S.F. Examiner: Stars without home vs. home devoid of stars

By Art Spander
San Francisco Examiner

This is pro football at the moment in the Bay Area: The 49ers are looking for a quarterback while the Raiders — like that song about the boll weevil — are looking for a home.

You hesitate to predict which team has a greater chance of success, although that billion-dollar-plus figure being tossed around for a new Raiders facility across the state border certainly grabs your attention.

Read the full story here.

©2017 The San Francisco Examiner

Newsday (N.Y.): Super Bowl LI: Don’t expect confrontation if Patriots win

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

HOUSTON — The question is what will happen if the New England Patriots win Super Bowl LI on Sunday and — a laugh is permitted — quarterback Tom Brady and team owner Robert Kraft receive the trophy from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Nothing out of the ordinary, if history means much. It would be an old production with new performers.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2017 Newsday. All rights reserved.

SportsXchange: Goodell dishes on Raiders' situation in press conference

By Art Spander
SportsXchange.com

HOUSTON — The Raiders still are in Oakland and may be for a while despite attempts to move to Las Vegas, San Diego or Los Angeles. That is one way to interpret the words of the man in charge, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, at his annual Super Bowl news conference. 

Goodell, for the first time tieless but certainly not clueless, at a session held on Wednesday instead the traditional Friday, said there is work to be done before the Raiders plan to shift from the East Bay to Vegas could become a reality.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2017 SportsXchange

S.F. Examiner: Raiders reflect on bittersweet season

By Art Spander
San Francisco Exaimner

It’s the toughest day in any sport, the one after a season ends with a defeat. There’s satisfaction, of course, of what was accomplished — and for the Raiders that was considerable — and anticipation, of possibilities in the future. There also is regret.

So it was at Raiders Central in Alameda on Sunday. Outside, the rain fell — as if nature had to add to the gloom. Inside, the locker area, the media room, at different times a head coach and some of his players offered words both from the heart and head.

Read the full story here.

©2017 The San Francisco Examiner

S.F. Examiner: Raiders trudge forward into playoffs

By Art Spander
San Francisco Examiner

You’re a Raiders fan, and you wonder what else can happen. The team finally gets out of its decade-deep hole, one that’s silver as much as black, and the owner wants to sneak it over the border.

It has a quarterback worthy of the chant, “MVP, MVP,” and not only does he get hurt, a broken leg no less, but so does his backup.

Read the full story here.

©2017 The San Francisco Examiner