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Do you remember those awesomely ridiculous NFL posters from the 80s, like this Bo Jackson "Black and Blue" poster? Because "Men in Black 3" hits theaters this weekend and if those posters were still produced today, you can bet there would be a Men in Silver & Black poster out there with some of the top Raiders of all time.
With that in mind, here's a look at the six greatest Raiders players of all time. I'm keeping this to the field, because if you included front office types, Al Davis would certainly be No. 1 - and there would be no debate. (And he certainly looks dapper, like one of the Men in Black in the handsome photo above.)
But first, here's a list of Raiders greats who just missed the cut:
• Bo Jackson. He played only a short time but still holds a place in Raiders' lore.
• Tim Brown. A dependable receiver for a long time, whom a lot of Raiders fans hold dear.
• Ray Guy. At some point, the Hall of Fame voters will have to recognize his accomplishments, right?
• Jack Tatum. He's remembered for only one hit, but is one of the most feared players in NFL history.
• Ted Hendricks. Great thing about the "Mad Stork," he knew the rulebook better than most officials.
• Howie Long. One of the faces of the Los Angeles Raiders era of the franchise.
• Jim Plunkett. The only eligible quarterback with two Super Bowl wins who isn't in the Hall of Fame. Which is wrong.
• Cliff Branch. The only player Mel Blount feared, according to Mr. Davis.
• Lester Hayes. One of the most intimidating corners with the Stickum and his low stance.
• Fred Biletnikoff. One of the most feared receivers in the NFL and a long-time coach with the team.
And without further ado ...
This is a tough one. Allen was the Los Angeles Raiders, and his run against the Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII is the most indelible image of not only the Raiders but of the entire NFL. But he can't be higher on this list because he finished his career with the rival Chiefs.
Brown was the captain of the Raiders defense for 10 of his 12 years with the club. The most indelible image of Brown is the NFL Films close-up of his face as he returned Fran Tarkenton's pass 75-yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XI.
Shell was one of the most dominating offensive linemen of his era as an eight-time Pro Bowl performer, and his legacy with the Raiders continued as coach of the team from 1989-1994. He was the first African-American football coach of the modern era.
Upshaw is the only player in NFL history to play in three Super Bowls with the same team in three different decades. Upshaw won two Super Bowls (XI, XV) with the Raiders and would later go on to head the NFL Players Association after retirement. He was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
"The Snake" was a four-time Pro Bowler and the quarterback of the Raiders' Super Bowl XI championship team -- voted the best team of all-time by NFL.com users this year. The only thing missing from Stabler's impressive resume is a well-deserved gold jacket.
When John Facenda of NFL Films talks about a pirate with the weather face who wears a hooded sash, the first person I think about is Otto. (The only thing missing is the mustache.) Otto gave his body to the Raiders and for years stood loyally by Mr. Davis' side.
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