Trip to Florida Better Than One to Hawaii

Raider defensive tackle Darrell Russell didn’t make the Pro Bowl for the first time in three seasons--and only the second time in his four-year career.

After facing double-teams and fighting through an early-season slump, his sack total fell to only three after he averaged almost 10 the last two seasons.

No problem, said Russell, who has played well down the stretch.

“I always said in the past I’d take a Super Bowl ring over the Pro Bowl any day,” said Russell, a first-round pick from USC in 1997.

“Now I’m being called on it. I couldn’t say anything even if I wanted to, and I don’t want to.”

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The Raiders are the team of the decades, appearing in the conference championship after the 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 seasons.

What hasn’t been talked about much the past week is what happened in their last AFC title game.

The Raiders lost to Buffalo, 51-3, in 1991.

Overall, the Raiders are 4-8 in conference championship games.

They are 3-1 in the Super Bowl, winning after the 1976, 1980 and 1983 seasons, after losing Super Bowl II.

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Baltimore quarterback Trent Dilfer is almost a local.

He grew up in Aptos, Calif., and played at Fresno State, where he is remembered for beating USC in the Freedom Bowl.

“I think the funny part is I have a lot of friends that are Raiders fans, very close friends who left messages this week saying, ‘Hey, Trent, we’re rooting for you. But go, Raiders!’

“They have some loyal fans. It’s exciting.”

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If Baltimore wins, Dilfer’s return to Tampa will be a major story line after he was discarded by the Buccaneers after last season.

“I’ve had to deal with that question so much lately that my standard answer has been that obviously that would be a great experience,” he said.

“If I let myself start thinking about that, then it takes away from what I should be doing and that’s preparing for the Raiders. So I’m not going to think about it.

“If it happens, it will be a neat experience. The best part will be that it will be in the Super Bowl, I don’t care where it’s played.”

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Baltimore Coach Brian Billick appeared at a news conference Friday wearing a black shirt, black tie and gray jacket.

Shades of silver and black?

“Black’s our color too,” he said. “There’s not a trademark on the color black, I don’t think. If there is, there’s going to be a lawsuit.”

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Billick, who made his reputation as an offensive coach with the Minnesota Vikings, has to live with the fact his defense has gotten him to his first AFC title game.

“I feel like Al Pacino in ‘The Godfather,’ ” he said. “Every time I think I’m out of it, they pull me back down into it.

“That’s our profile. We run the ball, we play good special teams, we have to get production out of the passing game. That’s our formula. What we’ve done well in a championship atmosphere is not turn the ball over. We’ve taken control of the game and not given it up.”

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Only four Raiders remain with the team from its days in Los Angeles, which ended after the 1994 season.

They are receiver Tim Brown, guard Steve Wisniewski, receiver James Jett and linebacker Greg Biekert.

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Raider cornerback Eric Allen has an interception in five of the last six games.