So the story goes like this: The Raiders blew Sunday’s game at Buffalo 24-23, and we all assumed Lane Kiffin was about to be fired. But little did we know the real fun was about to start (and in a way already had).

At Monday’s weekly press conference, Tim Kawakami of The San Jose Mercury-News asked Kiffin if felt alone, mentioning an article critical of him passed out to media members by a Raiders official. Suddenly John Herrera, Raiders employee, pipes up, says that’s not true (Lowell Cohn of The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports Herrera did give the article to one media member, and told others about it).

Anyhow, Kiffin and Kawakami waited, then continued, and then the press conference ended. And then this happened:

After the jump, Kawakami responds, and the silly comments of the Raider nation.

So here’s some of Kawakami’s insight:

I feel bad for Raiders employees. I really do. I understand the unique pressures and paranoia involved when you work for Al Davis … I have a feeling at some point John Herrera and I will sit back and laugh about this. Maybe not for a while, but we probably will. I think he’s normally a very nice man.

-SNIP-

It’s fairly entertaining when you can step back and see it from far away. It’s illustrative and it’s a little sad, again, in an always entertaining way. This is what the once-great franchise is reduced to?

-SNIP-

But when it’s running up to you and screaming in your face and calling you a liar and apparently intimating that I was dabbling in counter-culture activities with a national NFL writer? HUH? In front of every local TV station, to be shown at 6 and 11 I would guess? Well, now!

And on who did give out that article critical of Kiffin?

OK, since John is making a point of this, I can say that I know that it was Herrera who handed it out. I didn’t write his name at the time–because, again, I feel for Raiders employees and the grunt work they have to do for Al’s paranoia–but I will now.

If John’s going to scream in front of five TV cameras about it, I guess he’s volunteering himself right there.

I’m not the only one who knows what John did. By far not the only one. Oh well, in Wonderland, I guess John can alter reality. Fine. Wonderland is weird.

Whoa. And then we have the Raiders comment section. Entertaining to say the least.

Gentlemen, the Raiders are in their forty-ninth season, and are in their forty-sixth season since Mr. Davis joined them. They haven’t gotten this far by lying. You guys won’t still be here nearly as long. So please stop spreading hate and lies. Start reporting facts, or please shut the hell up.

**********

Thank God I’m a 49ers fan.

**********

Kiffin seems to be the only sane person involved with that franchise. If I were a Raiders fan I’d be watching a lot of rugby…

**********

Herrera sounds like a guy really trying to cover his butt, but of course he’s made it much worse. It sounds like Tim handled himself very well. Lowell Cohen also wrote a blog posting about this.

**********

Raiders organization is run by bunch of goons and NFL should take some action before these punks do any further damage. I guess thuggery is not just limited to their fans.

And then the Raiders fans who have no problem with an official threatening a media member in public.

Gentlemen, the Raiders are in their forty-ninth season, and are in their forty-sixth season since Mr. Davis joined them. They haven’t gotten this far by lying. You guys won’t still be here nearly as long. So please stop spreading hate and lies. Start reporting facts, or please shut the hell up.

**********

I agree with him - learn how to write a column. Look at little Timmy shaking. Poor baby. Time to take out the trash MercuryNews!

**********

Wow…another lame story from a completely bias “journalist”. Seriously TK…dude…shut up already. Between you and Nancy Gay I’ve read more pointless re-tread Raider hating articles than I care to remember. What you do is not journalism…it’s just sad.

Best part? The Raiders still call Kiffin coach, meaning the fun will continue for another week. Yeehaw!