Charles Woodson says Raiders leaving would be 'devastating' for Oakland

Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis has made it clear, through actions as well as words, that he’s willing to leave Oakland if the team doesn’t get a new stadium to replace the decrepit, leaky, wholly inadequate O.co Coliseum.

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At least one Oakland player believes the Raiders leaving the Bay Area, however necessary that might be, would have major negative ramifications for the community.

Charles Woodson said via CSNBayArea.com:

"“I think it’d be devastating,” Woodson said. “It’s happened once before and a lot of people are still bitter about that, and I think it would be doubling down on that bitterness if they were to leave again. I think it’d be tough for the City of Oakland.”"

Tough as it may be for the city of Oakland to absorb the loss of the Raiders all over again, the reality is that economically the city of Oakland may not be able to support an NFL franchise.

Owners like Mark Davis may have some responsibility to the community but in the end their main responsibility is to themselves and the league to have a viable franchise operating in a viable venue in a community that is capable of properly supporting that franchise and filling that venue.

If Davis thinks Oakland can no longer live up to its end of the bargain, he will find a city that can, be it Los Angeles, San Antonio or wherever. And Raiders fans in Oakland will just have to decide: stay loyal to the colors and logo, regardless of where the team plays, or switch and become 49ers fans.

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Charles Woodson says Raiders leaving would be ‘devastating’ for Oakland

By Dan Zinski | Aug 18, 2014