Shell-Hostetler Argument Won’t Go Away for Raiders : Analysis: Head coach disputes reported racial remark to quarterback.

Eight days have passed since the Meltdown in Miami, the now all-too-infamous Art Shell-Jeff Hostetler confrontation. But the fallout continues.

Even though the Raiders won Sunday, they seem to be at a loss as to how to cool the heat from the nationally televised coach-player sideline argument a week ago.

“Let it go,” quarterback Jeff Hostetler yelled to reporters on Sunday, after leading the Raiders past the Atlanta Falcons, 30-17.

But instead of going away, things took a new turn over the weekend with the subject of racism introduced.

ESPN reported Sunday that Shell, in the heat of battle along those sidelines in Miami, directed a racial remark at Hostetler.

Later Monday, three independent sources said Shell derisively compared Hostetler to former Raider quarterback Jay Schroeder. The versions of what was said varied only slightly, and generally had Shell calling Hostetler “another white quarterback, just like Schroeder.” Some versions had the statement sprinkled with expletives.

Shell, asked about it at a news conference, vehemently denied the racial remark. Hostetler’s agent, Marvin Demoff, when contacted Monday night, said Hostetler did not mention any racial remark to him in a series of conversations the two had in the 24 hours after the incident a week ago.

Hostetler, questioned specifically about the racial remark after Shell’s news conference and denial, said, “It’s been hashed and rehashed. I want to put it behind me.” Told that only he could put an end to the speculation over the racial remark, Hostetler replied, “I just don’t have any more to say about it.”

Shell’s response in his news conference was both heated and emotional.

“Someone said I said that and it’s a total lie,” he said. “All the people that were standing around listening to what was going on know I would never even think in those terms. But again, sometimes in this investigative media, some of them grab things and throw it out there for whatever reason, try to sensationalize things. But no, I would never say anything like that.”

Asked if the charge hurt him, Shell said, “Sure it did. Sure it did. But then you’ve got to understand this society. I don’t know where we are going with this thing . . . It’s not everybody, but (with) some people in the media, (it) becomes character assassination. They’re trying to tear you down. If I’m a bad coach, then say I’m a bad coach. . . . (If you think) I can’t do the job, say I can’t do the job. But to throw something out like that, that’s just totally ridiculous.

“But again, this team knows me. If anybody said, if anybody said that I said that, they’re liars and I’ll say that to their face. I know people that were standing around me that were shocked at how anybody could say something like that when it’s not true.

“It’s unconscionable I would do something like that. In front of my team I would do that? Just think about that. Think about how stupid that would be on my part if that was on my brain at all.”

Shell added that nothing that is said in the heat of an argument over football strategy should be taken as anything more than that.

“There’s nothing personal about what any coach does in having a discussion with a player,” Shell said. “There’s nothing personal. We’re all trying to do one thing. We’re all trying to win.”

Apparently, Hostetler’s arguments are not so much with Shell, but with the play calling of offensive coordinator Tom Walsh. Raider sources say that Shell and Hostetler have come to terms with the incident, that Hostetler took Shell’s remarks not as a racial slur of any kind but as something that did, indeed, happen in the heat of battle.

It was after Hostetler changed two runs called from the press box by Walsh in the Miami game to passes that he and Shell argued on the sidelines, in full view of a national television audience. Shell yanked off his headset and ordered backup Vince Evans into the game in Hostetler’s place for the final two series of the first half.

After the Raiders lost in overtime to the Dolphins, Hostetler talked to Demoff by phone several times that Sunday night and again Monday morning. He was still so angry Monday, that he was thinking of skipping practice to cool down. Instead, he showed up and then watched part of “Monday Night Football” that evening with Demoff.

“His frustrations had only to do with the football situation and his being benched and did not have anything to do with anything personal,” Demoff said. “I talked to Jeff several times on Sunday and Monday and the only thing he discussed with me was his anger at being benched regarding his changing of the plays. There was no mention of race.”

Shell has never had any hints of racial bias in his past.

Demoff denied speculation that Hostetler was so angry he was looking for a way out of his Raider contract, which still has an additional year to go.

“He has never asked to leave,” Demoff said.

But even if Hostetler and Shell can indeed work together, things are not that simple in an organization like the Raiders.

Walsh has a great deal of power in terms of calling the plays. Part of the peace conference between Shell and Hostetler involved a discussion of what had been perceived as communication problems between Walsh and Shell and the offensive unit.

According to a report on the Fox network, assistant coach Fred Biletnikoff has been designated to attend offensive meetings to smooth over those communication problems. Translation: Biletnikoff will serve as a liaison between Shell and Walsh.

So the big issue for the Raiders is not so much an alleged remark made in the heat of battle as much as the rift that appears to remain on a team showing much success and even more potential.

Whatever Shell said to Hostetler appears to be a symptom of a more serious team disease.