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I was always under the impression that Howie left to pursue other options, like acting and broadcasting.
If Al gave Howie a new contract only to have him leave to pursue acting in horrible movies like "Firestorm" I could understand Al's frustration.
I dont know how ravaged his body was at the time of his retirement. However, I know Howie mentioned in an interviewed that he would have stuck around a couple more years, if he had known the team was going to return to Oakland.
I also know that Al tried to talk him into making a comeback after he was inducted into the Hall, around 99 or 2000. Howie makes mention of this during the 83 Raiders episode of "Americas Game"
During that show Howie also says "Ive always called him Mr Davis and still do" so they may not be best friends, but I think there is still respect for one another.
Al did come off sounding slightly like a bitter old man when he mentioned Howie's retirement at Art's press conference. That didn't sit well with me either. He also mentioned Bo Jacksons injury as another bad break which came during the Shell I era.
I can see offering some kind of explanation as to why the Shell I era didnt work out, but there were other ways to do it without taking a jab at Howie 13 years later. If there really is bitterness between them its a shame because Howie has always been a great ambassador for the Raiders. No media figure has given us the kind of love that Howie has done over the years.
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