[MENTION=109]skop[/MENTION]ko is referring to Rich Gannon and he is spot on. 1999-2004. From 99-'04, the guy had years he had never experienced in up to that point 11 years in the league.(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Gannon).
Sure there were fans in Oakland who wanted to see a younger QB at the helm within those years, especially Marquise Tuiasosopo. Though some regimes know what it best for the organization. They will never make the fans choose for them. Polls are meaningless. Jets fans choosing Geno over Fitz ? C'mon now, Mac and Bowles would be out of jobs just like the predecessors.
I feel Macagnans plan is to continue to build towards the future with leadership to learn from. Something the Raiders didnt do with Gannon. They put all their eggs in a QB that after his short success, there was nothing to follow. Mac is following the path of the select front offices who know that the limited time they have with a QB should continue with their heir such as:
*San francisco, (Montana/Young)
*Green Bay (Favre/Rodgers),
*Chargers (Brees/Rivers)
*Steelers (Maddox/Roethlisberger)
*Patriots (Beldsoe/Brady)
*Patriots (Brady/Garroppolo ??)
Mike Macagnan knows where this team would be if Geno Smith is at the helm here with Marshall, Decker, Forte, Amaro and whom ever stud has the potential to break out either in Devin Smith of CHerone Peake: it would be wasting Woody Johnsons money in watching a mediocre product. Geno is a Tony Banks, David Klingler and Andre Ware clone. He is a below average serviceable back up QB. Talented physique wise, absolutely, though between the ears, it unfortunately doesn't click. Ask youselves, why would Woody want to place this sort of investment in the hands of a player who just never seems to seize his moments?