Raider Return to L.A. Seems to Be the Answer

Times writer Steve Springer poses--and answers--the burning questions for this week’s games:

1. Question: Is there any any chance the Oakland Raiders will come back to L.A.?

Answer: Let’s see. Raider boss Al Davis still maintains a place here. The team and the city of Oakland are locked in a legal battle. The initial roar over their return to Oakland is down to a faint hum. And the number of empty seats for home games is growing at an alarming rate.

So what do you think?

2. Q: Would NFL owners like to see the Raiders move back to L.A.?

A: Let’s see. The owners stalled as long as they could before awarding an expansion franchise to Houston, hoping L.A. would come around. They know their network partners are not comfortable with there being no home-team rooting interest in the country’s second-largest market. The owners always get nervous when Davis is in court. And they also get nervous when they see dwindling attendance, a la Oakland.

So what do you think?

3. Q: Would the Raiders be successful in L.A.?

A: Sure, if quarterback Rich Gannon could continue to throw the ball well and if the rushing game could continue to function smoothly and if defensive tackle Darrell Russell could continue to rack up impressive sack numbers.

Come to think of it, if the Raiders could do all that and get back into contention, they would have all the support they needed in Oakland.

4. Q: Any chance San Francisco quarterback Steve Young will pull a Willis Reed and make a dramatic appearance to fire his team up for a meaningful game?

A: There’s a better chance of Young reappearing this season than the 49ers being involved in a meaningful game.

5. Q: Was Tampa Bay quarterback Trent Dilfer’s one-game benching the reason he has come back so strong in the last two games, throwing for 497 yards and five touchdowns?

A: Not according to Dilfer.

“I don’t think anything good comes out of being benched,” he said. “I just never thought it was a time to panic. I thought people around [the Buccaneers] did panic and I disagreed with them.”