It wasn't all too long ago that Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie was a dead man walking. On Nov. 17, 2014, his Raiders were an embarrassing 0-10. They were on their second head coach of the season, with an 0-6 Tony Sparano failing to improve upon the disappointing 8-28 tenure of Dennis Allen. This all came after an offseason during which owner Mark Davis allegedly spiked the big-ticket free-agent signing of Rodger Saffold after the Raiders had already come to terms with the Rams guard. That gaffe inspired one Raiders source to call it "One of the worst days of my life as a professional.
Barnwell: How the future of the Raiders became so bright
