Here is what an all-time Oakland Raiders 53-man roster would look like
By Brad Weiss
Outside Linebackers
Ted Hendricks, Phil Villapiano, Rod Martin, Gus Otto
The linebacker position in Raiders history has produced some legendary figures, headlined by The Mad Stork, Ted Hendricks. Throughout his NFL career, Hendricks developed the reputation of being a nasty player, donning arm pads, and throwing people to the ground whenever he felt the need to. Like many on this list, he played football the Raider Way, and is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
At the other outside linebacker position, who could forget Phil Villapiano. Incredibly not in the Hall of Fame, Villapiano played for the Raiders from 1971-79, and helped the team to the victory in Super Bowl XI. From 1973-76, Villapiano made the Pro Bowl every season, and was not only a big-play guy, but could run like the wind.
Another stellar outside linebacker in addition to Hendricks and Villapiano, Rod Martin played his entire 12-year NFL career wearing the Silver and Black. A feared linebacker during his day, Martin was a member of two Super Bowl winning teams, while making the Pro Bowl in both 1983 and 1984. Martin had a shining moment in Super Bowl XV, when he picked off Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski three times in the Raiders 27-10 victory.
Gus Otto is the second Otto to make this list, and boy was he a good player for the team in the 1960s and early 1970s. A four time All-Pro, Otto helped the Raiders to the 1967 AFL title, where he was an anchor on a defensive unit nicknamed “Eleven Angry Men.”