Maybe Oliver Stone Should Coach Raiders

Something wonderful occurred in pro football last weekend. A replay official decided to review a play that no one on Earth felt needed review.

Not Tom Brady to be sure, not the Patriot coach, none of his players and none of the 70,000 fans in snowy Foxboro stadium.

Anyhow, the rule eventually was interpreted to read that a fake forward pass is indeed a real pass if the quarterback drops the ball while his hand is moving forward. (Let’s try to forget that the official who decided that Brady’s hand was indeed still moving forward is the same guy who insists that a microscopic bug who flies into a freight train moving at 70 mph somehow impedes the forward motion of that train. Hey! That’s the rule.)

Strange and magnificent as that may be, it is not the most amazing aspect of this entire scenario. What blows my mind is that all this controversy prompted Bill Plaschke to write an article I agree with.

Dan Jensen

San Clemente

*

Finally, that team from Oakland had to abide by the rules. There is no plea bargaining in the NFL.

John Kane

Tarzana

*

I have been a Raider fan for the better part of 25 years, watching them go from Oakland to L.A. and back to Oakland.

I have witnessed Al Davis make a hero and then a fool of himself many times over. I have come to understand why many people despise Al and all the Raider posturing that goes along with him. I have always poked fun at the loyal Raider conspiracy theorists who would have you believe that the NFL is out to get them.

Last Saturday night, I quit making fun. Not only does the NFL have it in for the Raiders, it is unabashedly proud of that fact.

Drew F. Baker

Orange

*

The Oakland Raiders were dealt a great injustice by the NFL’s “tuck rule” last Saturday. It is obvious to anyone who understands football and viewed the TV replays--except for the referee, of course--that, at the time he was hit by Charles Woodson, the Patriots’ quarterback was trying to tuck, not pass.

A football generation ago, the Raiders suffered the misfortune of “the Immaculate Reception.” This current bunch of Raiders has now been victimized by a judgment that will live in football infamy.

Barry Berkeley

Los Angeles

*

Upon further review, the Raiders got snowed.

Whitey Simpson

Covina