If you ever questioned Sean Payton and Ken Whisenhunt's decisions to turn down the Raiders' head coaching job, now's the time to apologize. Owner Al Davis may be one of the league's pioneers, but at this point, he's viewed by most football fans as a mad man.

Davis, who has made George Steinbrenner seem completely rational in recent years, has gone to the trouble of drafting a letter of resignation for Lane Kiffin, who just completed his first season as head coach in Oakland.

In one of the most bizarre exit strategies in recent memory, Kiffin ignored the letter and reported to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., where he's coaching the North team this week. Meanwhile, Davis is apparently interested in hiring former Vikings and Cardinals coach Dennis Green to replace Kiffin.

I've even heard a rumor that Art Shell was on Davis' list of potential replacements. As many of you know, Shell has already been hired and fired a couple of times by Davis. He's the football equivalent to Billy Martin - except he doesn't win as much.

I've always thought Green was a good man, but you'd have to question his sanity if he accepts a job with the Raiders. Davis assured Kiffin that he would share some power in the organization when he handed him the job after the 2006 season. At that point, someone who cares about the young man's well-being should've stepped in and warned Kiffin that Davis was only kidding.

If you've had a glance at the man in the past couple of years, you know how feeble he is. But until he dies, he'll continue to hold the cards in what has become a laughable organization.

Kiffin should find a pen and sign on the dotted line immediately. This is a get-out-of-jail-free card for a talented young college assistant who couldn't help himself when the Raiders came calling.

The Raiders will eventually launch a coaching search, and someone will be crazy enough to take the job. Attention Jim Schwartz, Dennis Green, Rob Ryan, Rex Ryan, Steve Spagnuolo: Don't go near this job!

You'll regret it the rest of your career.