Raiders defy NFL, refuse to put gold 50-yard markers on field
The Raiders have decided they don't want gold 50-yard lines.
By
John Breech
•
1 min read
The Raiders had a long history of defying the NFL when they were owned by Al Davis and it looks like nothing has changed under Davis' son.
According to Sports Business Daily, the Raiders have decided they're not going to paint their 50-yard markers gold this season.
Back in March, the NFL announced that each team would be painting its 50-yard markers gold as part of its "On the 50" celebration to commemorate Super Bowl 50, which will be held in February at Levi's Stadium and televised by CBS.
According to Chris Wright, the general manager at O.co Coliseum and AEG Facilities VP, the Raiders specifically requested that the 50-yard markers not be painted gold in 2015.
"The Raiders have asked us not to do that," Wright said, via Sporting News.
The 50-yard markers were white for each of the Raiders first two home games.
(CBS screen grab)
An NFL spokesman told SBD that the Raiders aren't defying anyone and that the team is going to paint its 50-yard markers gold once the baseball field at O.co is removed following the end of the Oakland A's season.
However, Wright disputes that and says the Raiders will be keeping the white 50s all year.
"It has nothing to do with baseball," Wright said. "The last six home baseball games are through this weekend, and there will be no gold marks for the rest of the Raiders' regular season."
The Raiders haven't offered any comment on the situation.
So why would the Raiders go rogue?
I have two theories.
1. They don't think they have any chance at getting to the Super Bowl, so why take the time to paint some giant gold numbers to honor Super Bowl 50?
2. The much more likely reason that the team won't paint their 50s gold is because the Raiders hate the 49ers and one of the Niners' team colors is gold.
That being said, if I'm the Raiders and I'm looking for either new stadium money from the NFL or permission to move to LA, I'm probably doing whatever the league asks.
UPDATE (Sept. 23): Raiders owner Mark Davis has decided to clear things up. Davis told the Bay Area News Group on Wednesday that the Raiders will paint their 50s gold once the A's regular season comes to an end.
