from Dr. General Hilliard that my father had passed away. It was a sad day for the Raider Nation and all the players, coaches and fans that had worn the famed Silver & Black over the past 48 years. I had two immediate goals -- one short term, one long term. My short-term goal was to make sure the season continued with as little disruption as possible and to achieve our goal of reaching the playoffs, and winning the Super Bowl. In that regard I asked John Madden to join me in a meeting with coach Jackson, where we discussed the optimum working relationship between the coach and myself.

"My short-term goal went great for about five days. Then Jason Campbell broke his right clavicle in the game. The following week we lost Darren McFadden to a foot injury, which unknowingly at the time, turned out to be a season-ending injury. At one point in the season we were 7-4 and two games ahead in the division. And then we lost four of the next five games to finish 8-8 and out of the playoffs. To say the least, it was certainly a disappointment. My long-term goal was to research and identify a general manager to lead the Raider organization into the future. I consulted with Ron Wolf to help me identify potential candidates, one of which was Reggie McKenzie.

"Unfortunately, league rules prohibited us from contacting any current employees of any other National Football League teams until the end of the regular season. So for three months I did extensive research into all the potential candidates for the job.But early on I recognized that Reggie McKenzie was the man I was looking for to lead the Raiders into the future.

"On January 1 the shackles were off and we were finally able to ask the Green Bay Packers for permission to interview Reggie McKenzie to become general manager of the Oakland Raiders. On January 2 the Green Bay Packers graciously granted that permission. I called Reggie, we spoke briefly, and made arrangements for him to fly in for an interview. We met with John Madden for about six hours and reached an agreement that Reggie would become the general manager of the Oakland Raiders.

"After the meeting I texted Reggie that my father used to say, "the greatness of the Raiders is in its future." Reggie, the future is now. Ladies and gentlemen, Reggie McKenzie."

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