Sources close to Don Martindale, the Oakland Raiders linebackers coach for the past five seasons, say that he's likely to be joining Josh McDaniels and his staff over in Denver. McDaniels took over the reigns for the Broncos after 14 year coach Mike Shanahan was fired earlier this month.

Prior to this discovery, there was much speculation that Martindale was a top candidate for the Raiders' defensive coordinator position, or possibly even head coach.

Source: InsideBayArea.com

With the recent hiring of Baltimore's defensive coordinator Rex Ryan this past Monday by the New York Jets, the Oakland Raiders are now officially the only NFL team sans a head coach. Two days prior to Ryan's hiring by the Jets, Raiders general managing partner Al Davis interviewed Oakland's linebackers coach Don Martindale for a coaching position. Martindale coached at the University of Cincinatti along side Rex Ryan during the 1996-1997 seasons. It is highly probable that Rex Ryan may seek to acquire Martindale's services in New York, forcing the Raiders into a bidding war to keep him.

With Greg Knapp's move to Seattle, the offensive coordinator position presents another glaring need for the Raiders. Jim Fassel, former head coach of the New York Giants, has expressed interest in coming to the bay to help the Raiders. It is said that he's a candidate for the head coaching position, but it is also possible that he may be considered for offensive play caller if Davis decides to go with a different head coach.

The Raiders will be at the Senior Bowl on Saturday in Mobile, Alabama to scout players with the rest of the league. Former Raiders' offensive coordinator Marc Trestman who will also be on hand at the Senior Bowl this weekend, has announced that he's interested in coming back to the NFL as a coach. Trestman was the offensive coordinator for the Raiders during their 2002 campaign which led them to the Super Bowl and featured the league's number one offense. Trestman should be considered another likely candidate for the position. Trestman spent last season in the Canadian Football League coaching the Montreal Alouettes.

Source: MercuryNews.com

Oakland Raiders executive John Herrera refutes the reports that the organization is considering Don Martindale for the head coaching job. Martindale, the team's linebackers coach, interviewed with Al Davis on Saturday for the defensive coordinator position. ESPN hastily and erroneously reported that following the interview, Martindale had become a candidate for Raiders' head coach.

It's no secret that the Raiders organization has some animosity towards ESPN's representation of them in the media. Al Davis has referred to ESPN analyst Chris Mortensen as a "professional liar" in regards to the claim that Davis was going to sell part of his stake in the team.

This is what Raiders exectuive John Herrera had to say to the San Jose Mercury News concerning this recent rumor:

"Once again ESPN has chosen to air something that has no basis in fact".

"It is true that Mr. Davis met with Martindale (on Saturday). It was a (2-1/2)-hour interview, but it had nothing to do with becoming a head coach. While we think highly of Don Martindale, he had a 2 1/2-hour interview that centered on the defense".

The Raiders' linebackers coach Don Martindale was interviewed yesterday for the vacant defensive coordinator position. According to ESPN.com and the Contra Costa Times, the five hour interview must have impressed managing general partner Al Davis, because he has decided to add Martindale to the list of prospects for the head coaching position.

Prior to interviewing Martindale on Saturday, Davis had interviewed interim head coach Tom Cable and Giants' offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride for the head coaching job. In addition to Cable and Gilbride, Packers' assistant head coach Winston Moss has spoken to the team, and Giants' former head coach Jim Fassel has expressed interest as well.

Davis is also expected to talk with Jeremey Bates, the quarterbacks coach for the Denver Broncos. Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator Todd Haley is another name being tossed into the head coaching mix.

Get ready for more mediocrity in the coming season on defense. After former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan left to take a job with the Cleveland Browns, the Raiders have been eyeing his assistant for the defensive coordinator position.

Don Martindale, the team's linebacker's coach, joined the raiders in 2004. This was the same year in which Ryan was named defensive coordinator. He's been around long enough to know two things: Ryan's defense and who his daddy is. Daddy being none other than Mr. Davis.

Davis doesn't like being challenged by his coaches, which is why Ryan was such a good fit for the defensive coordinator position. Ryan was Davis' boy because he knew Al was the shot caller.  Martindale looks to be the same way. If he's promoted, then we're sure to see another abysmal defense in 2009.

When's Al going to realize it's the 21st century and that straight man-to-man and fourth quarter prevent aren't gonna get it done..?