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DIAHUEBS 22 JULI 2021

Damon Allen hoping to launch coaching career with Raiders

(AP) — A single short sen- program allows participants
tence resonates with Da- to use NFL training camps,
mon Allen when he thinks offseason workout programs
about what his brother and minicamps to observe
and NFL legend Marcus and gain experience to ulti-
Allen told him on multiple mately gain a full-time NFL
occasions during Damon’s coaching position.
storied career in the Ca-
nadian Football League. “We are excited to have Da-
mon among our fellowship
“Play within yourself,” Al- coaches this summer,” Raid-
len said. “I remember those ers coach Jon Gruden said.
words all the time because “His experience will be a
(he) used them more than great addition to our staff
once to me. I understood and he’s already a part of the
playing within myself meant Raiders family, of course, so
to bring my whole skill set to it’s the perfect fit.”
the game ... on a consistent
basis and to optimize my best Just as the Bears kept Burris
to be the best.” on staff for the 2021 season,
Allen said the long-term goal
Now, Allen is hoping to share is to stay on with the Raiders numbers during Damon’s all time. He was enshrined a player at that position can
those words and his vast as a full-time coach. illustrious 23-year career in the CFL Hall of Fame in conceive or been through on
knowledge from a Hall of north of the border squashes 2012 and entered Canada’s a physical side of it. So why
Fame career in the CFL with “He has the ability to go out that notion. Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. not do it at the highest level,”
the organization his older there and physically execute Damon Allen said. “I have a
brother starred for and led to some of the things that I think Allen won Grey Cup titles “He blazed his own trail and great amount of respect for
a Super Bowl title in 1984. would be helpful for any twice with Edmonton and obviously didn’t let the fact coaches. I don’t think you
young quarterback,” Marcus once each with BC Lions and that I was his older brother ever stop learning. There
Damon Allen, 57, was select- Allen said. “I just think that Toronto and earned three bother him at all,” Marcus are great minds in the game
ed to work with the Las Vegas it’s a good fit. I think he can championship game MVP Allen said. “Few people know of football, especially in the
Raiders’ coaching staff as part bring something; I think he trophies. Upon retiring in the quarterback position or National Football League.
of the Bill Walsh Diversity can certainly coach, I think 2008, he was the leading has played the quarterback And so to be in a culture like
Coaching Fellowship pro- he can teach, I think he’s a passer in pro football his- position and know offense as the Raiders’, with the energy
gram, the same program for- great motivator, I think he’s a tory (72,381 yards). While well as Damon. He certainly level from the head coach,
mer CFL quarterback Henry great psychologist — I think he’s since been passed by has the credentials, he cer- understanding the ‘commit-
Burris participated in last he’s all those things.” Drew Brees (80,358), former tainly has the numbers.” ment to excellence.’
year with the Chicago Bears. CFL star Anthony Calvillo
While the Allen brothers (79,816) and Tom Brady Damon Allen said he believes “It makes it special due to the
Established in 1987 and agreed during an interview (79,204), Allen remains as there are elements in today’s bloodline because when your
named after three-time Su- with The Associated Press large a sports figure in Can- NFL that are very similar to brother is a part of an orga-
per Bowl-winning head that from the outside an op- ada as his brother is in the what the CFL has been doing nization, he embodies those
coach Bill Walsh, the fellow- portunity like this appears to NFL. for years, and with what he’s very encouraging Raider
ship program offers minor- be a younger brother benefit- accomplished he is prepared words used today. We under-
ity coaches a chance to work ting from his older brother’s Damon Allen also ran for to be an asset to any coaching stand the importance, we un-
with NFL coaches and staffs legacy, a quick glance at a re- 11,920 yards during his CFL staff. derstand what the silver and
during training camp. The sume filled with impressive career, which ranks him third “I’ve seen every situation that black meant to our family.”
Oakland OKs terms for $12B ballpark but A’s aren’t happy

(AP) — The Oakland City Bay Area city. council leaders said the vote duce the benefits our com- harder to keep the team and
Council on Tuesday ap- marks a milestone in negotia- munity demands and de- accompanying coliseum jobs.
proved preliminary terms The 6-1 vote backed the pro- tions, despite city officials be- serves,” the city leaders said Others, like Emily Wheeler,
for a new $12 billion wa- posal that requires the devel- ing able to reach a deal with in a statement. said good riddance: “The A’s
terfront ballpark project opment to include affordable the team in last-minute ne- are like an abusive boyfriend
for the Oakland Athletics, housing, tenant protections gotiations. But A’s President Dave Kaval and you need to stand up to
but it’s unclear if the vote and environmental measures, said the financial terms do them.”
will be enough to keep the the San Francisco Chronicle “This is the path to keeping not work for the team.
baseball team at the ne- reported. the A’s rooted in Oakland in The A’s project includes a
gotiating table instead of a way that protects our port “To vote on something we $1 billion privately financed
leaving the San Francisco Mayor Libby Schaaf and and taxpayers and will pro- have not been privy to and 35,000-seat waterfront ball-
not had time to digest is a dif- park at Howard Terminal,
ficult thing for us. It’s hard to 3,000 residential units, office
understand how that is a path and retail space, hotel rooms
forward,” Kaval said at the and an indoor performance
meeting. center.
The team’s lease at the aging
The A’s are the last profes- RingCentral Coliseum runs
sional franchise remaining through 2024. The league has
in Oakland after the NBA’s said rebuilding at the current
Golden State Warriors relo- location is not a viable op-
cated to San Francisco and tion. In May, Major League
the NFL’s Raiders to Las Baseball instructed Oak-
Vegas. The defections weigh land’s brass to explore relo-
heavily on the Bay Area city cation options if no ballpark
of roughly 400,000 people, agreement could be reached.
some of whom pleaded with
the council Tuesday to work